USA FNP grads?

niudou · Oct 30, 2010

I was just accepted for 2011 FNP program at USA. Would you tell me about your experience with USA? Are you in the online program? Is it a good one? Thanks for your input.

amberfnp · Oct 30, 2010

niudou,

Hopefully, in 48 days, I willl be a graduate of the USA FNP program!!

I think if you do a search you will find many comments (lots actually from my classmates and I) about USA FNP program.

My experience...on one hand, if I had to do it over again, I would consider UAB online or one of my local schools with the traditional classroom setting here in VA. On the other hand...after talking with people from other schools, they have many of the same complaints about their programs that my classmates and I have. I feel a larger part of my learning has been in clinicals (so good preceptors are a plus~I've have my share of not so great ones). There seems to be a lot of 'self teaching' and discussion among peers.

Most of my instructors at USA in the were fine, each with their own "thing" as instructors anywhere have. As compared to other programs, the top 3 things I wish USA would do differently...

1. Have a longer orientation with more time for skills stations/use of live models. For FNP you go for 2 days the first clinical semester~other tracks have more days. I felt the 2 days we had were 'fluff'. We did pelvic exams on a broken dummy pelvis. Very limited time with urine microscopy. Suture lab on pigs feet (my group was last of the day and we were rushed out in about 30 minutes, maybe less and little to no one on one help). Brief lecture on radiology. I think the major point of the visit was to have a proctored exam. The best part was meeting and hanging out with my classmates!

Other students I have spoken with actually get to use live models to learn skills such as pelvics, and of course head to toe assessment. I think even 1 day or 1/2 day of that at orientation would've been useful, even if there were additional cost. At a school here in VA they have at least four 2 hour sessions with live models before going into their first clinical semester.

2. A little more flexibility on test schedules...after all, most people go online to be able to go to school around their jobs! Some classes give you 24 hour access, or two one hour entry times on a given day. Once you get to the last 4 semesters, there is ONE entry time for everyone.

3. More lectures, either video recorded or live feed. Very few of these. It seems they have a ton of them because when they do rarely assign a video, there are often pages of them. However, no way to download/save them to listen later (trust me no time for extra 1-2 hour videos with all the reading assigned).

Overall, I do think there are some changes that can be made for the better. I think there are times they make things more difficult than they need to be. But, knowing other students from other schools have similar complaints (and often pay A LOT more per credit hour), I wouldn't tell anyone to avoid the program, but to look closely at all of your options. In grad school, it is most of the case that you cannot transfer more than 9 credits, so to change your mind once you get started can cost you a lot of time and money.

magnolia nurse · Nov 1, 2010

I appreciate the comments. I hope you share them with the school, so they can make the improvements to make the program better..

I went to University of Phoenix for my MSN and it was great.. I learned to write well and once I got use to going to school on the computer I had less stress, but it took me almost a year to get the routine down..our test were projects and papers.. and had 24/7 access

I hope its good.. congrads on your graduation it will be a nice Christmas gift to yourself.

niudou · Nov 2, 2010

92 Mxmum,

Thank you so much for your comments. It tells me a lot. I pretty much have made my mind to accept the offer since other schools I applied won't start untill 2011 Fall. I'm excited as well as nervous. I'm working 3 days/week in OR, have 2 young kids and a husband. Oh boy, I'm gonna be busy... Congrats on your graduation. I have done some research on some schools - it says the graduation rate at USA is only 37%!