St Joseph's College of Maine FNP program students

[LJames13]

I wanted to start this thread for all of the new (and current) students at Saint Joseph's College of Maine FNP program.

Any info, news, updates or questions/concerns could be asked here for all the new and current students.

Any advice that the current students can give us new students would be greatly appreciated :)

For example...

1. How many books are required for NU 501?

2. Has setting up clinicals been difficult?

3. Have the current students had any trouble communicating with your advisors? Do they get back to you promptly?

4. Overall, how has the experience been? Are you glad you are in this program?

Thanks so much!

LJames13

[RN-In Maine]

Norik95.

I cannot give too much feedback because I just started clinical a week ago however, I work 2-12 hr shifts a week along with clinicals. I can foresee there being challenges balancing school, work, life but I have no choice to work 2-12s (aka 14 hrs). Hope this helps a little. I am sure there are other students who worked 3-12s and made it work however, I know I couldn't!

[norik95]

how many days you do clinicals?? 2 times a week??

[RN-In Maine]

Yes, you need to average 16 hrs a week. It cannot be condensed. But I am sure if you had 1-2 weeks with three days they would accept that. My clinical days are averaging from 0800-1700.

[norik95]

Thank you , it is very helpful

[norik95]

so , basically 3 clinicals for 15 weeks each , correct? basically 1 year of clinicals ... correct?

[RN-In Maine]

Yes, if you have all of your preceptors lined up. Depending where you live its not that easy if you are competing with surrounding schools.

[playboyesquiere]

I do clinicals mon and tues for 8hrs, work two 12 hr night shifts, and 1 8hr night shift a week. One job is prn, the other is part time with full time benefits so I'm able to keep still eat and have healthcare. It is difficult to balance especially with all the paperwork from the theory classes and the discussions. I'm in the second clinical womens and children's and These discussions are more in depth, and so are the case studies. I'm in oklahoma, my clinical site is 1hr away from my house so that's a 2hr commute for me. I'm averaging about 16, but doing an extra hour or 2 b/c i'm going on vacation sometime in may and don't want to have to make up a bunch of hours. As long as your do the entire 15 weeks, you can go over on your hrs some.

[playboyesquiere]

Everyone i talked to said to do the professional paper during the second clinical rotation. I'm still thinking about what topic I will do, but you get 6 months to finish the paper.

[IdahoFNPstudent]

I'm starting NP 612/613 on April 30, but was wondering about the second clinical class. For those of you that have completed NP 615 (children and women of childbearing years) do we need a pediatrician specifically, or if our preceptor sees a decent amount of children does that work? Same thing with women of childbearing years, do we need to go with an OB-GYN?

Thanks

[marianasnp]

IdahoFNPstudent,

You can go with a family practice for NP615 as long as she or he sees good number of peds and OB-GYN patients.

[RN-In Maine]

IdahoFNPstudent

I am actually emailing one of the directors today with that same question. If you do not find an answer by the time I receive a reply I will post what I was told!

[RN-In Maine]

Thank you Marianasnp!