I have been asked to clarify my tweet due to it possibly being misconstrued as total nonsupport of my profession, #NursePractitioners

So, I shall try.

First, here is the tweet I am going to attempt and clarify.

#MedTwitter https://twitter.com/jaimeaprn/status/1297340298977316864

My tweet was meant to highlight my views on the failings of NP schools and training as is now in the U.S. I do not agree with diploma mill schools that offer 100% acceptance rates, force students to find their own preceptors often at hefty fees, and /2

Prep the NP student so much with practice boards, they have likely seen very similar questions by the time they take their test. Because for these schools, certification rates are how they measure success - not if their students get well rounded education. /3

I have witnessed NP students being allowed to use virtual “video game” style clinical hours for portion of their minimum required hours. In a program called “Second Life” students are given fake patients to care for. /4

I have had NP stdnts unable to tell me what the differences are between first & fourth gen Cephalosporins, what ABT work for Gram Neg VS Gram Positive, how to read a C&S report, what bacteria are nitrite converters, etc. They have no idea, yet they have done Pharm & Patho /5

When asking student NPs to formulate a DDx - they are lost. Many have no idea what a DDx is, yet they have been writing “SOAP NOTES” in school for months and supposedly including them. /6

It is my view, and the view of many others, that we have a problem in the current education of our NPs. I won’t repeat all my reasons, but know this was not said with intent to make ALL NPs look bad. I don’t believe we should keep seeking FPA.... /7

Not until or if we can clean up our educational standards and our clinical testing, we as a whole need to demand more - we are dealing with people’s lives. /8

That being said, I DO NOT CONDONE harassment and/or bullying based on anything I may say or have said, it has not been my intent to cause harassment and will not be my intent.

/9

To be clear: I believe we must clean up our U.S. NP Educational system and testing, require experience prior to enrolling in NP school, hold schools accountable for quality education & practicum, and as far as FPA /10

Until we clean the education up, IMO we should stop seeking it, stop using the pandemic to promote FPA. Instead seek Transitional practice once and only one there is an education overhaul. - I enjoy working with a physician and learn every day. /end