Online NP Schools in Texas

Dr. Valerie Miller is a clinical associate professor of nursing at UT Tyler and the family nurse practitioner (FNP) program coordinator. She is board-certified as a family nurse practitioner and has over 13 years of experience in both family practice and endocrinology. She has been a nurse educator since 2006, teaching in both undergraduate and graduate nursing programs.

Dr. Miller has a passion for her students and for developing leadership in nurses. Her doctoral dissertation focused on motivation and self-efficacy for leadership in undergraduate nursing students. 

NPSchools.com: What do you wish the public understood about online nurse practitioner programs?

Dr. Miller: Nurse practitioner programs, whether online or face-to-face, educate students to take on the role of an advanced practice provider responsible for delivering appropriate, safe, and effective medical care to clients in numerous healthcare settings. 

In fact, many NPs are the main providers who fill the gaps in rural healthcare shortage areas. Nurse practitioner students are already practicing licensed professional nurses, and the online formats of nurse practitioner programs are designed with this in mind. Many of them could not afford to move or take two years off work to obtain an NP degree. The online format makes it more accessible to the working nurse, but it does not make the program itself easier! 

NP education is rigorous, and students are required to show competence through detailed assignments, testing, and multiple hours of precepted clinical experiences. While online NP programs may be rigorous, they allow students the flexibility to achieve their academic goals around their current work and family life, and many programs allow students to select preceptors from their surrounding area.  

Additionally, the faculty in online NP programs are doctorally prepared and are actively practicing as nurse practitioners, so students are being taught by practicing faculty who are seeing patients themselves and are able to better stay abreast of the newest changes in managing different disease processes. Active faculty practice is required for a nursing program to meet accreditation. All NPs must also be board-certified in their population focus and licensed by their state board of nursing to practice as an NP. 

So, in a nutshell, these are the main points I want the public to know about online NP programs:

• Online does not mean easy. NP programs are rigorous!
• NP students are licensed professional RNs, and most are actively working as an RN while in their online programs and cannot afford to take two years off or move for the degree.
• The online format allows students the flexibility to obtain their NP degree while staying at their current job and in their current community.
• Online programs still use detailed assignments, exams, and multiple clinical practice hours with patients to train their students.
• NP faculty are doctorally prepared and have active NP practices outside of their teaching responsibilities.
• NP faculty practice is a requirement by accreditation agencies, whether the program is online or face-to-face.
• All online NP programs prepare students to sit for national NP boards and achieve licensure as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in their state.

What advice would you give to aspiring online nurse practitioner program students?

Dr. Miller: Here is my advice to aspiring online nurse practitioner students:

• Choose a position as an RN in an area that gives you exposure to a lot of different disease processes and their treatments, such as the ICU, ER, and medical-surgical units.
• Make sure you check the technology requirements for the program. At a minimum, you will need a laptop with a camera and microphone for interactive online sessions and a dependable wi-fi connection.
• Become familiar with computer programs such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs, etc.
• Practice your technical reading! Regularly read nursing and medical journals in your specialty area! 
• Start networking with NPs, PAs, and MDs in your area by asking them questions about their practice. Try to develop relationships with them, either as potential preceptors or as someone who could hook you up with a potential preceptor. Preceptors like to know the students they are precepting. They are more likely to precept you if they know you.
• Have a plan for how you will juggle work, school, and family life. 
• Volunteer for local medical events and causes. It allows you to network and to serve your community. Many schools look for community-minded students.
• Consider a PRN job during school, if possible, to give you flexibility during your program.
• Shadow an NP or PA so that you can see their practice and understand the NP role better.