Wilkes postgraduate PMHNP program fall 2020

[ToFNPandBeyond]

Hey all!

I got accepted to the postgraduate pmhnp program at wilkes for fall 2020. Thought I'd create a thread for us.

Any idea how much tuition till cost for us? Based on credit hours, I estimate round $13K, not counting books, etc. Any specific idea of cost would be appreciated.

Also, around what time should we expect to go to orientation?

Looking forward to hearing from you all!

[Lisa Stoddart]

Did you like the program at Wilkes?

[FNPDreams, MSN, APRN, NP]

Finished last Summer. Had to find my own preceptor…sat out one semester because couldn’t find child/adolescent preceptor. I don’t know how this current program is working as we were not part of that cohort & had NO help finding preceptors.  I’m embarrassed to say I have not taken my boards yet (work as FNP currently). Program was OK…I am not a fan of online…some of the content was outdated on their learning platform.  Most of what you learn will be on the job…I.e. how to cross taper, which SSRIs to prescribe & why etc etc. Exams are proctored with outside service using webcam. Included all: quizzes, exams, discussion board & papers/PP presentations. No financial aide for post masters except somehow Johns Hopkins is approved for their program (I was on their waitlist…close to impossible to get in). Hope that helps! Good luck!

[FNPDreams, MSN, APRN, NP]

For Lisa above…

program was OK. Honestly I don’t think what you learn in these programs allows you to feel competent managing serious mental illness. Once you graduate, you definitely need a mentor and to gain experience in the field. I already work as FNP for past 5 years so have some experience making independent decisions. I would say most important is to find a preceptor who likes to teach and allows you to work with patients vs. just observation.  You need to feel comfortable performing psych evals, establishing a working diagnosis & making clinical decisions. All these programs are what you make of them. Most will not prepare you to feel comfortable working independently right after graduation. There is a learning curve for sure.