University of Alabama FNP online

CardioTrans, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2008

Hi there!

I am currently in the FNP online program. Are you going to go full time or part time??

I am going part time, as I still work full time.... that will change in my last semester. The first semester that you do clinicals, it averages out to 5 or 6 days for the entire semester. The next two or three semesters it is one day a week clinicals.... your last semester you will have clinicals 4 days a week....

I have loved it so far.... the exams are also online and depending on the instructor determines how the exams are formatted. In one class, we had a span of 3 days that the exam was "available".... once we signed in to take the exam, it was timed and you had say an hour to take the exam. Other classes it was one certain day during a 2 hr time period....just depends on the instructor. If I ever had a conflict for when the exam was available (ie; the exam on one certain day and time), I emailed the instructor, told them, and we got together with my work schedule and my exam was "available" at another time....but I still had the specified time.

Even though the exams are online..........they are NOT easy. You have to know your stuff to take the exams.

Do NOT get behind in assignments.....or reading........especially reading..... TONS of it.

Check the bulletin board on a daily basis, if not more than once daily. Keep involved with the discussions.... you will be surprised what you will learn.

Hope this helps and Good Luck!

amberfnp · Jan 25, 2008

Thanks for your reply CardioTrans...

But, I just realized we are talking about different schools! So sorry! I meant to put Univ. of South AL. Guess thats what happens when your 1/2 asleep on the computer!

JALEXSHOE · Mar 19, 2008

I attend USA. The tests are pretty much as the poster described.

How else may I help you?

amberfnp · Mar 19, 2008

Thanks Jalexshoe for your reply to this post and to the other one about 'totally online' programs.

What semester did you start in and when do you plan to finish? Do you know if you still have the same # of students you started with? Or do classes 'overlap' with people in other curriculums?

I am scheduled to start this May/summer with Health Care Policy and Economics (according to the summer start curriculum on the website). I was just going to email someone there today. I see my registration dates are not until early May. Do you recall if anyone from the school of nursing sent out any packets of info or directions prior to your registration? I just want to be sure I am going to register for the correct class. And I have already completed my drug and background checks.

Also, if you recall, how labor intensive was the above-mentioned class? My husband and I have a 2 week span in mid-June when we have an anniversary vacation and a family wedding trip planned. I have a laptop so I can have a computer available at all times but internet service may be sketchy at our vacation area. I am anticipating all the classes to be somewhat challenging, I just wonder if it is something I can realistically work in while traveling.

I'm sure I'll have lots of questions in the future. Thanks for your time!

JALEXSHOE · Mar 19, 2008

thanks jalexshoe for your reply to this post and to the other one about 'totally online' programs.
you are welcome
what semester did you start in and when do you plan to finish? do you know if you still have the same # of students you started with? or do classes 'overlap' with people in other curriculums?
i started last summer. i should finish next december (2009). yes, we overlap with people in different timelines and different specialties. i think this is primarily for the first years content.
i am scheduled to start this may/summer with health care policy and economics (according to the summer start curriculum on the website). i was just going to email someone there today. i see my registration dates are not until early may. do you recall if anyone from the school of nursing sent out any packets of info or directions prior to your registration? i just want to be sure i am going to register for the correct class. and i have already completed my drug and background checks.
actually i wrote admissions, who sent me the timeline for the track i was in. and this gave me the class names. i did not receive anything from the school detailing anything, lol. i pretty much got a letter, started sending emails, and figured out stuff on my own. the bookstore rocks, just call them and tell them what class you are in, they know the books you need, and send them right out. the only packet i understand i will get, will be prior to my clinical orientation for the fnp. this is a very self motivated, do it yourself, kind of program, unless i am the only who did not get the information sent. i got an acceptance letter... i think they did send me an email about setting up an email account and jag number. the rest was kind of on me, in my opinion. you will have to go register on the web site, set up your email, etc. they just changed the web site, you used to be able to view all the time lines and course names for all the tracts, but i have no idea if that information is even available any more. the class you mention sounds right. then in the fall you should take pathophysiology and another theory writing course. then in the spring pharmacology and roles and research.
also, if you recall, how labor intensive was the above-mentioned class? my husband and i have a 2 week span in mid-june when we have an anniversary vacation and a family wedding trip planned. i have a laptop so i can have a computer available at all times but internet service may be sketchy at our vacation area. i am anticipating all the classes to be somewhat challenging, i just wonder if it is something i can realistically work in while traveling.
the writing classes, seem primarily to be busy work. i really enjoyed the summer class, the instructor was awesome. pharm and patho are no cake walk. make sure you have lots of time devoted to becoming dedicated to the chapters you are assigned. these were tough, and i am a very good student. if you are good at writing, and have no troubles with apa, then you should be fine i would think. i cannot give you an answer to that, not knowing what kind of student you are.
i'm sure i'll have lots of questions in the future. thanks for your time!

anytime. it is a tough program, but i would say it a good one. it is a state school. so one does not get some of the perks one would get at a private school, but then one does not pay the tuition of a private school either.

amberfnp · Mar 22, 2008

THANKS so much for all of your answers Jalexshoe. It really does help a lot. I was initially going to start this spring but deferred to summer, so I already have my email and all set-up. And I already have at least one of the books for the summer class, assuming it did not change in the last few months. So now I guess I just wait to register and figure things out from there. I assume there is some sort-of online site, like Blackboard" where assignments are posted? Would I just set that up and check there or do instructors initiate contact by email?

Thanks again! Have a great Easter!

buster4 · Mar 23, 2008

anytime. it is a tough program, but i would say it a good one. it is a state school. so one does not get some of the perks one would get at a private school, but then one does not pay the tuition of a private school either

what exactly do you mean by the terms "perks one would get at a private school" ??? i don't know very much the differences between the two..

JALEXSHOE · Mar 23, 2008

Most Private schools generally have more resources, smaller class sizes, better equipment. Doesn't have to be a hard and fast rule, but one often sees it. Where there are more dollars generated by tuition, it is not rocket science to see that it may translate to having better stocked libraries, a higher level or quantity of staffing, better facilities, etc.

For instance, I applied to two different schools, one was a private and the other was a state.

The private school's tuition cost 4 times what the state's did, but I can tell you, I saw a huge difference in the application process alone. I was able to talk to 3 advisers, had several emails and communications within two days, got all kinds of literature about the school from the private one, and had a much more detailed schedule sent to me in advance, etc.

The state school had one adviser, though very nice, I waited several days for answers, that were helpful, but brief and to the point. But she had many students. I did not receive any literature, and unless I wrote and asked for help, I was left to figure it out on my own.

Now this did not bother me, I am a self-starter, but it was a noticeable difference. My friend went to the other school, and I went to the state school. The things she has told me in comparison when we talk, are mounds different. We will pay a far different price, but we basically get the same education. She may get a few more experiences, or have access to a thing or two, that I would consider neat, but it is not a huge deal. Her school also has more a personalized tutor system if needed, etc. So there are differences int this case. Is this good, bad, or otherwise? Nah, it is just how things work sometimes. We will both have the same degree when we are done. It is how we apply it, that makes the difference in my opinion.

We are both happy. I did not mean it as a negative comment, it was just a realistic one.

janda1010 · Nov 16, 2008

I will b starting the online FNP program in Jan. So far I have received a letter that states when classes start and an address to the book store. Can you clue me in further?

janda1010 · Nov 16, 2008

I will be attending USA online FNP in January. Any information you could share will help as there seems to be no orientation process. Thanks