United States University (USU) FNP program January 2021

Updated:   Published

Hope everyone is doing well. I write this post in the hopes of finding other current students of USU's FNP program; specifically, those that are starting this January as well. I applied and was accepted for the January cohort however, I wanted to hear if others have insight about their program based on personal experience. I'd be so grateful for any input.

Thank you!

 

Specializes in Family Practice, Psychiatry.

I do believe there would be remediation if there is something that is not checked off for some reason.  Like MelRN said, you get what you put into it.  Make friends with your classmates.  When you get into study groups - if you find good partners - stay in touch with them.  They will be your lifeline throughout the program.  Immersion for me was online due to COVID - I wish it could have been in person.  But it was still a LOT of learning in a short period of time - be prepared to drink from a firehose, so to speak!  I am glad I chose USU.  There were hiccups - but with the way education has been going in the last couple of years, it's one of the best options - it's accredited and completely affordable.  Use the resources you're given, make friends with classmates, advocate for yourself, and certainly stay in touch with your academic advisor.  If there is ever frustration with a professor, try not to let personal feelings get the better of you, consider reaching out to them for help, saying you are honestly trying and desire to do the best you can do.   

The biggest downside: do not wait for them to help you get clinical placements -- that won't happen.  I did make a list of allllll the docs in our area and sent the list to the field office, and they did make some calls for me when things were crazy, but it's unusual.  All of my clinical experiences, however, came from my reaching out personally - physicians and NPs tend to respond to the student reaching out personally, not to the school official.  It communicates that you care enough about learning to take charge of your own educational experiences.

I graduated with honors in August and was offered a job by one of my preceptors right out of school, so anything is possible.  Good luck!

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice.

Wonderful advice thank you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mother/Baby;L/D.

Are they still accepting postmaters FNP? Online it says no ???

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice.

Nurse79 hmmm not that I’ve heard, you may want to call them to ask, I found out I got accepted yesterday and my start date is 1/25/2022!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 12/22/2021 at 4:08 PM, juliagRN said:

Hey there- anyone looking into March 1, 2022 start?

Hi I am! Lets keep in touch?

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice & Palliative, Mental Health.

What are you all paying for the United States University FNP program monthly? Any veteran students  in this program paying the reduced fees? Debating this school...sounds great, accredited, wanting to see if I can afford it. Thanks a bunch..

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics/Allergy.

I am going here, paying reduced tuition because my husband is a veteran. I’m paying per class, which is $1400 every 8 weeks. But they have payment plans that are more like $350/month till you’ve paid off the tuition. I just wanted to be done paying when I graduated. So far I’ve been happy with it, just finished up my first year. In total I’ll be paying $21,000. They might have raised tuition since I started, but what’s nice is when you start, your price is locked in. So if tuition increases after you’re in, it won’t affect you. 

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you to everyone for your comments about USU, I am accepted to the March 2022 cohort, and am also researching trying to decide if USU is the right school for me. I love that it's affordable, online and convenient, 1 class every 8 weeks, and the admissions person Chris Stuart has been extremely helpful. But similar to others I am worried about finding clinical placement, but the more I read comments here it is encouraging to know I just need to be proactive and really put myself out there and call potential clinical sites myself. 

 

I would love to meet anyone and create a support group for everyone in the Jan and Mar 2022 cohorts. 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 1/15/2022 at 7:11 PM, cherrybee said:

Hi I am! Lets keep in touch?

I am looking into starting March 2022, as well!! Please, let's keep in touch. [email protected] (Theresa)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 12/22/2021 at 4:08 PM, juliagRN said:

Hey there- anyone looking into March 1, 2022 start?

I am! Let's keep in touch!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 1/30/2021 at 4:21 PM, nansno said:

Hello all,

     I've been at USU since April 2019, will graduate the end of June.  Took a 2 month break to help my mother go through hospice.  From the beginning I have created a study group of other students.  I chose those in my classes I felt a connection with when I read their weekly posts.  I have created two wonderful networks of fellow students that commiserate, encourage and socialize via the internet, we even visit each other periodically.  I miss on campus learning and study groups so I will video call fellow class mates and "virtual study group".

     My recommendations so far...

  Don't work the second year, the two types of nurses (In patient RN and FNP) think and react different and it is difficult to learn how to be a FNP when you are still practicing as an RN.

  Buy a Leik NP study guide now, latest version, and look up every topic as you go, this will help you get the most important information for each topic. The info is in short snipits that are easy to digest.

     Start a quizlet account and start saving questions.  Look for questions on quizlet by the author of your text book.

     Make friends and encourage each other, help each other with clinical preceptors, build relationships that will advance you as a professional for years to come.

     Utilize the librarian early in your education.  Make an appointment and have her/them show you around.  They have so many tips and tricks that are lost to those who don't.  They can make your life much easier!

     The OFE is not going to find preceptors for you.  They do the paperwork on their end, and send reminders.  They have too many students to babysit, and not enough contacts in all states to truly help. Ask other graduates, professors, students in classes ahead of you for who they recommend, and always offer an "honorarium" to potential preceptors.

     Do not burn bridges.  It seems common sense, but don't steal another students preceptor by offering more money etc. This is unprofessional and cruel for a profession that is supposed to be so trusting.  If another student offers to share their preceptors info, work with the other student to get your time in.

     Buy a nice desk top calendar and fill out to-do's every term for each week.  It is easy to miss something small that turns into something big.  I even color code mine, since we have similar tasks in two classes during the second year due weekly.

     Last, when you start Project Nurse....  Pay attention to the program required SOAP notes, ie: 21 are due, 6 are pediatrics, but 3 must be pediatric well exams of specific age ranges. Plan these out and keep track so you don't have to do more than you have to.  Also, PN hours, all pediatric patients are 1 hour in the journal area, regardless of the time you spend.  This will help you to keep track of pediatrics, which I am noticing is the hardest to fulfill all 80.  Geriatrics is not very hard to get done, but Women's health can be.  Women's health includes anything reproductive, contraceptives, paps, breast exams, so click the right boxes in PN to get credit.

     Be kind to your professors, they are trying to help, and most are amazing if you just communicate with them.  Don't use the D2L email app, use your Gmail. Most professors don't see the D2L very often, but they get their Gmail immediately.

     Good luck on this journey!  Congratulations on your successes, and remember to pay it back when you have experience and are able to precept.

Wow, thank you for that amazing post! Where are you now in your journey at USU? I am admitted to the March 2022 cohort and am still trying to decide. I wish it wasn't this hard. USU seems like a great program just the uncertainty makes me nervous. Thank you for your post again! 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 11/24/2020 at 5:47 PM, babyisa said:

I still have to complete the page where the signatures are required to finalize the enrollment. I keep doing more research on other programs and worry if I'm making the right choice. May I ask what ultimately led you to deciding on USU as opposed to other programs? I've been researching about USU since March of this year and have been pretty set on starting this year but I still worry about making the best informed decision since it is a tremendous investment of time and effort.

Hi! What did you end up deciding? I am in the same  boat as when you wrote your post 11/2020. I am admitted to the March 2022 cohort.

On 11/24/2020 at 7:29 PM, Jahmaal W said:

Well the price and the accreditation did it for me. Although there is not too much online about this school, this thread helped me to finalize my decision. I’ve read several post dating back to 2017 of the previous students who went to USU and all seemed legit. I’m OK with self learning as my BSN was all online. The  program being 2 years along with the payment plan was also appealing!! I looked into chamberlain but it’s 2.5 years  and more expensive. The brick and mortar schools were just toooo expensive !!  I hope to start with you in January !

Hi! How is the program going? Do you recommend USU? 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion