morgan74

Please don't waste your time with Chamberlain; the clinical portion of the program is a complete joke. I actually didn't mind the first year in the program; it was fairly easy and went rather quick. The clinical situation is a whole different story. In the program you must apply for clinicals several months (180 days) before you start your first practicum course. My idiot clinical advisor didn't even attempt to make a contact with my site to form a contract-- I had to make all of my contacts myself!! My advisor is basically being paid for nothing. Not only that, I'm currently registered and can't start my clinicals until I get a level 2 background check. The school will not help me at all. I've called my advisor and the dean, but no-one is able to help me. This means I will have to drop my current clinical course and defer until I can get a new preceptor and site! In other words, I may not be able to start clinicals until January. I am completely ticked off. I left my full-time job and went prn at work for clinicals-- now I may not be able to start until January. I'm thinking about withdrawing and transferring to a brick and mortar-- which I should have done in the first place. Apply if you want, but I'm just giving you a heads up.

Hey 1TraumaNurse, no I don't think you get charged for registering and dropping a course because I did it last Summer just so I could get the syllabus for research ; ). I tried to register today for patho, but it wouldn't let me. I guess we can't do that now because we're only allowed to take 1 course at a time in the FNP core courses. Are you friends with anyone or know anyone that's had patho recently that might pass on the syllabus? Good luck in Epidemiology!

Hey sbeckett09, I'm one class behind you... I take Epidemiology in January and start Patho in March. My main concern about the program-- especially in the core courses-- is the short semesters. Take patho for example, how are we going to learn all of that information in 8 weeks?? Have you seen that book? It's huge! I think I'm going to register for patho this week and drop the course just so I can get the syllabus and start reading.

Hey newgradbms, I don't think I would worry about that. Don't let people worry you because you would not be attending a brick and mortar program. I know here in Florida even the brick and mortar programs are almost all online. I work in Gainesville, Fl which is about 2 hours north of Tampa Bay (home of University of South Florida) and several nurses at my place of work attend USF practically all online. They hardly have ever had to go to class. Even their clinicals were arranged in the Gainesville area. So my point is I believe you get what you put into it.

Ok, I was completely wrong. I finally was able to speak with a clinical advisor; she informed me that clinicals for all NP degrees at Chamberlain are hands on. I informed her that the clinical manual that they give to students in misleading because it clearly states that clinicals are observation only. She stated that clinicals that are observation only are managerial type clinicals. So now I feel much better!

Yeah, that's what I thought as well. I know I didn't start a lot of IVs or place many foley caths in school, but we did do them. We were also allowed to interact with patients as well. I hope I'm completely wrong-- seeing I'm enrolled in this program. I did e-mail a clinical advisor the other day and just received a blanket type reply. I'm going to call her tomorrow and ask for sure. In answer to your question, as far as I know the manual is not available online. It was e-mailed to me after a session with an advisor. I just recently started planning for clinicals and took the time to read it. I will re-post after my conversation with my advisor.

Ok, I'm starting my 3rd and 4th class in September (doubling this time). I need to begin looking for preceptors but I have a concern. The clinical manual states that clinicals are to be observation only. Is this true?? I think I even read that we're not supposed to teach patients either. This doesn't make sense. I work in an acute care setting in Central Florida and I've asked several nurse practitioner friends that attended University of Florida and University of South Florida. They state they were able to examine patients, perform H & Ps and etc. How are we supposed to learn if we can't have an active role in the clinical process?? I hope someone can set me straight if this isn't true.

Hey ChelleLynn, just wondering how classes are going so far? I'm in my 2nd class and going to start Research in September. I guess what i'm trying to ask is do you feel you learn a lot in the 8 week courses-- like Patho or Pharmacology? Just seems like quite a bit to fit in 8 weeks. A lot of reading?? BTW- I live in Florida as well-- on the Gulf Coast just west of Ocala. For your clinicals have you tried the enp network. Just google "enp network" put in your zip code and it should produce FNP providers willing to do clinicals. Jered

I will hopefully be starting in May too.... Excited but also nervous. I don't think I'll have much problems with patho and pharm and the core courses. I'm more worried about the beginning courses like research. I'm not much of an abstract person and I hate writing so I think the beginning courses will be harder for me.

Hey, I start in May and just wondering how the classes are going so far.

I hopefully will be starting in May as well... Just waiting on one more transcript to arrive!

I work 3 12 hour shifts and struggle sometimes (some weeks have a heavier workload). I think there are people working mon-fri just be prepared to study during your evenings. There is a lot of reading during the 1st course. Some weeks you may have up to 5 chapters (and this is VERY difficult reading) so get the book early and start now ( in my theoretical course we had to read the 1st 5 chapters in week one) Trust me, some of the chapters you will have to read twice if not more to understand them. So get started now. I think the first 4 courses are just general MSN courses. I started in May and hopefully will be taking pathophysiology in Spring.

Ok, I'm currently in the program (2nd course 1st semester) and not very happy. Theoretical Foundations in Nursing (1st course) was very difficult and the terrible book did not help--I had to purchase a second theory book just so I could understand the material. There are no lectures so you basically learn on your own and from your group. I think approximately 5-6 people dropped the course prior to the 6th week. The course load is extremely difficult, sometimes you may have several papers due each weekend and each paper averages 3-5 pages. There is also group work and class discussions due every week. You are told to plan on 17 hours of study a week-- well, I don't know where they came up with that answer. I spent all my time off basically reading, researching, or writing. The second course,Research, I thought was going to be a little easier, but I was wrong. There are less papers due each week and the reading is less, but the assignments are very time consuming. Again, no lectures just reading and group work. Just starting the 5th week of this course and 5 people have already dropped. Not trying to dissuade anyone; I plan to try to "stay the course" myself, but it's difficult. I don't want everyone thinking this is a walk in the park, because it's not. Please, if you have any questions feel free to ask

Hey, I also applied for the Summer 2012 term. Did your advisior tell you how you get notified if you're accepted. I applied about 2 wks and 3 days ago and haven't heard a thing. I called and never received a return call. I assume we will be notified in the mail but just curious