I am just trying to map out my future right now and I had a couple questions.
For those of you that have done distance learning for your advanced practice degree, do you feel that you were properly prepared to enter clinical practice once you graduated?
Looking back, would you have preferred the face to face format?
What were some of the challenges that you faced doing distance education and how did you handle them?
I'm finishing up an online program and I found that most of my classes were just fine. Although I'm not practicing yet, I felt more than prepared for clinicals and feel like I will be just as competent as my colleagues entering practice from more traditional programs. Most importantly, you need to have been a nurse for a few years to get the most of the program. I feel this way about all NP students, but it's more important in a distance program where your professors are more facilitators of your own independent learning. The only class where I think in class would have been better was Advanced Health Assessment BUT I was still prepared to begin clinicals in the end (most of it was review of what we learned in nursing school, with more detail). To be honest the only real drawback was the recorded lectures were SO boring! In class tends to be more interactive and interesting. I also found that in online classes you do a lot more of your learning from the texts and articles assigned than from the lectures.
Thank you all again for the input! It has been very helpful. I do well with independent learning so distance learning may be a viable option for me. This site is the best. Thanks guys!
I should also note that my program has synchronous classes as well. So there are scheduled times during the week we are required to log on and listen/watch the professor lecture in real time.
My path was mainly on-campus course work with few online courses. I took a few online courses (Phoenix), and these courses were VERY writing intense and VERY time-consuming. In fact, both classes were more work, by far, than any traditional three credit class I have ever taken. I prefer traditional course work in the sense that I enjoy building relationships with peers and having the opportunity for dialogue. I developed deep bonds and lifelong friendships with my classmates that I could never find online only. For me, the online courses lacked a richness of human experience and were merely a means to an end.
Specializes in Assistant Professor, Nephrology, Internal Medicine.
I loved my online NP program from U of Cincinnati, felt like I had tremendous support. I second the comment that no program will ever fully prepare you to go out there and beat the learning curve. I think we should have more access to residencies.
Thank you guys so much! At this point, I feel like I taught myself in nursing school-at least the didactic portion of it all. From what I gather, grad school will likely be the same. But I am comfortable with that. I guess I was just unsure what the transition would be like into a clinical setting given the increased responsibility. I really do appreciate all of the responses.
There is likely a range of quality in distance learning programs just as there is in brick and mortar programs. I earned my MSN in the PMHNP program at the University of North Dakota - outstanding program. I felt very well prepared to practice. The program was rigorous and required a great deal of self-discipline.
I saw that you mentioned that you earned your PMHNP. This is a goal of mine. Right now I am a new graduate with the opportunity to work in either an outpatient behavioral health clinic or an inpatient mental health unit in a hospital. I am not sure which to choose. Which setting do you think will best prepare me for graduate school and/or my role as a future PMHNP? Thanks in advance.
Between the two, I'd probably suggest in-patient - mostly so you would know what happens in that setting. However, I would suggest getting experience outside of psych - especially as a new RN. My experience in the ED, ICU and Tele have made a tremendous difference in building my knowledge base. Our patients have numerous co-morbidities and having a more solid medical background will help you build credibility with your physician colleagues.
Just finished up an online MSN-FNP through Duke University. The online didactic portions were nice. I liked listening to lectures in my PJs! Physical assessment skills were taught on campus and each speciality course had at least 1-2 days on campus per semester. I think you HAVE to have that in person component for a clinical degree. We also saw standardized patients and were taped doing so to review with the faculty. I also recommend finding a program that assigns preceptors and clinical sites for you...that part was invaluable to me.
I was a little sad at my lack of connection with the university, so for my elective, I went on a short-term medical outreach with the school...problem solved!
I am in a hybrid program- and I've found some of the online classes very disappointing. I did an entirely online program for my RN-BSN at Frostburg and I loved it, great experience, and I learned a lot. In my graduate program (which is NOT at frostburg, but another university), some of the online classes are very confusing and communications with the instructors is frustrating, for example I write 3 questions in an email and get a response back to 1 of the 3 questions. Posting a syllabus that is outdated. Professors who don't understand how to use canvas or quizzes that are incorrect. No voice over powerpoints, just book learning.
That being said, I think it depends on the school. If they are diligent about hiring professors that are tech savvy and able to teach effectively through the online format then you may get a great education online. If your school has some professors that are lacking, you will probably struggle and be frustrated and feel you aren't learning as much as you could. For me, I need lectures. It can be voice over powerpoint or video but I want someone to offer anecdotes, highlight key points, etc. Two of my online classes don't offer that. It leaves me wondering why I am paying thousands of dollars per class to basically read a book and make a discussion board post.
It might be worth mentioning that the professors I am unhappy with also teach NP classes at 2 other major universities online.
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I'm finishing up an online program and I found that most of my classes were just fine. Although I'm not practicing yet, I felt more than prepared for clinicals and feel like I will be just as competent as my colleagues entering practice from more traditional programs. Most importantly, you need to have been a nurse for a few years to get the most of the program. I feel this way about all NP students, but it's more important in a distance program where your professors are more facilitators of your own independent learning. The only class where I think in class would have been better was Advanced Health Assessment BUT I was still prepared to begin clinicals in the end (most of it was review of what we learned in nursing school, with more detail). To be honest the only real drawback was the recorded lectures were SO boring! In class tends to be more interactive and interesting. I also found that in online classes you do a lot more of your learning from the texts and articles assigned than from the lectures.