Samuel Merritt University FNP Insight

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Hello to all SMU students or perspective students.

I just wanted to put my name out there and see if anyone had any questions about SMU and the FNP program.

I just graduated and I am willing to pass on all my inside information to anyone who is interested.

Specializes in Emergency,.
Hey skibumNP!

Thank you so much for offering up your insight! I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate it. Reading your posts is making me feel less stressed already. I'll be starting the elmsn-fnp program in the fall. I have been wondering about the clinicals and if they are office based more than hospital. Sounds like you were able to focus a bit more on hospital work. That is what I am interested in as well, how do I go about accomplishing that? Also, the emergency medicine program sounds intriguing. That is an area I may be interested in too. What should i do as I start and progress through the program to make a goal of in-hospital work more achievable? Thank you for the guidance!

Well RedCat,

I'm glad you are feeling less stressed, there is truly no reason to feel ANY stress. Do the work, read as much as you can, and remember to make time for fun (get outside and play). if you are stressed then you can't learn. for the first 1.5 years, when you are working on your RN, you are in a hospital for most of your time, just mental health and community you are not in a hospital setting.

your last semester of the RN part you can request a placement of your choice. I worked at the Trauma center in Oakland in the ED.

During the clinical part of the NP part i did try and work in the hospital as much as i could. i was able to spend three months at a local ED and i also spent a chunk of time at pediatric cardio-thoracic floor at UCSF.

The program is NOT built for hospital care. the faculty is 99% primary care. so if you want something else you must work for it. This said, i know many NPs who have graduate from this program and have gone on to work in a more acute care setting.

I also took classes from the PA program, i was able to take classes in emergency medicine and other skills i wanted like a better understanding of EKGs and Radiology/Ultrasound all subjects that were not taught in the NP program.

I hope this give you a better understanding of what you are starting, and if you have any more questions feel free to post.

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Did you feel like the second year was slow, especially semester 6 where there is only a 1 credit seminar? I know we are supposed to work as an RN that semester but considering the horrible job situation for fresh grads, I guess it's not a requirement anymore, were you able to find a job? Looking at the curriculum, I see that we take 47 credits the first year, 24 the second year, and 30, the third year, and 12 the last semester. Which year did you find the most difficult, lol, I'm guessing the first one due to course load? Did you find the masters portion difficult compared to the first year? Sorry for asking a plethora of questions!

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Specializes in Emergency,.
Did you feel like the second year was slow, especially semester 6 where there is only a 1 credit seminar? I know we are supposed to work as an RN that semester but considering the horrible job situation for fresh grads, I guess it's not a requirement anymore, were you able to find a job? Looking at the curriculum, I see that we take 47 credits the first year, 24 the second year, and 30, the third year, and 12 the last semester. Which year did you find the most difficult, lol, I'm guessing the first one due to course load? Did you find the masters portion difficult compared to the first year? Sorry for asking a plethora of questions!

Yea, that semester was kinda a waste of time. I wish they re arranged the first NP year, gave us more classes,, or maybe move everything up a semester, but that summer with one credit, I went to New Zealand for three weeks and went skiing.

I was one of the lucky few and found a job, I started to work for a Nursing registry filling in a different emergency departments. but this is not something i would go in expecting that you will find a job.

I have to say i never said to my self, "this is difficult". I worked hard, and some weeks were harder than others. I worked that hardest during the last two semesters of the program. But i can honestly say I wish I worked harder. I graduated with a 3.87 and I feel i wasn't pushed hard enough. But that falls on to my shoulders, not the schools, I could have worked harder.

Don't worry about the questions, it's why i started the post. and if you have more, please ask 'em.

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Hi skibumnp,

Thanks for all your insight so far! I had a question about housing and the school schedule. I live in San Jose and am planning to move to Oakland when school starts, but it seems like some semesters (maybe more towards the end) don't require you to be at school everyday or as often. To save money on rent, I'm wondering if you think it's possible to commute from San Jose during some semesters and how much time is spent in classes/hospital. I guess what I really want to know is, do I need to live near the school during the whole program? Thanks in advance!

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Skibum - regarding your comment:

I have to say i never said to my self, "this is difficult". I worked hard, and some weeks were harder than others. I worked that hardest during the last two semesters of the program. But i can honestly say I wish I worked harder. I graduated with a 3.87 and I feel i wasn't pushed hard enough. But that falls on to my shoulders, not the schools, I could have worked harder.

While I understand what you mean I think it is essential that the program be challenging enough that someone can't get a 3.87 withOUT working hard. That you could says to me that the program was not being creatively challenging. You mentioned you also took PA classes to supplement (something I want to do as well - wherever I go) which is great but the program YOU signed up for and YOU paid for should have been challenging enough to maintain YOUR undivided attention.

No?

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how were you able to take PA classes too? Will most schools allow this? What is the process to do this?

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Specializes in Emergency,.
Hi skibumnp,

Thanks for all your insight so far! I had a question about housing and the school schedule. I live in San Jose and am planning to move to Oakland when school starts, but it seems like some semesters (maybe more towards the end) don't require you to be at school everyday or as often. To save money on rent, I'm wondering if you think it's possible to commute from San Jose during some semesters and how much time is spent in classes/hospital. I guess what I really want to know is, do I need to live near the school during the whole program? Thanks in advance!

I have a few friends who have done just what you are thinking about. (one who lived down there the whole program).

I would recomend being in Oakland for the RN part of the program, after that you can work it out that you would only go to class one or twice a week. and if you can get all your clinicals close to your home, then you are golden.

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Specializes in Emergency,.
Skibum - regarding your comment:

I have to say i never said to my self, "this is difficult". I worked hard, and some weeks were harder than others. I worked that hardest during the last two semesters of the program. But i can honestly say I wish I worked harder. I graduated with a 3.87 and I feel i wasn't pushed hard enough. But that falls on to my shoulders, not the schools, I could have worked harder.

While I understand what you mean I think it is essential that the program be challenging enough that someone can't get a 3.87 withOUT working hard. That you could says to me that the program was not being creatively challenging. You mentioned you also took PA classes to supplement (something I want to do as well - wherever I go) which is great but the program YOU signed up for and YOU paid for should have been challenging enough to maintain YOUR undivided attention.

No?

I agree with you! and i am ONLY speaking from my experience, But I wish we were pushed more. It's not good in my mind when people expect to get an A on a test. especially after complaining that a lectures was bad, or they didn't do any reading.

I also wish we were held at a higher standard in what we brought to class, at times it was easy to just show up. Bring on the graded test that is given every week! i know it is more work for the professors, but that is what we are PAYING for.

I am confused by your statement about PA classes. If you want to take them wherever you go, are you saying that whatever school you go to won't be challenging enough to maintain YOUR undivided attention?

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Specializes in Emergency,.
how were you able to take PA classes too? Will most schools allow this? What is the process to do this?

I talked with the dean of the PA program and the profs that were teaching the classes and got their permission.

then i paid the audit fee.

then i took the class.

:smokin:

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Hi, did you feel like you were adequately prepared to take the NCLEX exam after the first 4 semesters, or did you have to go out of your way to buy NCLEX study guides or take a course and study on your own?

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Specializes in Emergency,.
Hi, did you feel like you were adequately prepared to take the NCLEX exam after the first 4 semesters, or did you have to go out of your way to buy NCLEX study guides or take a course and study on your own?

I felt great for the NCLEX, no problems there. I did choose to take the Kaplan course. But i never stressed out.

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Hi SkiBumNP,

I was wondering if you could give me an idea of how the first year's schedule

was, in terms of class days and times. Like lele09, I'm also debating on whether to commute or not. However, I would be only commuting from Livermore. Thanks for taking the time to answer all our questions! :)

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