University of North Dakota (UND)

[alxabraham]

Hello, I would like to start the Psych and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at UND. The program is online an they have the option for full time and part time students, to complete in 2 and 3 years respectivelly. The thing is that I reside in Florida, and I am concern about the Clinical Component of the program. Do they only have two clinical rotations (as shown in the Curriculum) right in the last two semesters? Please, any thoughts... Somebody who is trying to get into the program or already in? Thank you.

[TheOldGuy]

I highly recommend the UND program. It is well organized and you will receive a top quality education. If you complete the program, you will be well prepared to function as an NP. You will take twice as much pathophysiology, 3 times as much pharmacology, as well as additional coursework in things like epidemiology compared to most NP programs. Clinicals are what you make of them. I ended up with approx 800 hours and had rotations in Pediatric/Adolescent, Adult and Gero. Try to work in areas of nursing that will enhance your knowledge of other areas eg cardiovascular issues, respiratory issues and metabolic issues as these are areas of comorbidity that many of your future patients will have problems in. Feel free to private message me. Good luck!

[alxabraham]

Thank you very much!! I will apply without hesitation now. I really appreciate your feedback

[marigoldey]

abram - Did you apply and begin the program? Can you tell me your experiences with UND so far? @oldguy -I noticed that the program had two semesters each of psychopharm, pharm and patho - as you say, twice as much as most programs...... I've read about shorter programs with no difficulty passing boards. Real world experience (passing boards and getting to work earlier) seems like it could accomplish the same thing as an extra year of courses.....Do you have any comments on that?

[TheOldGuy]

Well - all I can say is that I've worked with people who graduated from other programs who were not nearly as well prepared to start. I hate feeling like I don't have a clue. Some people are ok with it. As a provider, I am responsible for people's lives. I have to be able to recognize issues that could be life threatening and KNOW what to do about them.

I feel that one of the great wrongs being perpetuated by the nursing school community is the lack of rigor in NP programs. In a rush to jump on the NP bandwagon, they mass produce poorly educated NPs who are not ready to take on the responsibilities of being a provider. Consequently, NPs are often underpaid. Patients often say that they want to see "a real doctor". NPs are often referred to as "mid-levels" and "physician extenders".

UND prepared me to be functional at a relatively high level from the get-go. It has paid off in the quality of care I provide, how I am perceived by my physician colleagues, the autonomy I enjoy and in what I earn.

[marigoldey]

Thank you, that is very valuable to me and I thought you would say these things. :)

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Agreed, thanks for the info, ThisOldGuy. I'll have to check it out. I don't have a lot of Psych NP options in my area and of the ones that are approved, tuition is in the $1000+/hr credit hour range.