Samuel Merritt University FNP Insight

SkiBumNP · Jul 25, 2011

Please don't mind me asking this but I'm really curious to know, why didn't you go into PA school? You seem to very much like the medical model, so why did you chose FNP? Was it for the autonomy?

I would say from ignorance. and self doubt.

I didn't truly know what a NP could do let alone a PA.

once i was neck deep and knew what i wanted to do, my path was set.

it wasn't worth my time to turn around and start over.

Now that I am working in emergency medicine, where I want to be.

i don't see any need to return to school.

unless it was to go back for a real medical education as an MD.

Don't get me wrong, i think that the NP education is good, and can help many of our patients, however, i know that i would know more and be a better provider had i gone to medical school.

adusf84 · Jul 26, 2011

Thanks for your response! I really appreciate all ur help =)

live.love.laugh · Oct 11, 2011

Hi SkiBumNP,

First, I want to thank you for starting this thread and answering our questions! I really appreciate it. Second, I'm debating whether I should apply to both Case Management and FNP tracks at Samuel Merritt. My ultimate goal is to be a NP, so I feel that it would be a waste of my time and money to apply to the CM track. However, I also feel that I would be missing out on a chance of being accepted into a nursing program. Did you apply to both programs or do you know anyone who did? Also, do you think there's less chance of getting into the program if I applied to both tracks?

Another question, I currently hold a part-time job at the hospital and would love it if I can work super part time (once a week) during nursing school. Do you think that's possible??

Thanks in advance!

Optimism87

SkiBumNP · Oct 11, 2011

I would make up your mind prior to going to school.

If you know you want to be an NP then go to NP school.

SMU is a small school, go and talk with the directors of the program, put your face out there. get to know people prior to going to school. I do know a few people who switched from the CM program to the NP program, but that was a special situation. not something to count on. I I would say IF you sent your app in to both program it would look bad. I would show that you aren't confident with your choices.

as for working. you could work for some of the semesters. certainly not full time, and there would be a few semesters that you would be super full. but that is all up to you. if you feel keeping this job would be an opening to a job as an NP then i say keep it. if not then the choice gets harder. personally I like my time not working and not in school. So time off was important to me.

Hi SkiBumNP,
First, I want to thank you for starting this thread and answering our questions! I really appreciate it. Second, I'm debating whether I should apply to both Case Management and FNP tracks at Samuel Merritt. My ultimate goal is to be a NP, so I feel that it would be a waste of my time and money to apply to the CM track. However, I also feel that I would be missing out on a chance of being accepted into a nursing program. Did you apply to both programs or do you know anyone who did? Also, do you think there's less chance of getting into the program if I applied to both tracks?
Another question, I currently hold a part-time job at the hospital and would love it if I can work super part time (once a week) during nursing school. Do you think that's possible??
Thanks in advance!
Optimism87

nukkaNP · Oct 15, 2011

I recently graduated as an FNP from Samuel Merritt University ELMSN program. I have a slightly different perspective than SkiBumNP.

In general, I found the program very unprofessional. Most of the teachers are very poor. The lectures were boring and uninspired. Repeatedly, lectures and syllabi were from classes before mine and never updated. I know this because the old dates were carelessly and blatantly left on the PowerPoints and handouts for us to see, as though they had not looked at the materials from the previous year until they opened the PowerPoints the day of the lecture. Tests were very difficult due to numerous grammatical and spelling errors. After outrage from the class, test questions with obvious careless mistakes (it seemed like tests had never been proofread or even spell checked) would be taken off the tests.

Lectures were rambling and clearly unprepared. Teachers expected things from students that they themselves were not willing to give, i.e. punctuality, preparation, enthusiasm, professionalism, dedication, etc. Class schedules, grading, course syllabi would be repeatedly changed throughout each semester due to poor time management on the part of the professors. Very recent graduates of the SMU FNP program, with little clinical experience, were hired as professors and lecture at the MSN level. Recent graduates were also brought in to do specific lectures and teach some skills days. All of this made for a very poor academic environment.

It was easy to have a high grade point average as long as you were willing to do a lot of busy work thoroughly and attend class and clinicals regularly. I graduated with a 3.9 GPA. It was not a very challenging academic environment. We were required, of course, to back up our assertions with current research, but faculty did not always do the same.

Students that sucked up to the teachers and kissed ass got opportunities and information others did not. For a family nurse practitioner program, pediatrics was neglected. I experienced most of these issues during the NP portion of the program. The RN portion was more organized, professional, and academic. I was most interested in the NP portion, so I was very disappointed. You go through 15 grueling, continuous months of the RN portion and you cannot wait to get to the NP part. To find it in such disarray was heartbreaking.

There is a lot of group work, so be prepared for that and all the challenges it brings. As we all know, some group members do not always contribute as much as others. When there is a lot of group work, some class members are able to skate by on the hard work of others.

The clinical sites are, for the most part, excellent. I learned the most from my clinical rotations. Paradoxically, the clinical preceptors for the NP portion get paid nothing but give and teach more, and are more professional, than the actual faculty. The school had a hard time finding enough clinical sites and hours for all the students. I found 75% of my NP clinical sites myself. As a whole, the RN portion was much better than the NP portion at finding and organizing clinical rotations.

The tuition is EXTREMELY expensive for what you get, over $1000 a unit with regular increases. You would think you get more for the extra price but really you get less. The library is pathetic. There is no career center or support finding a job as an RN or NP. Financial aid is a wreck and almost useless. The campus is small and not very accommodating, with very few places to hang out and study. The school is located in a moderately dangerous neighborhood. A couple students were robbed at gunpoint while I was there. And, the classrooms are freezing in the winter. After graduating from a CSU and attending a CA junior college for my prerequisites, I just assumed a private school would have more to offer. I did not experience these same problems with lectures and faculty at the other schools I attended. Once at SMU, I really missed the educational caliber of the state schools, and I missed the campuses and state school resources.

A little background from my FNP application process:

I wanted to go to UCSF's FNP program and was wait-listed. UCSF told me if I applied the following year I would get in, but I did not want to wait another year. I got into SMU, SFSU, and USF. I did not apply to any schools outside the Bay Area. I was unable to find much information on SMU, and I decided to take the opportunity because it was the only NP program I got into. The others were other entry level MSNs. If I could go back, I would not change my decision to attend SMU. Now that I am working as an FNP, I know, with enough effort and dedication, you can make up for whatever was lacking in your education, and it seems that most mid-level practitioners report they were lacking something.

live.love.laugh · Oct 15, 2011

NukkaNP,

Thanks for your perspective. I am a little worried about the neighborhood. =\ I wish I can apply to UCSF, but my undergrad GPA was not stellar and I feel that I have no chance of getting in. So, I did not even bother with that. Do you think doing the ABSN program at SMU would be better than the FNP program? You mentioned that there are no career resources for students, how did you find your current position?

Optimism87

nukkaNP · Oct 15, 2011

There is a huge difference between what an NP does and what an RN does. There is also a big difference in responsibility and decision making. I would say if you want to be an NP, do the NP program, and you will find out about the whole RN thing along the way. Also, as an NP you have the option to work as a RN or NP or both. If you don't want to be an NP go into the ABSN program.

As for jobs, I would not worry about that. Although there is not a career center or any formal help finding a job at SMU, some of the professors send out job opportunities via email. Many students found jobs thru their clinical experiences and contacts they made in school.

I believe the Affordable Care Act will affect primary care dramatically. There is already a high demand for PCPs in this country. In 2014, many more people will be insured and have access to health care; this will further increase demand for NPs in the primary care setting. I think it is an exciting time to be a new NP.

live.love.laugh · Oct 22, 2011

Hi SkiBumNP (and anyone who is following this thread),

I emailed the admissions counselor regarding the following questions, but they haven't replied back yet. So, I was hoping to get some answers from here for the time being.

I'm not sure how your application was like. But, the application for the ELMSN-FNP Fall 2012 cohort is in paper form and we are asked to elaborate on our paid/volunteer work experience and service, leadership, continuing professional development activities on Aseparate sheet each. I like to think of these as supplemental info because we also have a goal statement. The questions asked are exactly the same as the questions asked in the personal statement section in the ABSN program and we were allowed 1-2 pages per question. My question is does anyone know if it's okay to write a 1.5-2 page, double spaced essay for this section of the application?

My second situation is that I did some pre-requisites for the ABSN program at a city college, but these classes are not required for the ELMSN program. Should I still list the college on my application and send in the transcripts from that school?

Lastly, does anyone know if I have to send in my TEAS scores again? I sent it in from ATI when I applied for the ABSN program and I'm not sure if I would need to send it again.

For those of you who are still reading...thanks for the help!

Optimism87

SkiBumNP · Oct 22, 2011

I'll try to answer all question.

as for the application and the written part, i can't let you know for sure, it sounds different then when I applied. that would be a question for the school directly. be persistant, call them a bunch and ask them.

what are the pre-requisites you did? if it was nursing patho and pharm then you should and see if you can just audit the SMU class, it will cost you way less.

I would think that you WOULD need to send the TEAS in, the ABSN and the ELMSN programs are totally different.

-good luck!

Hi SkiBumNP (and anyone who is following this thread),
I emailed the admissions counselor regarding the following questions, but they haven't replied back yet. So, I was hoping to get some answers from here for the time being.
I'm not sure how your application was like. But, the application for the ELMSN-FNP Fall 2012 cohort is in paper form and we are asked to elaborate on our paid/volunteer work experience and service, leadership, continuing professional development activities on Aseparate sheet each. I like to think of these as supplemental info because we also have a goal statement. The questions asked are exactly the same as the questions asked in the personal statement section in the ABSN program and we were allowed 1-2 pages per question. My question is does anyone know if it's okay to write a 1.5-2 page, double spaced essay for this section of the application?
My second situation is that I did some pre-requisites for the ABSN program at a city college, but these classes are not required for the ELMSN program. Should I still list the college on my application and send in the transcripts from that school?
Lastly, does anyone know if I have to send in my TEAS scores again? I sent it in from ATI when I applied for the ABSN program and I'm not sure if I would need to send it again.
For those of you who are still reading...thanks for the help!
Optimism87

MilitaryWife04 · Nov 12, 2011

Hey SkiBumNP,

I was wondering if you or anyone else with SMU FNP experience can answer a few of my questions...I'm applying for the Summer 2012 FNP program in Sac. I already have a BSN and am currently working full time as an RN. I want to know if I can continue working full-time during the first year? Are classes held at night, online, on weekends? What was your class schedule like during the first year? What time/days were classes held? I have 3 young kids, so going to grad school will be a big sacrifice for me, esp if I have to quit my job or decrease my hours. I like my job, I work in Peds and I make pretty good money, probably similar to what an avg NP already makes, but it's been a long time goal of mine to become an FNP, so I'm going for it.

SkiBumNP · Nov 12, 2011

Well, I truly can't speak for the exact schedule, I would call the school and ask them what last years schedule was like. from my recollection you should be able to keep a part time gig until the last two semesters.

Most classes are in the evenings during the week, though some you might be able to take on line.

as for the money, if you work in Sac or the Bay, you will make LESS then most RNs.

but hey, you're not doing this for the money.

Hey SkiBumNP,
I was wondering if you or anyone else with SMU FNP experience can answer a few of my questions...I'm applying for the Summer 2012 FNP program in Sac. I already have a BSN and am currently working full time as an RN. I want to know if I can continue working full-time during the first year? Are classes held at night, online, on weekends? What was your class schedule like during the first year? What time/days were classes held? I have 3 young kids, so going to grad school will be a big sacrifice for me, esp if I have to quit my job or decrease my hours. I like my job, I work in Peds and I make pretty good money, probably similar to what an avg NP already makes, but it's been a long time goal of mine to become an FNP, so I'm going for it.

lenaelle · Jan 31, 2012

Hi! I am wondering if you can tell me about the interview process? What kind of questions did they ask? What can I do to make myself a better candidate? Thank you!