United States University (USU) - FNP program

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I am thinking of applying to United States University (located in San Diego, CA) for their FNP / family nurse practitioner program. I like how it is online and affordable. Anyone have any thoughts or reviews on this school? There's not many reviews that I can find of this school. I'm aware you have to find your own clinical placement but how is the school, program, teachers, etc? Any input helps!! :) If you don't recommend this school, what FNP program do you recommend?

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hello, were you able to find any information on the program? Is it also CCNE accredited?

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I am in it snd I love it

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I am set to start this program in September, I am a little concerned with having to find my own clinical placement. I live in Oregon, praying it won't be too hard. 

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I graduated from it back in June. I think it's probably like any other higher educational program... you teach yourself and they "facilitate" the learning. Start networking for clinical sites with FNPs and board certified MDs as I felt finding clinical sites was the hardest part. I got two job offers prior to graduation and many classmates also had jobs lined up so no issue there. It's 7 or 8 week courses(can't remember) and each course is pretty much structured the same so you kind of know what to expect the 2nd year gets really busy but it's not bad. 

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I am 4 months from graduation from this program and I have had the same experience as ryvonne. It is a good program and has it's share of issues just like any of the online schools. Yes, it is CCNE accredited. Most online schools you will have to find your own preceptor an it's not cheap if you can find anyone willing to do it for free. BUT not impossible. I had to pay for two rotations. On my second rotation my preceptor loved me (I put effort, showed up on time, actually tried to learn) and she offered to do the rest of my hours for FREE! Saved me almost $5000 for what I would have paid the rest of the program. If you have to pay, I would expect $8000-$10000 out of pocket on top of tuition costs. Start looking and asking around in the beginning of your program! Good luck!

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I caution everyone against going with the USU FNP program.  All courses at USU are 8 weeks long. They start with foundation classes, which are theory courses related to nursing (Dr. Watson, etc.) and have nothing to do with FNP curricula.  Then, after 5 or 6 courses, you start the three key courses - patho/pharma and assessment.  Assessment course is 4 units, unlike other FNP programs.  It was brutal, according to my roommate. 

On the 7th week of the assessment course, you have the 3P.  They overload the assessment course with a crap load of other assignments so that you have no time to study for the 3P unless you are not working.  You also have 4 days of mandatory immersion (very important for NPs) during this course.  They want you to fail the course!  You need 65% to pass the 3P exam, fully proctored online, and not open book!  It is NCLEX x 1000% hard.  If you don't get 65% you need to remediate.  If you get less than an 85 on this course, you flunk the course.  That means you still owe $4,000+ on student loans!  You need to retake the assessment course again.

At that point, you already have $20,000 in new student loans.  If you can't pass the assessment, you are SOL! 

Also, you need to find your own preceptors (about $10,000 cash is needed for this as you have to pay preceptors - you can't get a student loan!).  USU has very poorly trained academic counselors, extremely bad clinical placement staff, and mediocre professors who never respond to your emails.  Staff members almost always give wrong answers.  Their website has many issues, and apparently there is no tech support - even from India or the Philippines!  Their financial aid office continues to be a mess.  Your stress level shoots up to 5,000%. You are likely to divorce your husband/wife or split from your partner by the time you are done with the assessment course!

That's what happened to my roommate.  But she is almost done! 

So, in a nutshell, stay away from USU.  All they care is money.  It is a for-profit school, after all!  There are so many other cheaper options available.  If you are in California, the CalState schools have good NP programs at a cheaper cost, with guaranteed placement with preceptors (free). I am going that route. 

Good luck!

 

 

 

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ryvonne said:

I graduated from it back in June. I think it's probably like any other higher educational program... you teach yourself and they "facilitate" the learning. Start networking for clinical sites with FNPs and board certified MDs as I felt finding clinical sites was the hardest part. I got two job offers prior to graduation and many classmates also had jobs lined up so no issue there. It's 7 or 8 week courses(can't remember) and each course is pretty much structured the same so you kind of know what to expect the 2nd year gets really busy but it's not bad. 

Did you find the program to be pretty streamlined or did it feel difficult? I am starting in a few weeks and I haven't really been able to get a lot of information in regards to the 3Ps, and class required passing grades. Just want to be prepared for what's to come.  Congrats on graduating!

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BayArea_BSNRN said:

Did you find the program to be pretty streamlined or did it feel difficult? I am starting in a few weeks and I haven't really been able to get a lot of information in regards to the 3Ps, and class required passing grades. Just want to be prepared for what's to come.  Congrats on graduating!

It's pretty straightforward ! It's a ton of reading and can be overwhelming the 2nd year at times if you work full time but all in all doable for sure!  I think 85 is passing I'd have to look at my old syllabus. 

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BayArea_BSNRN said:

Did you find the program to be pretty streamlined or did it feel difficult? I am starting in a few weeks and I haven't really been able to get a lot of information in regards to the 3Ps, and class required passing grades. Just want to be prepared for what's to come.  Congrats on graduating!

 


Add & Message me on Facebook Rachel Yvonne & I can give you some more info ! 

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ryvonne said:

 


Add & Message me on Facebook Rachel Yvonne & I can give you some more info ! 

Hi there! This is so sweet of you, haha. There's a bunch of people with your name, hoepfully I added the right person! LOL

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