Pros/Cons of ONLINE NP program!?!?!

Moogie · May 15, 2011

Nurse educator track here, not NP, but maybe I can still help you. I've taken online and in-person graduate courses and just graduated from an online program through a traditional, brick and mortar university. The biggest advantage of online is the flexibility. Unless your courses are synchronous and you have to be at your computer at a certain time so you can participate in the class, you can pretty much do your work at any time. You can listen to recorded lectures at 3 AM if that suits your schedule. It's also nice to not have to drive, especially in bad weather, and to attend class in your pajamas if you'd like.

I felt that the quality of the online courses, particularly in my focus area, were superior to those in the in-person program (at another school) that I originally started. Quality varies from one program to another, so your experience may be similar or different from mine.

The biggest disadvantage to an online program is that there can be a lack of camaraderie. I graduated from my master's program today and, I'm sorry to say that I didn't know the people standing next to me. I had become acquainted with some through emails, discussion groups, and phone calls, but if I ran into one of my NE classmates at the mall, I probably wouldn't know him or her. Same with the faculty. Sometimes, during my online experience, I felt pretty much alone out there. On the other hand, the friends that I did make are treasured and hopefully these will be friends for life. I just wish they could have been with me today.

Then again, the in-person program that I originally started was very cliquey and it was hard to get to know anyone. Before I decided to drop out of that program, I thought about blowing off my graduation because I did not feel connected to my class.

One thing to keep in mind about an online program, especially NP, is that many programs don't give much support in helping students find preceptors. I have heard that some preceptors charge the schools or individual students for their services. That was not the case in my NE program but I don't know about the NP students at my school. You might want to check around to see if someone is willing to act as your preceptor before you commit to an online school.

Hope this helps! I wish you the best in whatever you decide.

HappyNurse2005, RN · May 15, 2011

I am currently a student in a distance education (aka "online" but I don't like that terminology ) . I am attending Frontier, for their CNM program, but they also have a FNP program as well.

As opposed to Moogie, I feel very connected to my class mates. I attribute this to Frontier's required on campus 3 day orientation. I met everyone, and now those names on a computer screen are real people and friends. That makes the distance learning so much easier. If I dissent have them to chat, vent, celebrate, and brainstorm with, this would be much more difficult and lonely.

I thjnk that it works best if you ate comfortable with computers, and if you are self motivated. While I do have due dates on assignment, I don't have someone standing over me and making sure I get it done. I don't have set classroom time to study, I have to find the time myself. It can be hard to study at home when you are thinking of all the other things you could be doing.

The flexibility is great, though. I work and have kids. I can study and do classwork while they are at school or after I get off work. It's working so far-- 4.0 GPA after 2 terms.

Good luck!

PrettyWingsFNP, BSN, MSN, RN, NP · May 15, 2011

Thank you sooooo much for your responses!! They are very insightful and helpful!

Another question---would a future employer ask (or research) if I completed an "online program" and could that potentially be looked upon negatively?

HappyNurse2005, RN · May 15, 2011

PrettyWings, I don't know because I am still in school. I can say though, the work is HARD and isn't any easier than an in person class, like those I took for my RN classes. If the school is accredited, had a good reputation, and you pass the board exam, I would hope that you would be fine

NPvampire, MSN, RN, APRN · May 16, 2011

One huge disadvantage of online programs--at least for NP or CNS: many of them make you find your own clinicals. They might tell you they have "affiliations" or "connections" and "help you" and then the time comes and their answer is to search the yellow pages. Be very careful of this, and if you choose such a program, have your preceptor WILLING, ABLE, and APPROVED way ahead of time. Even a willing doctor still has to get permission from an ornery, money-strapped supervisor who has no time for students.

Other than that, I love online. I gained NOTHING from sitting in class for my RN with rude classmates at 8 am with hours of traffic to fight and an ill-knowledge professor who could barely speak English droning on and on. I know my situation is precarious with this preceptor mess, but I would never have gone back if I had to sit in class 5 days per week.

Moogie · May 16, 2011

HappyNurse2005, I think an in-person orientation is a great idea to promote class cohesiveness. I wish we could have done something similar at my school but one of the advantages to my program was that it could be done completely online, with no required visits to the campus.

I agree with you completely that online classes are hard. I sometimes wonder if there's a perception that online classes are easier, leading instructors to make them more rigorous to counter that notion.

A person has to be very self-motivated to succeed in an online program. I's challenging to try to keep up with reading, blogs and discussion boards, group work, and papers when there is no set class period each week. It's easy to put things off.

I don't see that there's a stigma against online programs. However, some programs are better than others. Ask the folks at the school you're considering about the employment patterns of their graduates. If their graduates get hired easily in your area, you don't have to worry. If not, that might be a yellow flag.

WyndDrivenRain, BSN, RN · May 16, 2011

One huge disadvantage of online programs--at least for NP or CNS: many of them make you find your own clinicals. They might tell you they have "affiliations" or "connections" and "help you" and then the time comes and their answer is to search the yellow pages. Be very careful of this, and if you choose such a program, have your preceptor WILLING, ABLE, and APPROVED way ahead of time. Even a willing doctor still has to get permission from an ornery, money-strapped supervisor who has no time for students.
Other than that, I love online. I gained NOTHING from sitting in class for my RN with rude classmates at 8 am with hours of traffic to fight and an ill-knowledge professor who could barely speak English droning on and on. I know my situation is precarious with this preceptor mess, but I would never have gone back if I had to sit in class 5 days per week.

It can be challenging to find preceptors. I was attending an on-ground program that did not find preceptors for students so it isn't just online programs doing it. I have been hearing about more and more on ground programs doing the same because they can't find preceptors for the number of students they are taking in as well.

Sue

paige1665 · May 18, 2011

Hello Pretty wings.

I have not graduated from my online FNP program from UAB but this program works for me. I spent 1 year in a MSN nurse educator program through Benedictine University ( online) and I was on 10 week terms. It was intense! I switched to a FNP program and I am now in a part-time program and I will graduate in 2012. Here are the answers to a couple of your questions from my perspective.

Pros- you can do your school work at home in your PJ's at anytime. I still work full time while I am in school and I have more freedom with this program. But the most important reason I go to school online is that there are no MSN programs available in my area.

Cons- sometimes it is hard to know what you instructor wants without the face to face interaction. Its nice to have the structure of the classroom which you will not have with an online program. Ypu have to have discipline and you must study. My college is 2 hours ahead of me so I have had to get time off to take tests online that are only offered during a certain block of time.

To tell you the truth, if there was a school close by with my program I would be in it now. I would love the classroom atmosphere and the friendships that I would have developed.

Hope this helps and good luck with your decision.

Page1665

lulu997RN · May 18, 2011

paige1665 w

How intense was benedictine MSN. which FNP program are you in now?. I will be starting my MSN in Benedictine next month, undecided about my focus.

NPvampire, MSN, RN, APRN · May 19, 2011

Wow, that is awful, you have to go sit in class and all that and still find your own clinicals! Ugh, ugh! I guess that's one good thing about the ground programs here, you have to drive and sit in them for hours, several times a week, but they find you clinical sites...even if they are the worst preceptors on earth. It still wasn't enough to entice me to apply for them though.

paige1665 · May 19, 2011

Hi LuluRN,

Benedictine (MSN in education) is a good school. I had issues in my nursing and politics class with the instructor that left a bad tast in my mouth but otherwise the experience was good. They work fast to get you enrolled, and they call you often to remind you to sign up for classes. The good thing about becoming a nurse educator right now is that you can get money! There is such a shortage that the government and some states are footing the bill. I am currently in the UAB FNP program. You can get funding by the government if you work for them after school for a couple of years as a NP. I didn't make that commitment. I currently work fulltime and goe to school parttime and expect to graduate in 2012. With UAB I have had to be very proactive. I keep up with my own schedule. I am working on getting my preceptors worked out now before next spring. You may have holds on registration if your TB is not up to date or other required immunizations so you have to keep up with your records. Hope this helps, Paige1665