United States University (USU) FNP

Has anyone done this program? I'm looking into it and it seems great but there are hardly any updates reviews. Thanks!

4 hours ago, CANURSE999 said:

I agree with you that the level of education from a state run or for the sake of this post a more "reputable" university would be preferential to most.

Prior to nursing I received a BA from UCI and a MS from Cal State Long Beach so I feel competent to discuss the issue of higher education both onsite and online even going as far as writing my master's thesis on andragogy.

My 2 cents is this and take it or leave it as the decision is entirely yours.

1) There are 27 MSN-FNP programs in the entire state of California that are CA-BRN approved and USU is one of them. Is USU a UC, Cal-State, or a super reputable private University, such as Loma Linda or USD? I would not argue that it is but if becoming an FNP is your goal, it is a decent option.

https://www.rn.ca.gov/education/apprograms.shtml

2) Rural communities need NP's at a much higher rate than LA, OC, SD, SF, etc. As you will learn in your MSN program there is a significant shortage in these communities and they need you most of all. Its not a scholarly article but it justifies your importance. Do you think patients in your rural area are going to ask if you went to an online for-profit university like USU and will subsequently refuse to be seen by you since it was not USC/UCLA? If you recognize a need in your community (and assuming in whatever state you are USU is approved and you can practice) it is a good option.

https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/nursing/nurse-practitioners-primary-care-role-rural-areas-hobbled-practice-restrictions

3) Your board certification (and what concentration your MSN is) determines your reimbursement rates from insurance, medicare etc. Ask someone who is a psychiatric NP how their reimbursement rates are if they were to see someone for a cold. Type of board certification matters.

4) If all the schools are so great and prepare their students so much better why are there so many review courses to pass boards? Hollier and Fitzgerald are the two biggies but these women have made millions writing books and hosting conferences to get people where they need to be to pass boards. The MSN-FNP program is similar to law school, the information they teach you in law school does not necessarily translate to passing the bar.

5) USU is one of the only schools I have heard (I could be wrong) of that does actual days of patient physicals and assessments live and in person. All students perform a PAP for females and a rectal/penile/testicle check for men on a real live "patient." That was a really great learning tool prior to starting clinicals and performing a whole slew of these things.

6) Piggy backing on the education aspect, you working for 20+ years as an RN have no clue how much knowledge you actually have in that brain of yours until you start clinical rotations. Clinicals are where you learn the job of being an NP and are honestly more important than the actual MSN program. I would have gladly done 2-3X the amount of clinical hours in lieu of the MSN if it were an option.

Do I work for USU, nope. Do I feel that it is some godsend of schools, nope. Do I feel it is a great option for many individuals (either younger or older) who are desperately searching for a way to become an FNP without sitting in class all day every day for two years and spending a ton of money, yup. Were the assignments tedious, cumbersome, and not super helpful at learning how to be an FNP, yup.

I am turning off notifications for this thread as I feel I have spent too much time on it as of late but if anyone ever has any questions feel free to reach out via private message and I'll respond.

This board was not super helpful when I started searching for MSN-FNP programs as USU was not mentioned much but I am happy to see a lively discussion since then.

Good luck to you all!

Thank you for the detailed response. It was what I was hoping to find. I agree with all your points. Many anteaters here. By now, it's the best bang for the buck at the shortest time while being clinically prepared. Name brand doesn't mean anything to me anymore, unless there were quantifiable benefits involved. I am an out of stater. I will take your word for it.

4 hours ago, LJCecere said:

Even at $52k, which hurts to type.

$52k, that's what I am trying to avoid.

4 hours ago, CANURSE999 said:

I agree with you that the level of education from a state run or for the sake of this post a more "reputable" university would be preferential to most.

Prior to nursing I received a BA from UCI and a MS from Cal State Long Beach so I feel competent to discuss the issue of higher education both onsite and online even going as far as writing my master's thesis on andragogy.

My 2 cents is this and take it or leave it as the decision is entirely yours.

1) There are 27 MSN-FNP programs in the entire state of California that are CA-BRN approved and USU is one of them. Is USU a UC, Cal-State, or a super reputable private University, such as Loma Linda or USD? I would not argue that it is but if becoming an FNP is your goal, it is a decent option.

https://www.rn.ca.gov/education/apprograms.shtml

2) Rural communities need NP's at a much higher rate than LA, OC, SD, SF, etc. As you will learn in your MSN program there is a significant shortage in these communities and they need you most of all. Its not a scholarly article but it justifies your importance. Do you think patients in your rural area are going to ask if you went to an online for-profit university like USU and will subsequently refuse to be seen by you since it was not USC/UCLA? If you recognize a need in your community (and assuming in whatever state you are USU is approved and you can practice) it is a good option.

https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/nursing/nurse-practitioners-primary-care-role-rural-areas-hobbled-practice-restrictions

3) Your board certification (and what concentration your MSN is) determines your reimbursement rates from insurance, medicare etc. Ask someone who is a psychiatric NP how their reimbursement rates are if they were to see someone for a cold. Type of board certification matters.

4) If all the schools are so great and prepare their students so much better why are there so many review courses to pass boards? Hollier and Fitzgerald are the two biggies but these women have made millions writing books and hosting conferences to get people where they need to be to pass boards. The MSN-FNP program is similar to law school, the information they teach you in law school does not necessarily translate to passing the bar.

5) USU is one of the only schools I have heard (I could be wrong) of that does actual days of patient physicals and assessments live and in person. All students perform a PAP for females and a rectal/penile/testicle check for men on a real live "patient." That was a really great learning tool prior to starting clinicals and performing a whole slew of these things.

6) Piggy backing on the education aspect, you working for 20+ years as an RN have no clue how much knowledge you actually have in that brain of yours until you start clinical rotations. Clinicals are where you learn the job of being an NP and are honestly more important than the actual MSN program. I would have gladly done 2-3X the amount of clinical hours in lieu of the MSN if it were an option.

Do I work for USU, nope. Do I feel that it is some godsend of schools, nope. Do I feel it is a great option for many individuals (either younger or older) who are desperately searching for a way to become an FNP without sitting in class all day every day for two years and spending a ton of money, yup. Were the assignments tedious, cumbersome, and not super helpful at learning how to be an FNP, yup.

I am turning off notifications for this thread as I feel I have spent too much time on it as of late but if anyone ever has any questions feel free to reach out via private message and I'll respond.

This board was not super helpful when I started searching for MSN-FNP programs as USU was not mentioned much but I am happy to see a lively discussion since then.

Good luck to you all!

Thank you for your patience. I started USU's FNP program after coming on this thread and discussing with you. So far I have had no complaints and I am glad that I started. You have provided more than enough information on here.

Ok guys. I find this pretty interesting to see how my post has grown over the last 2 years.

2 years ago there was zero info on this program so I took a huge leap of faith and joined —I graduated with my FNP and passed boards on the first time.

I think those who are “school shaming” are silly and probably have the debt to show it. I graduated with my ADN in 2012 and am damn proud to say I now have my MSN-FNP. This school passes all the rigors of other CA BON certified schools AND this school was accredited even before my local CSU-FNP was!
Listen—I’m not going to waist my ring debating what I will only deem school snobs I’m a mom of 2 and wife and had a desire to do more with my career this school made my dream come true. If you want Harvard standards go there. I didn’t think USU was impossible i think it appropriately challenged me and I did not have to sacrifice my life to do it.

1) it’s affordable

2) you become an FNP
what more do you need.

Specializes in Pediatric Home Healthcare.
1 hour ago, Mrskeene3 said:

Ok guys. I find this pretty interesting to see how my post has grown over the last 2 years.

2 years ago there was zero info on this program so I took a huge leap of faith and joined —I graduated with my FNP and passed boards on the first time.

I think those who are “school shaming” are silly and probably have the debt to show it. I graduated with my ADN in 2012 and am damn proud to say I now have my MSN-FNP. This school passes all the rigors of other CA BON certified schools AND this school was accredited even before my local CSU-FNP was!
Listen—I’m not going to waist my ring debating what I will only deem school snobs I’m a mom of 2 and wife and had a desire to do more with my career this school made my dream come true. If you want Harvard standards go there. I didn’t think USU was impossible i think it appropriately challenged me and I did not have to sacrifice my life to do it.

1) it’s affordable

2) you become an FNP
what more do you need.

Look, I'm sorry. I am probably the person who caused this. I attended the No. 1 ADN program in the states. I am older. I think becoming a DNP is the best decision despite being older and the fact it is not a requirement. I live in rural Colorado. I have three girls at home; the youngest being disabled. I have 10 children total. I really am doing this for good reasons. I think my post, or responses to it, caused offense, and I apologise for that. I was just searching for wisdom.

13 hours ago, perfectzero01 said:

I think you are misreading what I have been saying. USU will help you achieve your FNP by allowing you to sit for the exam. My point is that instructors are mediocre and assignments are just busy work with no real benefit. I stand by my assessment. You need to be more self taught to get through this program. If you are someone that needs instructor support, you won't find it here. They simply don't respond to emails or questions. I think you haven't said anything that contradicts what I have said previously. I was mainly addressing the concern that people had regarding the legitimacy of USU (if it was a scam, which it is not).

I too will turn off notifications as I feel that I have given all of the input that I have.

It's ok if they dont respond to busy work. Thanks for the input. Your comments are the ones that make me weigh it more. I am an independent type anyway. I had a leadership class and it was 1-2 discussions a week with support etc. I dont really care about being an administrator and can care less about the health belief model, or the countless other models out there. I hope they have decent powerpoints. I went through my BSN with nothing but crap powerpoints for 90% of the classes compared to my grad school. Both were brick and mortar schools.

Specializes in Emergency.
On 9/25/2019 at 7:40 PM, BrittaniCarroll said:

Thank you so much for the reply! Hoping to start January 2020!

Thank you so much!

Hello Brittani. I will be starting 1/7/20 as well. Will you be starting on that date as well?

Specializes in Emergency.
On 12/3/2019 at 3:41 PM, RL ED RN said:

I will be starting in January as well. Already have a preceptor lined up. My preceptor is currently precepting a student in the program.

Hello everyone! I will be starting on 1/7/20 (next week) as well. Looks like they don't allow you to double up classes anymore. Is anyone doing that monthly interest free plan to cover first years classes?

Specializes in Pediatric Home Healthcare.
1 hour ago, Stevoh760 said:

Hello everyone! I will be starting on 1/7/20 (next week) as well. Looks like they don't allow you to double up classes anymore. Is anyone doing that monthly interest free plan to cover first years classes?

Hi. I am starting Monday as well. I met a student on a FP student NP site that has been amazing at getting me up to date with what to expect and resources she used. She just graduated and takes her boards in February. She said she feels well prepared. I am going the monthly payment plan, but have to set it up still. If anyone is interested, I would really like to start a FB group or something like that for studying. Let me know. I'm happy to set it up.

I just finished my first class. I am selling MSN 560 textbook, please PM me if you are interested. Thanks

Specializes in Nephrology Home Therapies, Wound Care, Foot Care..

Just wondering if there are any updates by those if you who enrolled?

Specializes in Emergency.

So far I am enrolled and will begin this Tuesday. Spoke to the advisor and said we should be able to view syllabus and see what text books we need.

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