Samuel Merritt University FNP Insight

Nursing Students NP Students

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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,.

I can speak in general terms, i'm not 100% sure what my schedule was and i certainly can't say if there are any changes.

I was at school 4 days a week the first semester. 3 days a week the lectures and labs would start around 8 or 9 and most day would be full. the on the 4th day i was at the hospital for an 8 hour shift. (mine were mostly 3p - 11p) the following two semesters were much like the first, but with more hospital time and less lecture time. but i would talk with the head of the RN program and see what the options are.

I know you say only livermore. but that is still kinda far. but if you are ok with long drives before and after long days i say go for it. I know i couldn't do it.

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SkibumNP, I Applied to the elmsn fnp but was waitlisted, so am trying to start the absn in January instead. My question though, is say I get the bsn do u know how much rn experience if any is required to do the traditional fnp program down the road? Couldn't find anything on the website.

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Specializes in Emergency,.
SkibumNP, I Applied to the elmsn fnp but was waitlisted, so am trying to start the absn in January instead. My question though, is say I get the bsn do u know how much rn experience if any is required to do the traditional fnp program down the road? Couldn't find anything on the website.

You truly don't need any. I know a woman who went right from the absn to the fnp program.

however, she spent allot of time talking with the director of the FNP program, convincing her that she would be a good match with the program.

you also might want to look into the PA program, depending on your end goal.

remember working as an RN is nothing like working as an NP. I am one of the believers that the two are totally separate paths. and one day (i hope) the NPs will be governed by the medical boards.

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You truly don't need any. I know a woman who went right from the absn to the fnp program.

however, she spent allot of time talking with the director of the FNP program, convincing her that she would be a good match with the program.

you also might want to look into the PA program, depending on your end goal.

remember working as an RN is nothing like working as an NP. I am one of the believers that the two are totally separate paths. and one day (i hope) the NPs will be governed by the medical boards.

That's the very last thing I want to see happen!!!!:uhoh3:

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Specializes in Emergency,.
That's the very last thing I want to see happen!!!!:uhoh3:

to each their own.

My feeling is that the nursing boards have had their chance, and it's embarrassing how little standardizing there is in our country.

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I share your frustration with the lack of consistency, quality and "meat" of many NP programs. However, having NP programs overseen by medical boards would result in the end of the NP opportunity. The medical community has demonstrated repeatedly its self-interest in repressing every area of allied health that has attempted to establish its own primary role.

California is far behind many states in allowing the development of the NP role. Zenman has been practicing in states which allow independent practice and has seen how well NPs can function.

While going straight from a BSN program to an MSN-NP sounds attractive to the student, I feel that solid RN experience in critical care areas such as the ER and/or ICU develops assessment skills and an understanding of disease management that helps to level the playing field between newly minted MDs and newly minted NPs.

I think we can all agree that NP programs waste too much time on theory and writing papers about relatively meaningless subjects that have virtually no value in working as an NP. It would be nice if we could scrap those courses in favor of additional coursework in advanced patho, pharm and disease management. Even though the NP concept has been around for nearly 50 years, we are still in our infancy with regards to curriculum development. Those who are practicing as NPs have a unique opportunity to help guide the direction of NP education through involvement with both the schools they attended and others that might be more local - as you seem to be Ski in possibly influencing the development of an FNP/Emergency program at SMU (my alma mater too by the way).

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Specializes in Emergency,.

This is a direction i want to take SMU. I am in the starting stages of putting together a proposal to the movers and the shakers. I next need to see if it would be a good project to get my DNP.

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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.

What do you mean by this? I thought that primary care can be considered hospital care...

I am interested in Samuel Merritt, but for some reason the program doesn't seem legit to me. I guess it's their requirements.

Did you feel like you got adequate clinical hours? I am just worried about getting enough experience.

How is Oakland? I've only heard about the crime rates, so it's not looking too good for me. Are there any small towns that are near, which are cheaper in rent?

Thank you

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Specializes in Emergency,.
What do you mean by this? I thought that primary care can be considered hospital care...

I am interested in Samuel Merritt, but for some reason the program doesn't seem legit to me. I guess it's their requirements.

Did you feel like you got adequate clinical hours? I am just worried about getting enough experience.

How is Oakland? I've only heard about the crime rates, so it's not looking too good for me. Are there any small towns that are near, which are cheaper in rent?

Thank you

AT SMU they are certainly biased for office based primary care. Hospital care is more acute care. (ACNP, or Emergency NP)

I however was able to have most of my clinicals in a hospital and now I am working as an Emergency NP.

I don't know what you mean by "doesn't seem legit" can you be more clear, what requirements are you talking about?

In CA the required clinical hours are a joke, SMU goes above the required hours, and I chose to go above what SMU wanted. by the end of my clinical year i had close to double what the state wanted.

Oakland is a wonderful city, there are plenty of nice, safe, fun places to live. there is crime in any large city, oakland isn't unique. as for cheaper rent, it depends what/where you are coming. I have a studio that i rent to students for 1000 a month and i have never been at a loss for people who want to live there.

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AT SMU they are certainly biased for office based primary care. Hospital care is more acute care. (ACNP, or Emergency NP)

I however was able to have most of my clinicals in a hospital and now I am working as an Emergency NP.

I don't know what you mean by "doesn't seem legit" can you be more clear, what requirements are you talking about?

In CA the required clinical hours are a joke, SMU goes above the required hours, and I chose to go above what SMU wanted. by the end of my clinical year i had close to double what the state wanted.

Oakland is a wonderful city, there are plenty of nice, safe, fun places to live. there is crime in any large city, oakland isn't unique. as for cheaper rent, it depends what/where you are coming. I have a studio that i rent to students for 1000 a month and i have never been at a loss for people who want to live there.

I guess it's not the requirements per se, but the university itself. I kind of feel like you're paying for the degree, since the cost is so much (and from some posts on this forum, they seem to accept those who don't always have the most stellar application). Did you think the cost was too much? I read on their website that each unit is ~$1,000, and that you complete ~100 units in total. When you add cost of living, book, food, gas, etc., it seems like you'd be paying off your loans for quite some time.

How did you 'choose' to go above what SMU wanted in terms of clinical hours? Did you sign up for an extra class, or were you able to shadow a preceptor on your own?

Also, were the clinicals in Oakland, or in nearby cities? What was the farthest distance that you had to travel? I've heard that traffic in the bay area is always so horrible.

Thank you

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Specializes in Emergency,.

I am curious as to what exactly you are talking about. The cost of SMU is on par with other private schools in the bay area (Touro, USF). it is about 1K a credit, and by the end you have taken 110 credits. Depending on where and who you want to work for there are generous loan repayment programs setup. also i know two of my friends who were able to get a total full ride, with books, and living expense though a scholarship.

you are responsible for making sure you meet the hours. something like 130 the first semester, 190 the next then 280 the last. But if you put in extra days, longer hours, they add up quick.

My clinicals were in oakland, SF, and Richmond. but I know people were placed all over. you need to be flexible. they say they will place you within a 100 miles of the school. but i didn't know anyone who had to drive that far ever. The traffic can suck, but that is a big city for ya.

where are you living now?

I guess it's not the requirements per se, but the university itself. I kind of feel like you're paying for the degree, since the cost is so much (and from some posts on this forum, they seem to accept those who don't always have the most stellar application). Did you think the cost was too much? I read on their website that each unit is ~$1,000, and that you complete ~100 units in total. When you add cost of living, book, food, gas, etc., it seems like you'd be paying off your loans for quite some time.

How did you 'choose' to go above what SMU wanted in terms of clinical hours? Did you sign up for an extra class, or were you able to shadow a preceptor on your own?

Also, were the clinicals in Oakland, or in nearby cities? What was the farthest distance that you had to travel? I've heard that traffic in the bay area is always so horrible.

Thank you

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Hi SkiBumNP,

Thanks again for taking the time to answer our questions. I am just wondering roughly how many of your classmates found jobs after graduating. I am most concerned about taking all these loans out for school and not being able to repay them. I also wanted to ask if SMU provides any job support for their graduates? I've heard that they have a placement program with Kaiser.... but I've also heard they don't help much when their students finish their programs.

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