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I believe that Drexel offers a duel option for both primary and acute care pediatric np. And Drexel is in Philadelphia, so that even though it is mostly online, you'd have no problem getting there for the on-campus parts.

I have worked in NICU for about 15 years and when I first started a practitioner program, it was in pnp but after finishing all of the theory, ethics (basically non-clinical courses) I switched to fnp because I thought the job market would be better. I hated it! In fact, I actually burst into tears in front of one of my instructors because I hated it so much. She was really very understanding and told me that although I was doing well, life was too short to make yourself miserable. My advice would be, don't overthink it - go with your heart.

My employer has a partnership agreement with both Drexel and Seton Hall for 25% of the tuition for each of them. I know that SHU requires some campus visits but so does Drexel. They are both good schools and I plan on applying to both (hedging my bets here) but the 29 to 39 credits at Drexel seems a bit daunting.

I spoke with someone at Drexel on Friday. He told me that the post-masters acute care pnp program will start this summer and that all of the other pnp programs will start in the fall. For the post-masters, Drexel is 29-39 credits. Seton Hall also starts in the fall but because it it 18-29 credits, even with its higher tuition rate, still comes out to be less expensive for me. Of course, neither one can match the tuition at USA but their post-masters in acute care peds is for a dnp (not a certificate) and I really don't want to give over 3+ years of my life to the pursuit of another degree.

Based on the research I've done thus far, I think I've decided to apply to both Drexel and Seton Hall. The program at Rush looks wonderful but is too expensive. UPenn looks great as well but is also too expensive and not online. USA is very reasonably priced but from what I can see from their website, offers a post-master to dnp rather than a post-masters certificate. It's a lot of credits and would take me at least three years to complete. Seton Hall and Drexel are not exactly cheap but my employer has a partnership deal with both of them for a 25% reduction in tuition as well as deferred billing which postpones the billing until you get your tuition reimbursement. They both require campus visits but for me, the distance is driveable, and, with Seton Hall, the costs of staying over are included in the tuition. For me, SHU and Drexel seem like the best choices right now.

According to the websites for both NAPNAP and the PNCB, Seton Hall University in NJ has an online acute care pnp program as well as a primary care one. I don't know anything about it other than it is not as inexpensive as USA. I'm going to call the school to see what I can find out. Has anyone here had any experience with Seton Hall's graduate nursing program?

Here is a listing of the new programs. I copied them from the email I got so I hope they go through here. As you can see, not all of them have to do with nursing. 1. MSN Pediatric Primary Care and Pediatric Acute Care NP (Dual Option) – SPRING 2014 launch 2. Pediatric Acute Care NP Post-Graduate Certificate – SPRING 2014 launch 3. Certificate in Advanced Practice in Hand & Upper Quarter Rehabilitation – Fall 2014 4. Certificate of Advanced Study in Holistic Hospice and Palliative Care – Fall 2014 5. Certificate of Advanced Study in Integrative Addiction Therapies – Fall 2014 6. MS in Systems Engineering – Fall 2014 7. MS in TV Management – Fall 2014 8. Doctor of Health Science – Fall 2014 9. Graduate Intern Teaching Certificate, Pre-K – 4 - Summer 2014 10. MS in Applied Behavior Analysis – Fall 2014 11. MSN Pediatric Acute Care NP – Fall 2014 The straight MSN in pediatric acute care doesn't start until fall. I already have an MSN so I'm hoping I can get in for the spring post-masters program. If the program has just been approved and is set to start in the spring, I wonder if there is still time to apply. I agree that every program has it's problems. In my program specialty, there were very few students and the director, who was also our main professor, quit half way through. The school didn't appoint a new one until we had graduated, so my classmate (yes, just one other!), pretty much taught ourselves. We must have done a good job because we both passed our certification exams .

I went to a dinner on Dec. 2 sponsored by Drexel and the Drexel associate at the dinner told me it had been approved. Then last week I got an email from the vice-president of business development saying that the acute care pnp program had been approved (along with several other programs that she listed). She also said that the program was due to start in the spring of '14. Can I ask how do you like their primary care pnp program? Acute care is my first choice but any added insight would be welcome.

I don't know if people are still interested in this topic but Drexel University is offering an ac-pnp program starting in 2014. They are also offering a combined primary care and acute care pnp program. Their programs are about 98% on line with a very few campus visits (to work in the simulation lab). Drexel works on a quarter system rather than a semester system. It is not as inexpensive as the University of South Alabama but the application process is pretty straightforward and they don't require GREs.

My state (NJ) is really not bad for PMHNPs, or NPs in general. It's actually the system for which I work that is the problem and right now I cannot leave this area. However, I don't want to give the wrong impression - the hospital(s) really do give very good care. The system is a regional perinatal center, level one trauma center, regional children's hospital, etc. I would not hesitate to go there for care myself. And the system values the bedside nurse and has been awarded Magnet status three times. However, here is a measure of how they value NPs. A PA right out of school, with no experience, has a starting salary $15/hr higher than an NP right out of school but with a master's and usually years of nursing experience.

You're right about moving to another state and that's my plan but cannot do it until next year. But I know the next few months will go by quickly

Hi Lovemyplants, I can't answer your basic question but that is because I haven't been able to get a job as a pmhnp. I passed my certification exam in July and then ran into a problem I didn't anticipate. The health system for which I work has been buying/merging/acquiring everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING, from the middle of my state northwards. They own hospitals, clinics, dialysis facilities, skilled nursing facilities and medical office buildings, and are branching out to obtain private practices as well. To do this, they are telling private md's "if you want to continue to use any of our facilities, you will join our system and follow our mandates." And the true kicker to all of this (at least in how it effects me), is that the system has made a decision to replace almost all the pmhnps, and there were very few of these to begin with, with social workers. True, the MSW can do a lot less than the pmhnp but they also cost a lot less, which seems to be the bottom line. Currently, I cannot leave this area. Perhaps next year. I could get a job if I was willing to travel to the southern part of the state, but it would be a 2-2 1/2 hour drive one way. BTW, I'm making $50/hour in my current job as an RN for 3 12hr shifts/week. My preference would be for something part-time as an np and keeping my current job where the hours are flexible. However, at least for the time being, I don't see that happening.

I agree with Tinabeanrn - have a plan. I started studying seriously about two months before the test. I kept doing practice tests to find both my strongest and weakest areas so I would know where to focus my energies. I took my ANCC exam in psych but I found that the test questions were not nearly as straight forward as the practice questions. This is not an exam for which you can memorize. It's much more important to be able to figure things out. Just my opinion. When I started studying I told myself I would not let myself do anything else until it (the exam) was over. I work full-time, have a family, and we're also trying to sell our house, so that was easier said than done. Ultimately, it all paid off!

Hi Teresa, I took and passed my test on July 27th. I bought the Fitzgerald audio cds which I played over and over every time I was in the car. I also read through the workbook that accompanied the cds probably two or three times. And I bought the practice questions from the ANCC and kept doing those. I took every practice test I could find. I did buy the Momotrex flashcards but I didn't like them. Trust me, you WILL pass this exam. And when you do, you'll be PMHNP-BC, not the PMHNP-BC who took the test x number of times. Believe in yourself and good luck!

Last night I passed my certification exam! I still can't believe that I no longer have it hanging over my head! I didn't tell anyone (except my family) when I was taking it because I didn't want to have to tell them if I failed. I studied (a lot) for about the last 2 months. I bought the Fitzgerald review book and read that cover-to-cover about three times. I also bought the cds and listened to them over and over and over. I bought the practice questions from the ANCC and did those repeatedly and also did the Barkley drt test as well as the Fitzgerald one. I studied in the car, at home, and at work on my break (if I got one, lol). I have to say that the questions on the actual exam were not nearly as straight forward as the practice ones. I read every question at least twice as well as each of the possible answers to figure out what exactly they were looking for as well as the dreaded "best possible answer". At the end I reviewed all the questions and my answers, was satisfied with the ones I had chosen and said it was up to God. Of course, I also kept saying the "what's the worst that can happen if I fail?" question. I take it again. And I don't have to take it again!:)