Who attends (or attended )SLU's online NP program?

imenid37 · Dec 16, 2009

I am one class away from receiving my MSN with a major inPerinatal nursing education from SLU. I have enjoyed it, but a lot is expected of you. I am not in an NP track, but have taken some of the same courses. There have been many ANP and FNP students in my groups. The tuition is high, so that is a consideration. If you have kids, it would be difficult to work full-time and take more than one or maybe two classes. Some classes have a lot of writing, others have a lot of quizzes and tests. I like the instructors. I hated nursing research, but I think I would've hated it at any school. The instructor was very knowledgable and passionate about research. Pharmacology was hard, but I thought that instructor, who was in her late 60's was awesome. She was more computer savvy than a lot of thrity year olds! I learned a lot in that class, not just about meds per say, but also treatment guidelines and how to use a lot of reference resources which I didn't even know existed. I have been satisfied with the education, though many times convinced they were trying to kill me with all of the assignments. I am 44, so if you are younger, maybe you have a lot more enegy than me and will do better juggling everything. Best of luck to you.

SydneyJo1 · Dec 17, 2009

Was your Masters program online? Overall, did you feel like the education you received was worth the price tag, which as you mentioned is a HIGH one? I am married with two young kids, and I am 36 so not much younger than you. If it wore you out to juggle everything, I am sure it would wear me out, too!

imenid37 · Dec 18, 2009

All of my courses were online. Part of my dilemma is having a very high maintainance family and working five days a week. My husband does almost nothing around the house. My youngest daughter is the same. I had a daughter in nursing school and another who is six hours away in college too. The one in college is very independient. My oldest daughter, who is now an RN and just had a baby is wonderful BUT she neeeds mom for something every day. That had a lot to do with me being very stressed. It would be hard no matter what, but if the family was more supportive, it would be easier. There are a lot of folks who take several classes. Do you live in the STL area? I am on the east coast. From what I understand most of SLU's classes for the MSN and DNP are online. There are not really too many LIVE sections for grad school. Most of my online classmates live in the St. Louis area. The PhD program has a summer residency requirement, but I think that also has a lot of online coursework. It is really a wonderful school. There's is also no GRE required for the MSN. I would probably have chosen a different job, so I didn't have the work schedule, not a different school, if I had to do it all over again. Good luck. Whether it is SLU or something else, I am sure there is something out there which will allow you to realize your goal.

NurseKJ · Feb 11, 2010

Has anyone completed the post masters ACNP program at SLU? If so, how was it, and how long did it take? Thanks

VolMom · May 12, 2010

Well, I am sure you are all graduated and probably certified by now. Congrats! :jester:

I don't know how you did it working 5 days per week with a high-maintenance family. You deserve more than the kudos I could give you on here. I am enrolled at SLU, just finishing up my second semester for MSN-FNP/Educator. Finally got a break and remembered to come here and read these boards. I think I had the same pharmacology professor that you did, and wow... isn't she something??? She has so much knowledge, and knows how to present it all in such a way to relate back to previous knowledge you gained, and somehow link it all together. She is just amazing. I still feel like my head is swimming with information that hasn't found its final resting place yet. :uhoh3: (but I just finished my final exam lol) Just 2.5 years to go. :nurse:

All of my courses were online. Part of my dilemma is having a very high maintainance family and working five days a week. My husband does almost nothing around the house. My youngest daughter is the same. I had a daughter in nursing school and another who is six hours away in college too. The one in college is very independient. My oldest daughter, who is now an RN and just had a baby is wonderful BUT she neeeds mom for something every day. That had a lot to do with me being very stressed. It would be hard no matter what, but if the family was more supportive, it would be easier. There are a lot of folks who take several classes. Do you live in the STL area? I am on the east coast. From what I understand most of SLU's classes for the MSN and DNP are online. There are not really too many LIVE sections for grad school. Most of my online classmates live in the St. Louis area. The PhD program has a summer residency requirement, but I think that also has a lot of online coursework. It is really a wonderful school. There's is also no GRE required for the MSN. I would probably have chosen a different job, so I didn't have the work schedule, not a different school, if I had to do it all over again. Good luck. Whether it is SLU or something else, I am sure there is something out there which will allow you to realize your goal.

mrmontgomery · May 6, 2011

VolMom,

It has been a year since you posted a comment to this thread, so I hope you still have the same email address. You are another year into your NP program at SLU. Could you tell me, have you been able to work full time during school? When do clinicals start? And have you found it difficult to set up your clinical preceptorships? I appreciate any feedback.

VolMom · Oct 15, 2012

Mrmontgomery, If you happen to come back to this forum, I wanted to answer your questions. Hopefully you'll find this again and it will be helpful in some way.

I have continued to work full time since starting the program over 3 years ago. I am not sure if it was that I wasn't coping well or if I was expecting too much of myself, but I ended up having to take a break from school for a while. I just couldn't do it all, and I couldn't find a part time job anywhere around where I live. I did fine with working full time (not easy, but doable) until I started my clinicals classes.

I'm still working full time at the same job, still taking 2 classes per semester, and this semester it's all working out (so far). I do have a clinical class this semester. I lack a couple of teaching classes and all the rest of my FNP classes have clinicals. The clinical hours increase quite a bit each semester, so I've never stopped looking for a part-time position. I honestly believe that 24 hours a week is about all anyone should try to work if you are going to take 2 classes or more per semester. I finally have a part-time prospective job, and I hope I'll be in that position by next semester.

SLU has a great program. The preceptorships haven't been hard at all for me. I have some FNP friends here locally that have been more than glad to help out. The academics at SLU are rigorous, but I wouldn't want it any other way if I was a patient. The biggest advice I could give to anyone going into this is not to get behind... not even 1 day behind on your reading, lectures, assignments, etc... and plan ahead, especially in the health assessment class. It will likely take longer than anticipated, especially on the case studies throughout the semester and the video at the end of the semester. Do it early so you can resubmit it before the deadline if it is rejected.