Worthless degree

[Oldmahubbard]

A new psych NP I have been mentoring told me recently she has taken on a student. Yikes! The program is a new post master's certificate offered at a nearby private school. I looked it up. No GPA requirement, no GRE, "one year of RN experience recommended'.

I also learned the director of this program is a psychologist.

The student had never even heard of Stahl.

OK, end of rant.

[Polly Peptide, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

One year of RN experience and it's a post Masters?

[Oldmahubbard]

One year "recommended". Yep. They take anybody

[Julius Seizure]

Stahl....Lesley Stahl?

[Oldmahubbard]

Steven Stahl. The psychopharmacologic guru from the last 15 or 20 years

[Jules A, MSN]

Unfortunately not uncommon. In my state where new NPs have to have a mentor they are already precepting students. How does that even make sense? So thankful I was trained by physicians.

[Neats, BSN]

The Higher Education Opportunity Act defines a diploma mill as follows:

DIPLOMA MILL- The term `diploma mill' means an entity that--

(A)(i) offers, for a fee, degrees, diplomas, or certificates, that may be used to represent to the general public that the individual possessing such a degree, diploma, or certificate has completed a program of postsecondary education or training; and (ii) requires such individual to complete little or no education or coursework to obtain such degree, diploma, or certificate; and

(B) lacks accreditation by an accrediting agency or association that is recognized as an accrediting agency or association of institutions of higher education (as such term is defined in section 102) by--

(i) the Secretary pursuant to subpart 2 of part H of title IV; or (ii) a Federal agency, State government, or other organization or association that recognizes accrediting agencies or associations.

What you should be looking for is U.S. Department of Education's List of Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies and edu url addresses. These professionals can guide you as to what mentors are being offered or you can find someone you know and ask them.

Education is a gift you give yourself, for the life of me I do not know why anyone would spend thousands of dollars to get such inadequate knowledge.

[SoontoBNP]

My school didn't allow preceptors without several years experience as a nurse practitioner. I also had nightmares about Stahl's Essential Pharmacology book because I was made to read so many pages repeatedly it became embedded into my brain. Then again, I've heard a lot of for profit schools are now trying to start online based programs and are having difficulty finding preceptors- considering it is unpaid. It's scary to think someone without much experience could be training a student. That's part of the reason I decided against an online program. I'm sure there are reputable online programs out there, but I felt more comfortable attending in person. In my experience, some boards of nursing are only accepting degrees from schools that meet certain criteria. I know that's accurate in Maryland.

[Jules A, MSN]

In my experience, some boards of nursing are only accepting degrees from schools that meet certain criteria. I know that's accurate in Maryland.

Have you seen the list of schools that Maryland accepts? 26 pages. It would make more sense to simply list the programs they don't accept, if there are any. Does MD even have a APRN on their board now? This is a major part of the problem when it comes to a lack of standards.

https://mbon.maryland.gov/Documents/approved-np-programs.pdf

[OllieW, DNP, PhD, NP]

There are loads of for profit online schools who take anyone who can write a check.

[Oldmahubbard]

Yes. I am just very embarrassed about the whole thing. I can't imagine how these people will get clinical placements, and even begin to make it on their first job.

I worked at a State psych facility for many years, and the only RN out of that group who ever went on to become a Psych NP was in the bottom 5% of the pile.