FNP Program

Nursing Students NP Students

Published

I am a critical care RN, in my first year online at Gonzaga University on the FNP track. Despite my good grades, I am becoming increasingly concerned because I don't feel like I am learning very much. There is a lot of EBP/research/writing (totally important), but I don't necessarily feel like I am actually internalizing very much clinical information. On one hand, I know that the MSN degrees are very self directed, but on the other hand, it is tremendously expensive and time-consuming, and I feel like the program should be actually teaching/preparing me with what I need to know... I haven't started my clinical rotations yet, and I am trying not to future trip about it... But I am questioning whether I made the right decision with Gonzaga, or with the online track, or maybe with FNP school in general? Many MDs I work with have warned me against the NP track because of the limited clinical hours.

Does anyone have any insight/guidance for me? Did you feel prepared after completing an online FNP program? Gonzaga seems to have a pretty good reputation, but has anyone had direct experience with their FNP track?

Thank you!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I attended an ACNP program, but no matter what, the first few classes of any NP program are absolute garbage. It'll be better once you get to the "3 Ps" and clinical courses. Even then, however, you need to devote a lot of extra time learning above and beyond what your classes require of you. Study gross anatomy. Study physiology and pathology. Get a book like "Cecil's Essentials of Medicine" or "Harrisons Principles of Internal Medicine" and read it. You want to know what the MDs know. You want to think and speak as they do. So do yourself a favor and learn *as much as possible* - which means more than what your program presents to you.

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Never understood why in graduate nursing they like to have people do research and take classes that "translate research" (lol *** is that) before actually learning information.

Do what dodongo said because for some reason a majority of NP faculty are clueless morons with little to no real world experience and just like to sit up in their ivory towers acting like they are doing important research and making meaningful contributions

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Have you looked forward in the curriculum at all? The good classes should be coming next year.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That's what I have been telling myself... What makes me concerned is that I am currently finishing up my Advanced Patho class, which was entirely research paper based. I have heard that MSN degrees will differ from undergraduate nursing degrees in that they won't require such rigorous rote memorization, but I suppose I expected/hoped to at least have a solid and structured handle on many of the conditions, which will be essential in being able to complete differential diagnoses, etc?? I thought this process would begin in patho?

Next term is Pharmacology, and then I start into Clinicals.. At this point, it is hard to imagine being anywhere near prepared for Clinicals, not to mention an independent practice beyond?

Thanks for your insights/advice!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
That's what I have been telling myself... What makes me concerned is that I am currently finishing up my Advanced Patho class, which was entirely research paper based. I have heard that MSN degrees will differ from undergraduate nursing degrees in that they won't require such rigorous rote memorization, but I suppose I expected/hoped to at least have a solid and structured handle on many of the conditions, which will be essential in being able to complete differential diagnoses, etc?? I thought this process would begin in patho?

Next term is Pharmacology, and then I start into Clinicals.. At this point, it is hard to imagine being anywhere near prepared for Clinicals, not to mention an independent practice beyond?

Thanks for your insights/advice!

My advanced patho course was completely proctored exam based. There was an in depth covering of patho utilizing organic and biochem as foundation. We did zero papers for the class.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
That's what I have been telling myself... What makes me concerned is that I am currently finishing up my Advanced Patho class, which was entirely research paper based. I have heard that MSN degrees will differ from undergraduate nursing degrees in that they won't require such rigorous rote memorization, but I suppose I expected/hoped to at least have a solid and structured handle on many of the conditions, which will be essential in being able to complete differential diagnoses, etc?? I thought this process would begin in patho?

Next term is Pharmacology, and then I start into Clinicals.. At this point, it is hard to imagine being anywhere near prepared for Clinicals, not to mention an independent practice beyond?

Thanks for your insights/advice!

No, no, no. How do you have papers for a patho class. What school is this? This is exactly the kind of thing I point to when I say we need NP education reform. Schools like this should not be allowed to operate.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It's Gonzaga. I am so frustrated because I really did my best to try to find a reputable school. It certainly wasn't the cheapest or most convenient option, but I chose it because it seemed to get great reviews and I had talked to some people who really liked it. I wen't to OHSU with my BSN and had virtually the same experience.

Beyond the papers, they have assigned reading chapters from the patho book, but it is completely undirected, and I'm like, should I be studying/learning the cellular activity or???? arrghh.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

never understood why nursing provides so much emphasis on writing papers instead of memorizing useful things

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm sure at this point you feel as though you've sunk too much time and money into this school, but you should find a new school. This just sounds like an awful education.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have been looking into it... but at this point I am also feeling pretty mistrustful about the whole system. I certainly don't want to put all the additional time/money into switching schools and have it be a similar mess. My other option is to do what you initially suggested, and make/get the most out of it, and do concurrent self-study.. I am trying to be objective about this. What should I do?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't know. Proctored exams is one of the biggest things for me. If you haven't committed a rather large amount of information to memory, no amount of "EBP" and research will compensate.

If you're not too far in, transfer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment