South University FNP MSN program???

Updated:   Published

So did anyone or is anyone currently in the FNP or Adult NP online program at this time? I spoke to an admissions rep and was really impressed. The set up is nice with one course at a time, although was told you can talk to your advisor and sometimes layer your courses here and there as well (like an 11wk course with one 5.5 wk course) which I'd prefer to do to get done faster...since I did my ASN at Excelsior and am finishing my BSN I'm well used to online format courses and have my time down to a science. I was planning on beginning my application process now, so that in December we submit everything with the potential to start the first week of Feb 2014...anyone else??? Any thoughts???

Oh, no! I can't PM either for the same reason. Anyway, I'm attaching the link just in case, but it may be edited out :( Log into Facebook | Facebook

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Your at school for the most part once a week. I lived 52 miles from campus and went to school once a week for the first 3 quarters. The 4th quarter and beyond I was a ICU Travel RN and would drive to school once a week driving as far as 180 miles one way to school. I worked nights 7p to 7a Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

I did a clinic rotation with a South online student and I definitely would recommend going to the brick and mortar.

What did you feel was wrong with the program? Is if anything specific you are comfortable telling us? I mean is it anything to do with the price of the school? I herd it cost about 40k but I'm not sure if that's right?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi JMHanna,

I have just started SU FNP program and I am nervous about the program, especially intense writing requirements. Could you add me SU FNP Facebook page too?

Thanks.

if you need my email is: [email protected]

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have so many issues with SU. They give you so much busy work there is hardly time for studying. The discussions are fine, but the clinical encounter entries are incredibly time consuming because of the system they use. I would prefer more time to learn what we will need to learn in order to practice. Then there are the practicums. There are a few people accepting hundreds of documents daily. They can never keep them strait. They take far too long to approve a practicum. The practicum requirements are in my opinion to strict. You have to use NP preceptors for 50% of your clinicals. Maybe in some areas it is doable, but there are just not enough NP preceptors to go around. They let you begin the process 6 months ahead of time, when most schools start it a year in advance. I feel constantly behind. They are very picky about the sites also. Not good when it is hard enough to find a preceptor in the first place. Then there are the start dates-no academic calendar so you have no idea when class starts unless you count the weeks. And....they will change the class dates on you in a moments notice. We were supposed to get a week off between Christmas and New years. The only time off we have had all year, and now I get an email saying classes will start on the 22nd. The other class does not end until the 24th, so this is overlapping. And then there is the Peds rotation. So hard to find a Peds NP in the South. I secured an urgent care who saw mainly peds. This town had no pediatricians and this was the best I could get with an NP. They held my paperwork for 6 weeks and although I was upfront about the fact that it was urgent care, and...they acted like they were going to approve it and they denied it. Said that they don't do follow up appointments-even though my preceptor said they did. They called someone at the clinic (who knows who answered the phone) and they told them that they don't do f/u appointments. I am devastated. I have called over 40 offices with NPs and they can only give me a couple of weeks at any of them, and some are booked for a year in advance. SU requires 180 hours in 10 weeks. So now I don't know what to do. I either change schools and start over or wait possibly a year to get a peds NP. It is looking hopeless. I have several friends who are going to different schools. They do not have as many restrictions as SU. The local college got rid of the requirement of having NP preceptors because it was too difficult to find, and they don't require as many hours in a certain specialty. On another note-the instructors have no idea what is going on most of the time. The students have to tell the instructors about changes. We have to read through a discussion board (hundreds of posts) to find out what is going on and what changes have been made. So disorganized. I would find a different school. I wish I had gone to the local school that is a year long. It is full-time, but I have been going for 2 years and have spent 40-80 hours a week on school. That is not part-time like they claim. I could have been done by now and saved myself a lot of stress. They even moved my registration half-way through the program because they lost their accreditation for my state for the online program. By then I was so far into it I would have lost all of my credits. So I stayed. I should have jumped ship then.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

And just to add-I have a 4.0 and I am 2 classes from graduating....if I can ever find a NP peds preceptor.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi all!

I see this thread is a few years old so I'm hoping someone has graduated from South and now employed as an NP...

Im supposed to begin in two weeks and am getting cold feet as I keep reading horrible reviews about south. My most important concern is that employers won't take the degree seriously and it will be hard to find a job. Any thoughts or insight would be much appreciated!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Once you have passed boards it will be fine. I have felt so jerked around by these people. They change the game every class and put out new information and requirements and don't make you aware of it. They increased our clinical hours requirements and didn't tell anyone! Of course they DID put it in print, but didn't make anyone aware of it. So, basically the requirements that you are being aware of now (clinical hours, class time, etc.) is subject to change at any moment and you have no choice but to accept it. The classes were 12 weeks long.....then they shortened them to 11......then 10 but the required work is still the same. I don't sleep anymore. All I have time to do is school. I don't even have time to pee. I have spoken to a lot of people that went through NP programs at different schools and they are taking pity on me. They actually had time to see their families......Thank goodness it won't be much longer!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey K-Nicole,

I'm in the class before last (expect to graduate in May) and the answer is very simple: Employers look at national certification, state license, and personal qualifications. Which school you graduated from is not a deciding factor... this is one of these things that some people who have issues keep telling themselves. For instance, if you decided to go to to a brick and mortar state university, then you perpetuate you alternative reality that, somehow, employers prefer graduates from your school because you decided to go to said school.

If you were to be in a position where the employer has a bias or preference for hiring graduates from X or Y university, then it's impossible to change the employer's bias... One thing I'll tell you, constantly graduates from SU get amazing offers, oftentimes, even before graduating PLUS the pass rate of boards is great! All over AN, you'll find people who failed boards more than once and yet we at SU are passing within weeks of graduating. The complaints you'll find here are from people who will complain no matter what. Make your own judgment and make the decision that;s best for you. Best of luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey Guys, I am finishing my BSN right now (finish in May), I've been a nurse for over 3 years now but...my question is, if I apply in May, which is what they are telling me to do...Will I get in to the program for August?? I'm worried it will be full, but they are telling me to wait to apply.. Thanks in advance guys! I am so ready to start!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

NursingGirl9,

In my experience, they let me apply while in the last semester of my BSN -- I provided unofficial transcripts showing the expected date of completion of the program. I completed the whole process and as soon as I graduated, they requested my final transcripts (showing date of conferral) and I started within weeks. I they don't allow you to apply right now, get a list of the required items, letters of recommendation forms, work on your admission paper, etc. and apply as soon as you can... SU has several starting dates per year, unlike the brick and mortar schools that start on the Fall and their application deadline is at the beginning of the year. Best of luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey EJN,

Thank you for taking the time to reply to me!! It did help to settle my fears. You make some very valid points.

How are you liking the classes? How early did you start looking for your preceptors?

K

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I like the classes and as soon as you can.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion