UAB's FNP program - stats?

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Specializes in ER.

Hi! I'm still a few years away from even applying to graduate school, but I love to plan ahead, so I've already started looking at schools and deciding which ones I like best. I really like University of Alabama at Birmingham's program from what I've found online, so I was wanting to know about all of you who have applied and did or did not get in; what was your undergrad GPA, years of experience, GRE when you got in? If you got in, what were your thoughts on the program? How much were you able to work? Any advice/more info would be appreciated. Thanks!

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Specializes in Cardiac, Pulmonary, Anesthesia.

3.5 GPA, no GRE since I had over 3.2, 3 months nursing experience when I started, worked full time and attended full time during the first semester, full time work and 2 classes second semester, dropped out in the summer because I didn't like it. Only class that will give you difficulty is the advanced patho class but it's open book online. Tab your book REALLY well, no way to know the answer to some questions and it's timed aggressively. Some answers can be direct quotes from book, possibly in the chapters not covered for that particular test, 70% you should be able to answer on your own but the rest you spend 15 minutes looking for the answer. Assessment is easy until the video you make of a full assessment which is very time consuming.

I recommend their FNP program, but not the ACNP. I, as well as others, felt they were teaching us too much family stuff and not enough acute care in the program. And ask for a new advisor if you get dr. Appel. She's bipolar, loses documents, and will straight call you a liar when you tell her that you followed her plan of study but she just put the classes wrong. No way to prove it because she doesn't write the correct damn date next to her signature. Still bitter about that.

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Specializes in ER.

Thanks for your reply! I've been wondering about when I want to apply - most people have told me to wait a couple years. Do you think it was harder for you compared to others who had more work experience as an RN?

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Specializes in Cardiac, Pulmonary, Anesthesia.

No, the didatic portion was not harder, and by the time I would've made it to clinicals I would have had enough experience to function well there too. But for those who never work as a nurse it may be more slightly more difficult. I think they require 1 year of experience before you start clinicals, or that may have been just for ACNP.

Either way, if you are going to work while you take classes, just apply anytime. If you move there and work at UAB, wait 6 months From

your hire date to start and UAB will pay for 18 credit hours per year as this is part of your benefits package.

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