Simmons FNP Sept 2017

Nursing Students NP Students

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Beyond excited to start my journey of becoming a FNP at Simmons College this September. I have to take the Biology Bridge Course which I'll take in May. Has anyone applied for this cohort, or plan to apply? Accepted? Goodluck to all.

hey everyone!! I just wanted to let y'all know I was just accepted yesterday for the January 2018 Cohort! To anyone who has a lower GPA, it IS possible!! I had a 2.9 undergrad GPA and 4.5 years of ER experience. I had 3 strong LOR and worked diligently on my statement of purpose and also wrote a strong optional statement. I do have to take the bridge course before i can start the other classes.

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Congrats! I just found out today I was accepted for the Jan 2018 cohort as well!

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Nice! I got accepted to the Jan 2018 cohort too. I do have to take the Bio bridge course, its kind of pricey, I hope its worth it.

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As a current Simmons FNP online student, I would like to post an update just to give everyone a snapshot of what I have encountered so far. Anxiety, no time for family-at all-, and have already gone down to part time at work (2/12s per week). I will preface this by saying that I feel the program is extremely rigorous and you will feel very well informed. The caveat, however, is the volume of work expected for you to complete per week before live class is tremendous. The part time program requires 2 to 3 classes at a time and with that, you would be set to complete the program within 2 years and 3 months. As I stated in my previous post, the tuition is $65,000 not including books. Each term is 14 weeks long. The first term of the part time program you will have Nursing Research and Adv Patho. The research class requires papers in strict APA about every 3 to 4 weeks. You will be assigned 2-3 chapters to read every week and are required to watch pre recorded videos and answer questions (some require 300 words) based on two research papers you are also assigned to read. You are then required to take a pre test exactly 24 hours prior to attending live class. The professor WILL deduct significant points from your grade if you complete the pre test outside of the 24 hour time period. You are required to attend live class as well (each live class is about 2 hours long) where you will discuss the research topics and go into break out groups where you and your classmates will answer questions based on 1-2 different research studies you are asked to review.

The Adv Patho class was very informative, but required a high volume of work. I would have loved to take this class by itself so that I could have concentrated on it more. Each WEEK you will read 6-8 chapters and watch pre recorded videos. You are required to print out the "hand outs" within the videos and will use those to study for the quarterly exams. You are also required to take a pre test 24 hours prior to the live class. In addition, you are given 4 case studies per week to answer and discuss in class. I will tell you, myself and my classmates estimated it took us 2 hours to complete each case study as each question given within the case study took significant amounts of time to research. In addition, you must complete the etiology, s/s, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention for each case study and disease process. All this MUST be done prior to live class because the professor selects you at random to discuss your findings. During the live class, you take the first hour to merely read the handouts out loud (non productive), and the last hour you discuss your case studies one by one. THEN you must complete a POST TEST after the live class. IN ADDITION, you will have quarterly exams (every three weeks) based on the 3 body systems you have studied. For example, we had a quarterly exam that covered the endocrine system, the reproductive system, and the neuro system. That is a high volume of info to cover! Here is where we encountered our most difficulty. Each quarterly exam counts toward 75% of your grade. Also, each exam is only 33 questions and there were emails sent to the dean as well as the course lead regarding at least 4 questions per exam that seemed off the wall and not related in any way to what was so heavily discussed and studied. When you have 4 questions per exam that do not seem fair, and you only have 33 questions per exam, trust me, it's disturbing to say the least.

That being said, I am doing well in both classes grade wise. I have spent many hours fulfilling course work which is not compatible with my life. For example, on my days off, I sit down to do work at 8 am, rush to complete as much as I can before both live classes, and rise from my desk at 8pm after my last live class. I have sacrificed all time with my children to the point where my daughter begged me to take her to get ice cream and I was in such a time crunch I simply could not. I have seen my body change from not having the ability to take time for walks, or exercise of any kind. My family has taken over cooking dinner since there is never enough time for me to do so. I fully expected grad school to be rigorous and time consuming. But this is completely life altering.

I chose the online format thinking it would afford me some flexibility, but this is the most unflexible life I have ever had. The breaking point was when I compared what I am going through to the FNP programs my co workers are attending. They cringe when I explain the volume of work I have. Rigor is expected, but the volume is incomprehensible. Side note, next term I will have 3 classes, one of which is Pharmacology (and this is considered Part Time).

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@livethenurselife Omy!! That sounds intense for part time! Ru still working too? What schools did your friends apply and do they recommend any of the other fnp online programs? Also have you noticed that the test/quiz/exam questions are fair with the material being studied, do instructors give study guides?

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@livethenurselife Omy!! That sounds intense for part time! Ru still working too? What schools did your friends apply and do they recommend any of the other fnp online programs? Also have you noticed that the test/quiz/exam questions are fair with the material being studied, do instructors give study guides?

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Hi everyone congrats to everyone who got accepted, I am still

Waiting for a decision. Very nerve wracking my gpa is borderline 2.899, but I have been an icu Pediatric and adult nurse. I have done burns to public health nurse work. A nurse for 5 years, volunteered in the community and I believe my LORs are pretty strong, but I still don't have an answer. I don't know if the longer they take it means a no. I would love any advice or words of encouragement. Thank you

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I have also been accepted into the 2018 fnp cohort I am so excited and a little nervous. I hope to get to know you all very soon.

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Can anyone tell me about the Simmons FNP program? I wanted to know about the advanced patho class? The number tests and quizzes , how testing works? Etc?

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