Recommendations for online PNP

IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Jul 3, 2013

I'm in a PNP at Drexel that is online. I do have to go on campus a few times but not much. Most online programs are still going to require you to come on campus for a few things for a few days once in a blue moon.

Can't speak to clinicals...not there yet but I do know I may need to find my own sites.

ixchel · Jul 5, 2013

I'm in a PNP at Drexel that is online. I do have to go on campus a few times but not much. Most online programs are still going to require you to come on campus for a few things for a few days once in a blue moon.
Can't speak to clinicals...not there yet but I do know I may need to find my own sites.

I'm okay with the occasional campus visits. I'll check out Drexel. Thank you!

ETA: I just looked and I don't see pediatrics. Am I just missing it?

ixchel · Jul 5, 2013

I'm okay with the occasional campus visits. I'll check out Drexel. Thank you!
ETA: I just looked and I don't see pediatrics. Am I just missing it?

Nevermind. I found it.

ixchel · Jul 5, 2013

Irish, I just did a search on AN for Drexel posts and saw a lot from you. Are you still enjoying it as much? Are you in your first summer right now?

IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Jul 5, 2013

Irish I just did a search on AN for Drexel posts and saw a lot from you. Are you still enjoying it as much? Are you in your first summer right now?[/quote']
I am finished up my first year there in the PNP program. Overall I'm still happy. There have been issues but I don't think any program will be without issues.
I had 1 instructor who was just a jerk....and I found out others had same issue. I had another instructor who was wonderful but at the end of the class kind of vanished. I know she had some personal issues come up during class. It wasn't a huge deal but did feel it may have affected my grade slightly...but since I got an A- it isn't like I can be horrible upset that I didn't get the A (poor grading timeline leading to outline graded after paper due).
I have found that other instructors have been very approachable and felt some really did care. I have had to contact the advisors about a few things and she had always replied in a timely manner.
The second year isn't set up favorable to financial aid for the first 3 quarters and that is an issue for me. I rely on aid. I have to add 3 classes, 1 each quarter except summer 2nd year, but I will now also obtain a certificate in advanced complementary and integrative therapies. I figure the positive is I will be more marketable with this certificate.
We do find our own preceptors. I am nervous about that and we have yet to be given any information. But...we were told they received funding that will enable them to place some students and provide compensation to some preceptors.
Overall I'm am happy. I don't think there are programs 100% free of issues. My issues are minimal.
I'm also excited because there is a chance that they will be adding on an acute care PNP in the future. It is at the BON for review. If it approved I will jump on board and add that to my primary PNP...was told it should be just 5 more credits and something like 120 or 150 more clinical hours. That is a no brainer! I'm really hoping this happens.
Does that help?

ixchel · Jul 5, 2013

That helps a lot, actually! Thank you! I will also be relying on aid. I am used to the semester system, which I think requires 9 credits for full time. Are you trying to be eligible at the part time level, or full time? How many credits are required for each in a quarter system?

Since my last post, I've been looking at the course schedule and the requirements and I really think that this is a doable and great path for me. I will be finished my BSN spring 14, and will hopefully have a job in peds to satisfy the 1 year of pediatric experience before clinicals begin. I talked to my husband and it sounds like he is fully supportive of this choice as well. I'm feeling dorkishly giddy at the moment! My goal was MSN by 37. This will be a year early. :)

IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Jul 5, 2013

That helps a lot, actually! Thank you! I will also be relying on aid. I am used to the semester system, which I think requires 9 credits for full time. Are you trying to be eligible at the part time level, or full time? How many credits are required for each in a quarter system?
Since my last post, I've been looking at the course schedule and the requirements and I really think that this is a doable and great path for me. I will be finished my BSN spring 14, and will hopefully have a job in peds to satisfy the 1 year of pediatric experience before clinicals begin. I talked to my husband and it sounds like he is fully supportive of this choice as well. I'm feeling dorkishly giddy at the moment! My goal was MSN by 37. This will be a year early. :)

Part time is 4.5 credits needed for aid. So in the 2nd year there is an issue the first 3 quarters. So I'm taking 3 classes that are part of that certificate I mentioned. The 4th class needed I'm taking as the elective listed for first year summer quarter. It all works out in the end.

I worked L&D and was a sub school nurse when I applied. Call your local school districts and see about being a sub! I didn't want a peds position near home because the units are slow...though I did go to peds on some occasions to help out.

Where do you live? I'm in PA and really not far from campus. I don't know how it works if you are states away with clinicals. The aid for clinicals that we may see...I believe is local. They made it clear that not everyone will benefit from this grant they received.

I'm 37 now and will graduate (hopefully) in 2 years at 39. Even if you had to miss your goal by a little...you are still a very reasonable age to become an NP.

ixchel · Jul 5, 2013

Part time is 4.5 credits needed for aid. So in the 2nd year there is an issue the first 3 quarters. So I'm taking 3 classes that are part of that certificate I mentioned. The 4th class needed I'm taking as the elective listed for first year summer quarter. It all works out in the end.
I worked L&D and was a sub school nurse when I applied. Call your local school districts and see about being a sub! I didn't want a peds position near home because the units are slow...though I did go to peds on some occasions to help out.
Where do you live? I'm in PA and really not far from campus. I don't know how it works if you are states away with clinicals. The aid for clinicals that we may see...I believe is local. They made it clear that not everyone will benefit from this grant they received.
I'm 37 now and will graduate (hopefully) in 2 years at 39. Even if you had to miss your goal by a little...you are still a very reasonable age to become an NP.

Oh, I am giddy because I will be beating my goal! This is good news :) Although I am patient. I don't mind if I do take longer. I'm just excited it might not!

I was just looking at the curriculum and trying to figure it out in terms of number of credits. I don't understand why google isn't being fruitful on this, but the best I can find is the conversion of credits being 3:2. So basically, and please correct me if this is wrong because I can't find it anywhere, full time would be 6 credits, since on the semester system it would be 9. I looked at their certificate options and liked the Aspergers one. Wish they had an ADHD one. ADHD is very much a special interest of mine. But, we are talking about not needing extra credits until 2 years from now. Maybe they'll have the acute care option by then!

Our peds unit is the biggest ghost town. I have to tell you.... all of our BSN ped clinicals were pretty lame. We were only on the peds unit 3 weeks, and 2 out of the 3 we didn't have patients. Around here, schools, primary care, and home health are where the kids are. My very first application will be sent to the BOE. They're always hiring sub nurses, and they hire their full time staff from their sub staff. You know what would be an amazing future? Getting in as a sub, getting hired full time, then scuffling over to the school based wellness center when I'm finished with my PNP. Ahhh the stuff of dreams :) It's there, or private practice. I have had several heart to hearts with my kids' pediatrician, and I think I may apply there and other local primary care offices. Might be nice to get acute care, just for the sake of being able to maybe take on-call hours.

Where do you see yourself when you finish?

I'm in MD, btw. Drexel lists that you should be licensed (RN) in NJ, PA, or DE. If I can't arrange for clinical placement locally, MD is compact, which means I should be okay in DE if they want to send me there. The commute will suck, but I've got plenty of time to figure it out, and really, what's 2 days a week for a year when it opens so many doors afterward? Philly is 2 hours from where I am, and so are the furthest points in DE. I can figure it out, and thankfully hubs is super supportive. (I think he likes to keep his eye on the prize - the bottom line being a better salary and place in life.)

IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Jul 7, 2013

Oh, I am giddy because I will be beating my goal! This is good news :) Although I am patient. I don't mind if I do take longer. I'm just excited it might not!
I was just looking at the curriculum and trying to figure it out in terms of number of credits. I don't understand why google isn't being fruitful on this, but the best I can find is the conversion of credits being 3:2. So basically, and please correct me if this is wrong because I can't find it anywhere, full time would be 6 credits, since on the semester system it would be 9. I looked at their certificate options and liked the Aspergers one. Wish they had an ADHD one. ADHD is very much a special interest of mine. But, we are talking about not needing extra credits until 2 years from now. Maybe they'll have the acute care option by then!
Our peds unit is the biggest ghost town. I have to tell you.... all of our BSN ped clinicals were pretty lame. We were only on the peds unit 3 weeks, and 2 out of the 3 we didn't have patients. Around here, schools, primary care, and home health are where the kids are. My very first application will be sent to the BOE. They're always hiring sub nurses, and they hire their full time staff from their sub staff. You know what would be an amazing future? Getting in as a sub, getting hired full time, then scuffling over to the school based wellness center when I'm finished with my PNP. Ahhh the stuff of dreams :) It's there, or private practice. I have had several heart to hearts with my kids' pediatrician, and I think I may apply there and other local primary care offices. Might be nice to get acute care, just for the sake of being able to maybe take on-call hours.
Where do you see yourself when you finish?
I'm in MD, btw. Drexel lists that you should be licensed (RN) in NJ, PA, or DE. If I can't arrange for clinical placement locally, MD is compact, which means I should be okay in DE if they want to send me there. The commute will suck, but I've got plenty of time to figure it out, and really, what's 2 days a week for a year when it opens so many doors afterward? Philly is 2 hours from where I am, and so are the furthest points in DE. I can figure it out, and thankfully hubs is super supportive. (I think he likes to keep his eye on the prize - the bottom line being a better salary and place in life.)

I believe full time credits for the quarter system is 6. I think part time is 4.5-5.99. I would expect the acute care option to be ready in 2 years...but that is only 5 credits. I'm expecting that the acute care, if added to the primary care, is 1 extra class (5 credits and 160 clinical hours). So the 2nd year of being short for credits is still likely to be an issue for financial aid. You only need to take 4.5 for financial aid and I don't know that Drexel does the program on a full time schedule...I haven't asked to take extra classes to make myself full time. I thought I read somewhere something about there being a limit to what can be taken but I'm not sure.

When it comes to getting clinical hours....if you can secure a location 2 hours from your home it probably wouldn't be awful but it would be a little painful. I know that some people have moved part way through the program so they were closer to the area.

Seton Hall in NJ also has a program but it is full time and expensive. I believe they are partially online so I don't know how well that would work. But they are 43 credits for the program and Drexel is 55...I'm not sure why there is a such a large difference in the number of credits. It is kind of weird that one school is 43 credits and another 55. I just looked and Drexel is more clinical hours as well. Looking more Seton Hall seems to be more online now than when I was looking in the past. Hmm...weird. I will say that I found Seton Hall to be snotty when I was talking with them...but man where they knocking on my door after I sent in my application, references and essay. I had one other thing to get to them and they kept calling and calling. They do rolling admissions which would have been less stressful than Drexel...they send out acceptance letters in the summer.

Anyway...I'm happy with Drexel. The fact that Seton Hall is online might help you but I can't figure out why they are less credits or clinical hours and honestly...I'm okay with the extra hours.