South university online graduate school of nursing (msn family nurse practitioner)

Buyer beware, BSN · Jun 20, 2016

Thanks for your input. I will look into it. I'm finishing my MSN in nursing education in September and have been talking to South university regarding their FNP program.

Hi Runman1914" There is one incredibly important question you should ask the South Assistant Directors of Admissions (ADAs) that I know the true answer to having found out the the hard way. And all South schools operate the same. They are a corporation. This question is:

Do they have good relations in the preceptor community, contractual or otherwise to facilitate assuring you the ability to obtain the 5 preceptorships you will need in to complete the program? The true answer is no, you are on your own. On this issue there will be subtle vacillating deception but deception nonetheless. (this includes online also)

They, as a for-profit business, have the audacity to ask MD's and NP's to train you for a total of 720 hrs in total for free. These are private businesses and South offers them no incentives to provide this free service except to say "they should want to do it." I used to sarcastically say, when South offers free tuition this may be the case.

Oh, I almost forgot, the preceptors do get a dollar store certificate of appreciation. I know, I've seen it--unframed by the way. In this regard you could see MDs not wanting to precept but I was really surprised to discover that many NPs also couldn't be bothered. So much for collegiality. How soon they forget who once trained them.

Now if you are a male and to a much lesser extent female trying to obtain an OB/GYN preceptorship it is not impossible, but nearly so. I was told by several OB/GYN MDs straight up that having a man in the exam room would make the patients uncomfortable. Pediatrics is another issue to a slightly lesser extent. But, again, sarcastically, it was perfectly alright for me to catheterize about 10,000 females during the course of a career, no issue there. Again, it's a secret hiding in not so plain sight.

So it's vitally important to pin ANY program down on this problem. If they tell you they don't know about the preceptorship issue they are lying. This is the best kept secret in nursing education and I don't know why--well, I actually do. In virtually any large or small city or locality you are competing with other NP programs, PA programs as well as medical schools who do have contractual or otherwise good relations in the preceptor community. This leaves you at a terrible disadvantage in the marketplace. What kills me is they know this but apparently operate business as usual.

Also, and this is another major RED LIGHT regarding for-profits. They require you to sign an arbitration agreement as a condition for enrollment. Most public and private schools don't ask you to give up your right to be heard by a jury of your peers if or when they don't fulfill their promises. This is problematic. For-profits should stand behind their product without asking you as a condition for enrollment to give up this precious right. After all you are merely a would-be NP neophyte at this point.

So ask me, I'll give you the unbiased truth. There is absolutely nothing in it for me except to provide, as we say, informed consent. Tread cautiously in this area because you always hear from the minority of success stories with the for-profits but hardly ever from the almost logarithmic amount of very good students; and I mean very good, who were completely deceived on this issue leaving them with a fortune in debt and no degree.

You know the problem is as the saying goes "you don't know what you don't know." That's where I come in.

Runman1914, MSN, RN · Jun 22, 2016

Thanks. I will definitely do my home work on this.

Buyer beware, BSN · Jun 22, 2016

I'm in the process of completing my app for south university fnp program. Does anyone not get accepted to a for profit school?

SheenaLee you must be aware of this and I don't know where to start but Educational Management Corporation the parent company of South University is in the process of a financial meltdown. This they won't tell you this and that is misrepresentation of a material fact and false inducement. If you haven't started, do not go and if you have try to get your money back.

If you signed an arbitration agreement you are screwed. It means you have given up your right to sue them in a court of law if and when they don't live up to their promises. They should stand behind their product without duping you into giving up this precious right. Reputable school DO NOT make you do this on condition of admission. Look up their history of guile and deception it's there in plain sight. There is so much more including that extremely low-ball number on tuition that right now I am afraid for you. Remember if they go out of business you will be left with no degree, with tens of thousands in loans and no where to take your earned credits to because they won't be transferable. Make any other choice if you possibly can. Russian roulette with your life should be out of the question.

Buyer beware, BSN · Jun 22, 2016

I received my BSN in May 2015 from South and now I am in the FNP program. I recommend SU. I have not had any issues with them.

Not yet. But be careful and know what's going on behind the scene. South is owned by Educational Management Corporation. They own a consortium of other schools including Art Institutes, Brown Mackie College and Argosy University. Although South is somewhat stable due to the nursing traffic, the other schools are melting down as we speak. This they won't tell you and they are playing Russian roulette with your life, unbeknownst to you. Do some research on you own. You will not be pleasantly surprised. By the way I know for sure you signed an arbitration agreement if and when you enrolled. With this you signed away your right to be heard by a jury of your peers in court if and when you have a dispute with them. No reputable school will ever ask you to do this. Everything I'm saying are extreme red lights. I have thirty years of experience in nursing, on no one's payroll and yes I am an advocate for nursing education. Just not at this wolf in sheep's clothing or most other for-profit schools.

By the way if they neglected to tell you about their finances which they don't it's called false inducement. And that usually makes a contract null and void. But since you've signed an arbitration agreement well good luck.

These people although friendly and helpful are really like those creeps in the movie "Hostel." Do not be taken in! They are not your friends.

Buyer beware, BSN · Jun 22, 2016

Yes it is. If you are at the adn level now then you still have some time before you get to the more intense classes. I worked full time through the bsn and have worked full time through the FNP program until preceptorship started. I doubled up on as many classes as I could to speed up the process. I would recommend taking patho and pharm by themselves though because the intensity. Technically you can work full time even through the preceptorship which is the entire last year but that won't afford you enough time to study and do clinicals. Anyone who says they studied adequately and worked a full time job during the clinical portion is lying through there teeth. I would recommend working prn once you start clinicals.

Rod don't do this. PM me and I will tell you the real deal about South. I will even give you my email address. There are special caveats for male nurses looking to become NPs that for some reason are well kept secrets hiding in plain sight. Besides, and this is the worst part. Education Management Corporation that owns South and other schools are financially melting down. This they won't tell you and it's criminal. But look them up. There are so many reasons not to go to South they are almost innumerable. Look at some of my other posts on this thread and you will get an education. I want you to become a NP but steer clear of this fastest way to your loan money school. And by no means are all schools the same by a long shot.

NC-ED-RN, BSN, RN · Jun 23, 2016

Buyer Beware I am applying to South University FNP. I have not gotten to the point where I cant turn around but I would love to get some information from you.

NC-ED-RN, BSN, RN · Jun 23, 2016

PM me and I will tell you the real deal about South. I will even give you my email address. There are special caveats for male nurses looking to become NPs that for some reason are well kept secrets hiding in plain sight.

Help a brother out.

sfalumberjack007 · Jun 28, 2016

Update: passed AANP certification program two days before graduation. The exam was not that difficult to be honest.

CBlover, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2016

Update: passed AANP certification program two days before graduation. The exam was not that difficult to be honest.

CONGRATS!!!!

babychick291 · Jul 7, 2016

Hi!

I am looking into starting with South University, and was wondering how it went for you. It's 2016 now, so you should be completed.

D_Taylor · Jul 8, 2016

Rod,

Any updates, have you graduated, how has finding practicum? I'm starting the program July. Can you please email me [email protected]

Rod, Male Nurse · Jul 9, 2016

Expected graduation/completion date is Oct 8th! Practicum has proven to be the most difficult part so far. Even with very strong ties and networking with physicians, I am fighting for spots with a few other NP students as well as a bunch of PA students who have flooded my area.