Starting Simmons FNP, ambivalence

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Hi all

Just wanting thoughts on some of my concerns. It appears to be one of the most prestigious and well-organized programs you could however I'm becoming more concerned at the extreme heavy load needed to pass the program. I'm starting the part time program in a few weeks. I'm taking a bridge course now. First, the "part-time" program is completed in two years. It's 2-3 classes a term plus clinicals in the latter part of the program. People I know in the program are spending 50+ hours a week studying, writing papers and preparing for class and some are failing out or barely passing the 83 average required to pass each class.

I was talking to a Dr the other day I work with and told her that you must make an 83 in every class and she said that is more stringent than her medical school and she couldn't believe it! Essentially you have to get 9 out of every 10 questions correct in a very challenging program. It seems daunting and unlikely that I'll always get 9 out of every 10 questions correct on average.

Also, Simmons does not allow you to take classes at your own pace. Full time is 1.5 years, part time is 2 years. For those of you who have are or have completed Simmons, how did you balance the heavy time investment with life and work. I work three 12-hour shifts a week and know that I will have to cut back to part-time or per diem as the program moves along. I wish I could take the classes as I could. Regis College, for instance, gives you 7 years (last I knew) to complete the curriculum.

I'm going to take it one day at a time. I really like not having to physically attend class and watching the classes live. What are your experiences and advice?

Thanks

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

It sounds like you are talking about the Nursing@Simmons online program not the traditional brick and mortar program?

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yes the online simmons. Bostonfnp, I've read your posts here for the past few years while I positioned myself to begin a master's NP program. I would really like your viewpoint. The Simmons online has a great reputation BUT the "part-time" program is completed in 2 years (there is no option to spread classes out at all) and requires 50+ hours a week studying and many students have to stop working or reduce to part time or per diem. Now that I have started Simmons, my wife and I are really concerned that it may be too intense to complete in 2 years.

I nearly chose Regis College, as I live 40 minutes from the campus. If you have 7 years to finish the program, and could work full time for most or all of it, it seems I may have to reconsider regis. Thoughts?

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Specializes in Family Medicine, Tele/Cardiac, Camp.

I don't know much about the Simmons program, except I know some colleagues who went there and loved it. I do know that Regis does let you spread your classes apart so I imagine it would be beneficial for those with full time jobs, etc. I know a few people who went this route and loved it for different reasons. I think that Regis also allows you to do the clinical component of your program over the course of 2 years which some may find useful too. But, I've also met a lot of direct entry NP students who didn't like Regis at all. Although that doesn't really seem to be the case with the experienced RN's I've met who have gone to Regis. Every program has their own pros and cons. Best of luck.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
yes the online simmons. Bostonfnp, I've read your posts here for the past few years while I positioned myself to begin a master's NP program. I would really like your viewpoint. The Simmons online has a great reputation BUT the "part-time" program is completed in 2 years (there is no option to spread classes out at all) and requires 50+ hours a week studying and many students have to stop working or reduce to part time or per diem. Now that I have started Simmons, my wife and I are really concerned that it may be too intense to complete in 2 years.

I nearly chose Regis College, as I live 40 minutes from the campus. If you have 7 years to finish the program, and could work full time for most or all of it, it seems I may have to reconsider regis. Thoughts?

My personal though process is that you go to the best program you can, and in my opinion, Simmons is a better program. The online program is new but much of the curriculum and the faculty is the same, and the traditional program is well-respected and well-networked. I have colleagues and I have had students in the past that have gone through working full time and doing the program full-time, it's challenging but doable, perhaps less-so with a family at home. You are spending two years investing heavily in your future, and if you can get by financially reducing work hours or PT or PD then you should, it will benefit you in the end.

Again, in my opinion, I don't think you are doing yourself any favors spreading NP school our over 7 years. Immersion, in my opinion, creates a far better base for your transition to advanced practice. I couldn't imagine studying for boards when some of the information was learned 7 years prior, a lot changes in 7 years!

Best of luck, feel free to PM me if you have anything I can help with.

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Personally I think these part-time online programs are a bit lax. 7 years is ridiculous. I get with people's lives/work that classes need to be somewhat spread out, so I can see the 3-4 year span being viable but definitely not 7.

As Boston said, immersion is important which is why med schools stick to the 4 year rapid fire curriculum.

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry, Cardiac/Renal, Ortho,FNP.

Wow, what I can tell you is that distance FNP programs are all similar. YOU will be teaching yourself most of the time and your preceptors (working for free!) will be the ones preparing you. The school mattered very little in my case other than to provide a vehicle to take tests through and get a degree. Learning medicine and "advanced nursing" came through my preceptors. So which school matters to nobody but yourself. I've never been asked what school I went to for anything other than casual conversation-it will not make or break you. The 7 point grading scale IS a problem and can bite you. If I had it to do all over again I would have chosen a school with a 10 point grading scale and less cumulative clinical hours. Your call but it doesn't feel good to repeat a class b/c you got an 82% and people in another program got an 80% and graduated a semester earlier than you. Also, I would never suggest dragging this process out 7 years-you'll burn out. Get it over with and move on.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
I've never been asked what school I went to for anything other than casual conversation-it will not make or break you.

This is not true in every part of the country, so students need to be aware of their local job market and what the local employers are looking for.

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Specializes in ICU, Allergy/Asthma, and Primary Care.

I currently attend Nursing@Simmons. I am part time and am in my second year. I like you, compared other schools. Now that I have been attending Simmons, I could not imagine going to a different school. Simmons truly prepares you to be a knowledgable FNP. When I talk to the doctors, and other FNPs at my work about what I am learning, they are always very impressed, and complement their curriculum. The reputation of your school does matter. I can not tell you how many eye rolls I get when I say that my school is online. Once I say that I attend Simmons the eye rolls stop, and the responses are like "oh that is a really good school." Not all online schools are created equal, and many providers share their concerns regarding other online schools. I am very confident that the education I am receiving will have me well prepared for the certification. I am already reviewing certification books like Fitzgerald, and Leik and I can tell you that Simmons follows the question style, and curriculum. Is it hard work? ABSOLUTELY! The 83% is very real, but most programs, not just Simmons have that as a pass or fail grade. In addition you may not start out putting in 50 hours a week. I will say that as the program progresses, the courses get more involved and more challenging. I started out working three days a week, and now that I am in health assessment I have cut down to two days a week. Come clinical I do plan to quit or work PRN. I will say that there are many students who still work PRN or part time during clinical. It is all about what works for you, your family, and finances. If you do stick with Simmons you will also be part of a wonderful community. I have made so many new friends in this program. You will never feel isolated in this program.

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I'm currently in my last semester at Nursing@Simmons. I must say, it has been a great program. Then again, I have nothing to compare it to. The material you're required to learn really prepares you. And yes, it is a lot of material. I started working full/part time at work while a full time student. It was tough, but doable. Then once clinical started, I realized that working was damn near impossible. I had to drop to Per Diem at work and just pick up occasional weekend shifts. The 83% for the class is tough (and that's an 83% average on exams only, not the whole course...meaning you don't factor in your points for participation and quizzes..etc), but all the tests have been very fair. No class thus far has been extremely tricky.

The Adobe Connect portion of it isn't that great. Web chat live sessions tend to be buggy. Plus the learning experience really depends on the Professor knowing how to even properly use Adobe Connect. I'm not a big fan of the breakout group sessions...I'd much rather just go through a lecture and have all the classmates bounce ideas off of each other and ask questions. Otherwise, the program is excellent. And two major thumbs up for them having a clinical placement program where they find a clinical site for you. Definitely better than finding one yourself.

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Hello, I have been looking into Simmons Direct entry program for FNP and I like the program so far. Can you let me know a little bit more about the program if you can? I have not been able to talk to current students yet. I will appreciate if you can share some information.

Thanks!

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