St Joseph's College of Maine FNP program students

Nursing Students NP Students

Published

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

Specializes in ICU.

Now to add to what Shannon has said.... It sounds great to speed up those clinicals and get them done ASAP but and here comes the big but... I'm having issues getting someone who has the time to take me 3 to 5 days a week. I'm competing with the 6 other schools in my area and I'm competing with how they only want there students in clinical e few days a week. I found a preceptor but she is do highly regarded and sought after she has already agreed to four other students and can only take me On monday.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

i have found out some more about clincals. We will be taking a cohort of classes together. Ie peds and OB so you will be taking 8 hrs a week of ob and 8 hrs a week of peds clinicals. I am trying to understand what N 604 is about... and the type of preceptor needed. Is it adult and gerentology/ Peds and OB does any one know what it is?? the hand book does not state what the clinicals are about and what order we need to find preceptors in.

PS has anyone completed the program yet??? or has anyone found preceptors?? I' m getting discouraged with the requirements for preceptors. COntemplating a transfer to a different school!!! .

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

I am currently in the first round of clinical at St. Joe's FNP program. I have an FNP preceptor and an MD preceptor, spending one day a week with each. Although the focus of the first clinical is peds/ob, my first rotation is one day in family practice and one day in the walk in quick care clinic. I had spoken to the clinical coordinator, and as long as I see some children in my day, it is okay. I plan on doing an OB rotation with an OB later in my program, more towards the end.

I have found them to be very flexible....if you tell them you cannot find an NP preceptor, but you have an MD/DO preceptor, they will work with this...just try to find an NP for at least one of your clinical rotations. This will help you get started, and give you time to network to find an NP to work with, or get on a waiting list for a clinical with a preceptor.

A word of advice...before you enroll in this program, you need to make sure that St. Joe's is approved in your state as an FNP program, if not, you cannot do clinicals in your state no matter how many preceptors you find! Several people who were in the program found this out the hard way, and had to change either schools or programs of study.

I know that you will find folks who bash this program, but I have several friends enrolled in other online FNP programs, and they have struggles as well. This is a new program, with some glitches, but they are trying very hard to work them out, and it is one of the most cost effective programs out there. At 650 a credit hour, it is a bargain.

Take care, y'all,

Tracey

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

TraceyMarinoHow do I find out about the state thing? That would just SUCK to do all thus work then find out they are not approved!! Thanks for all the info.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in cicu,pccu.

Yeah how do you find out if st joseph is approved in your state?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

contact your state board of nursing....someone there is in charge of education. Make sure st. joe's is approved. Or, call the college, they have someone working on this very issue.

Tracey

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am currently in the first round of clinical at St. Joe's FNP program. I have an FNP preceptor and an MD preceptor, spending one day a week with each. Although the focus of the first clinical is peds/ob, my first rotation is one day in family practice and one day in the walk in quick care clinic. I had spoken to the clinical coordinator, and as long as I see some children in my day, it is okay. I plan on doing an OB rotation with an OB later in my program, more towards the end.

Does NP 609 (FNP 1 Clinical) require 1 peds preceptor and 1 OB preceptor?

I thought you had to find 1 peds and 1 OB preceptor before starting NP 609 (FNP 1 Clinical).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

They did not give our group a lot of time to get set up, and I did not know until 2 weeks before the clinical started that it was supposed to be peds and OB, therefore, they accepted my preceptors based on the fact that both preceptors see quite a few peds, and do some women's health follow up. They have been very flexible working with me and my preceptors. I am currently working on getting an OB rotation set up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

In the last few weeks I have received an email from the clinical director at school. N 604 is currently Peds and OB. If u start clinicals after April 1, it will be the adult rotation. If u want me to forward the email to you send me a pm with your address and I'll forward it. St Joes needs to send out a mass email to anyone in their last one or two classes notifying them of their plans for 604 ect. We need to know the Plans for clinicals so we can start aligning preceptors. IMHO.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks Tracy and Canchaser! Info is helpful for thoughs of u's just starting out. Anyone know anything about south Carolina?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

My advisor sent me an email letting me know my states have accepted st Joseph. She also said I would have been notified up front if my state or a neighboring state had not accepted them. She said there are a few states left to approve and school is working on that. Good luck all. Ps, when u do get close to starting clinicals, start lining up the prceptors early because we are asynchronous we very well may start clinicals mid semester of the brick and mortar schools. So that means the good preceptors are booked for the next 5-6 months already, I wish I had known to start looking last fall cause now I'm behind. Also, if u line themUp early, they can start filing the paperwork to be your preceptor.I suggest you also get your paperwork completed early it can take a while. It took 4 weeks for a class mate to get background complete depending on how slow your precincts are.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER and Education.

Hello!

I have recently been accepted to St Joseph's and was hoping I could ask a question?

I am confused with the accreditation of the school. It appears that the school is accredited on the surface but after being directed to the 98 page Nursing Handbook by my advisor, on page 8, it states....."the program will be able to undergo a site visit and full review for accreditation after the graduation of the first class.... fall 2012." What are your thoughts on this? I have talked to four people and awaiting the dean to response. I feel like I am not getting straight forward information and it makes me nervous.......

Thanks in advance! And any other advice with starting..... I am registered for patho and working on a post cert.

Nurseheeler :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment