UPenn Streamlined Post Masters Acute Care

Trauma Columnist · Feb 9, 2019

Moved to student NP forum.

I looked at this a few years ago and thought it looked very interesting. They do consider your inpt employment hours as part of your clinicals.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Feb 13, 2019

I work with two NP's who already completed the program. I know another one who is currently enrolled. They are all working in acute care as NP's and are allowed to use their work hours for clinicals by logging in their work hours. The didactics were all online.

rnBSN223 · Feb 18, 2019

Thank you for the feedback!

careyM23 · Feb 19, 2019

I am an FNP in acute care and seriously considering this program. Did anyone hear if it is super competitive? Very limited slots? The information on the website is limited and I have not received the info to the questions I submitted just yet. Thanks in advance! ☺️

walto003 · Mar 4, 2019

I’m looking into the program too

NPieceofmind · Sep 23, 2019

Did any of you end up applying?

solsticeseeker · May 6, 2020

I was just accepted for Penn University post grad cert. Summer 2020 and be aware they now do not allow you to use your work hours as clinical hours. Imagine my surprise. I have a friend that started last semester and she works in my facility and gets to use work hours. I thought this was supposed to be streamlined for FNP's working acute care already. I have 6 years inpatient experience. I only applied to this program because you could use your work hours. If you work in a traditional 7 on /off schedule, you would have to work 10 off weeks at 50 hours a week to complete the 500 plus hours required. That's 5 months. It's rediculous! I'm considering pulling out.

NPieceofmind · May 6, 2020

8 hours ago, solsticeseeker said:
I was just accepted for Penn University post grad cert. Summer 2020 and be aware they now do not allow you to use your work hours as clinical hours. Imagine my surprise. I have a friend that started last semester and she works in my facility and gets to use work hours. I thought this was supposed to be streamlined for FNP's working acute care already. I have 6 years inpatient experience. I only applied to this program because you could use your work hours. If you work in a traditional 7 on /off schedule, you would have to work 10 off weeks at 50 hours a week to complete the 500 plus hours required. That's 5 months. It's rediculous! I'm considering pulling out.

Wait, what?! That’s crazy, the whole draw of the program was the ability to use work hours to meet the clinical requirements, otherwise the program is essentially no different than traditional postmasters programs. Did they say why?

solsticeseeker · May 6, 2020

No. Not really. Just that it was changed just before my acceptance and it was not negotiable. I got the feeling that academic credit awarded for pay was hurting their notion that terrible sacrifice and suffering must be endured for the attainment of the Acute Care Certification. Opportunity has been a casualty of "enabling" excellence IMO. How many working Hospitalist can endure that kind of clinical requirement in one semester and remain sane? I sadly find academia to be obtuse at every turn.

NPieceofmind · May 7, 2020

I’m not sure what their rationale is but I’ve been hearing some boards of nursing are starting to frown on the idea of using work hours for all of the clinical requirements. That could be the reason for the switch. I can’t imagine why the program would shoot itself in the leg, by changing the one thing that made it stand out, without being compelled to do so.

Rex_Rudolph_III_APRN · May 8, 2020

I was just accepted for the Fall 2020 matriculation. Completely baffled at their decision to change the requirement mid-application. I’ve sacrificed enough for nursing educators. I’m impossibly frustrated.

I feel pressured to get it done though. You never know when your state board of nursing will change the rules...