University of South Alabama vs St Joseph's College of Maine

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Nurse Manager.

Hello Everyone,

I have been a nurse for 7 years and I'll be finished with my BSN in December of this year. I am going to apply to NP school to start next year. I'm going between the University of South Alabama and St Joseph's College of Maine. I have spoken/emailed with both schools. What interests me about USA is the dual FNP/ACNP program. What interests me about St Joe's is the ease of acceptance for what seems to be a good school. I have heard some very good things about St Joe's and some not so great things about USA. Can anyone offer ANY insight about these programs and why one would choose one over the other, other than personnel preference? Course work, instructors, structure of the programs, respectability, etc..... I'm really torn. Thanks in advance!!

Rachel

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

USA is an excellent institution with many advanced degrees. DNP, one of first with Emergency/Dual family-acute NP. Not that easy to get in though due to online status, and many out of state applicants.

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Specializes in Home Health, Foster Care.

I attend Saint Joseph's. They don't have ACNP but just FNP. The reason why I like it is because it is self paced. You get 15 weeks to finish a class but I do it as fast as I can to get to another class. I usually take 7 weeks to finish a class. Even though it is self paced, I have never had a problem getting in touch with a teacher or getting help from them. They give back excellent feedback on your papers so when you are ready to submit another one you don't make the same mistake. I am taking my 2nd class through them starting today. The school accepted two classes from my other university that I transferred from so I have a little bit of a head start.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

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I wouldn't recommend USA to anybody. Got my BSN there and thought the program was horrible. Moved out of state to get my FNP even though I had to pay out of state tuition.

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I also go to st. joes so far it is going well for me starting first round of clinicals very soon

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Hey all attending St. Joseph's, does this program grant prescriptive ability?

Thanks!

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Cookie,

Yes it does allow for it. Since St. Joseph's College of Maine has an accreditation from the CCNE, you can get certified through the ANCC or the AANP, which in turn allows prescriptive authority depending on which state you live in. You can find out the rules for APRN scope of practice through your state's board of nursing web site.

See links below:

http://www.nursecredentialing.org/FamilyNP-Eligibility.aspx

http://www.aanpcertification.org

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