University of SC online AGNP

Trauma Columnist · Jun 10, 2016

Moved to student NP forum

littlepeopleRNICU · Jun 12, 2016

Is this AG acute? If so, then yes, I am in my third semester of the program. I have been working and doing school both full-time. For me, FT work hours is 3 12s a week, and I work night shift.

The number of clinical hours varies depending on which course it is. My first clinical had 98 as a requirement, which averages out to around 8 a week over the traditional semester, or 12 a week for summer semester. My next clinical is 230 hours. You are not allowed to condense clinical, so you must go each week during the semester(with the exception of breaks like Spring break-it's your call then), and you aren't allowed to do weekend clinical, or primarily night shift. The school feels like this doesn't allow for the best experience with routine daily management of patients.

homehealthWCN · Jun 12, 2016

Thank you for your feedback! How many hours per week would you say you put into school work? What are the assignments? Papers? Quizzes? Discussion boards? Any details are appreciated! I'm in home health which requires a good bit of paperwork but I do get one day off per week & I have a flexible schedule. I'm wanting to apply for spring semester & I'm wondering if I'll be able to continue home health.

littlepeopleRNICU · Jun 12, 2016

It honestly depends on the week and what's going on for how much I put in, but I would say maybe a very minimum of 10ish hours a class to include your lectures, reading, etc. Full-time in the program is usually 3 classes or so a semester.

The work for grading consists of exams, papers, discussion boards, a lot of case studies, and projects. For clinicals, you have to submit clinical logs on each patient. Are you local to SC? The first clinical semester also has in-person checkoffs you have to complete. One is absolutely mandatory to be done in person and the others can be done by video. I've been told the other clinical semesters have them too, but I'm not sure yet how many.

By getting one day off a week, do you mean you have to work 4 weekdays every week?

homehealthWCN · Jun 12, 2016

I live about an hour from Columbia so going to the campus won't be an issue. I see patients 4 days a week & have 1 day per week that I don't have to see patients. It's a day to catch up on my charting but if I really disciplined myself, I could get everything done in the 4 working days & have the day off & weekends to focus on school. How many weeks are the semesters? How many different preceptors do you have to use or can you use the same one? Do you feel as if the staff/professors are helpful & want you to succeed? Thanks so much!

littlepeopleRNICU · Jun 12, 2016

The part that worries me about your working schedule is clinical. I think the coursework would be able to be done with your working schedule, but in all of the clinical semesters except one, you will have at least two days of clinical a week, if not more. So having only one weekday available for clinical would make that impossible to fit in if you have to do 4 weekdays of work. If you had the option of working some on weekends, I think it would make it more realistic! The summer semester is 10 weeks and the regular semesters are 15. I would talk to an advisor and see what they recommend, as well as ask them how part-time works if you're willing to consider that. I'm not sure how clinicals work in PT study because I'm doing FT.

For acute care, you have one preceptor a semester. You are not allowed to go to the same preceptor/group/specialty again after your initial semester with them because the school wants you exposed to variety. The first semester is internal medicine(outpatient or inpatient), and the following semesters can be inpatient internal med or a specialty. I did internal med my first clinical and am with cardiology my second.

Yes, I feel like all of the professors have wanted students to succeed! They have been very professional and helpful. I feel like they expect graduate level maturity and effort, but they are supportive. I like the formats of the classes. They have all been with lectures and PowerPoints available to match the lectures(plus add extra in the lectures), so I feel like I'm sitting in class.

homehealthWCN · Jun 12, 2016

I agree. I've already suggested to my director that I would like to only work weekends once I begin clinicals but that position will have to be approved first. If not, I am willing to go back to working 3 12 hour shifts. Thank you for all of your input! If there's anything else that may be helpful to me, please let me know! Good luck to you!

littlepeopleRNICU · Jun 12, 2016

That's a good idea. You're welcome! Thanks, if you have any other questions, feel free to message me!