Hi everyone,

This is my first time posting to this forum but have already become enthralled with all the helpful topics. I am interested in pursuing a direct entry clinical nurse leader program next year in hopes of later pursuing a career as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. My biggest concern is that I have absolutely no nursing experience and due to patient confidentiality rules, I haven't been able to find a clinically relevant volunteer opportunity. I come from a heavily research-based background having been a research assistant for 4 years including conducting experiments in an infant development lab and spending a summer interning in a cognitive psychology lab. I graduated college with honors and degrees in Psychology and Molecular Cellular Developmental Biology. I also spent a year volunteering with a schizophrenic community and another year with children with mood disorders. I plan on taking 3 prerequisite classes over the course of a year and a half while I work full time as a manager for a neuroscience lab. I want to be the strongest applicant that I can be however I can't help but feel that I am severely lacking in my clinical experience. Is there anything I can do to strengthen my chances? What do you all think? Could my background hurt my chances? I have a passion working with the mental health community and I feel as if I have found the perfect career, and I am also excited to learn all the skills of an RN as well. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Why would you want to do a CNL program first, when there are direct entry PMHNP programs that will take you without nursing experience? Why do a different MSN program first?

I wasn't aware there were programs that let you do the PMHNP without having any nursing experience, however I can't do that since the school that I am applying to requires the masters in nursing to become an RN before you become a nurse practitioner. So at this point, my only option is to do the direct entry CNL and then do the PMHNP. What can I do to increase my chances of getting in?

Thanks so much!

There are 60+ Direct Entry programs in the country (for APN preparation, for CNL, or for administration). These 60 different programs make admissions decisions independently -- which is why there are many reports of schools being accepted at one school, and denied admissions at another.

At my program, we look at a combination of seven primary elements in admissions decisions. First is academic performance in degrees (the gpa at the degree institutions). Second is the grades in the four prerequisite classes. Third is work experience in healthcare (prolonged work experience takes precedence over volunteer experience). Fourth is the quality of writing shown in the essays. Lastly, what the recommenders say in their letters (especially the required letter from a healthcare professional). Sixth, we look at the motivation of why someone has applied for our particular program, and the chances that they will remain a nurse (someone who looks as this nursing degree as as stepping stone to a PA/MD program or to a career in medical/pharma sales will not be rated highly by our nursing faculty). Lastly, as a state school, we also have to consider whether the applicant is an instate resident as well.

In most years, we receive about 125 applications for 25 spaces. The mean GPA for accepted students has been approximately 3.5 in the undergraduate degree. About 1/4 to 1/3 of accepted students have graduate degrees already (the 2010 cohort has has people with MBA, PHD, MPH, and JD). All students offered admissions have done well in the prerequisite classes (all As or A-) - and we like applicants to have grades in as many of the 4 prerequisite classes as possible at the time of application. Our admissions committee has emphasized work or practical experience in health care, and most accepted students are several years out of their undergraduate programs (the mean age is 25-29 in any cohort). Work experience has varied greatly -- some have been full-time jobs (paramedic/fireman, CNA, opthamologic technician, military medic with tours in Iraq, residential counselor in home for developmentally-challenged adults, etc) to volunteer (HIV educator in the Peace Corps, extended medical missions overseas, caring for your parent in the last months of their life, caring for your special needs child, etc). Our program is intense (students spend 60-80 hours a week on coursework and clinical practica), so our faculty likes applicants to have some 'hands-on' experience in health care so applicants know what they are getting into.

Thanks so much for your reply! That is very helpful information. I appreciate you taking the time to give insight into nursing school admissions.

Third is work experience in healthcare (prolonged work experience takes precedence over volunteer experience).

Our admissions committee has emphasized work or practical experience in health care, and most accepted students are several years out of their undergraduate programs (the mean age is 25-29 in any cohort). Work experience has varied greatly -- some have been full-time jobs (paramedic/fireman, CNA, opthamologic technician, military medic with tours in Iraq, residential counselor in home for developmentally-challenged adults, etc) to volunteer (HIV educator in the Peace Corps, extended medical missions overseas, caring for your parent in the last months of their life, caring for your special needs child, etc). Our program is intense (students spend 60-80 hours a week on coursework and clinical practica), so our faculty likes applicants to have some 'hands-on' experience in health care so applicants know what they are getting into.

My specific concerns about my prospective application are very similar to those of Meg11. I have science degrees (BS & MS) and have worked in clinical labs, but always felt the patient piece of the story was missing. I want to be a career changer, but at 35 with 2 dependents and living in a small town, I am not in a position to further my 'hands-on' experience through most of the examples mentioned by UVA Grad Nursing. I have lined up 2 diverse volunteer experiences for myself - one locally (currently conducting patient eligibility interviews) and one at a larger hospital (starting soon in the emergency department).

Is the program truly for career changers, such as myself or Meg11, or is it only meant for those who have been in other health care careers (EMT, CNA, health care technician, counselors, etc.)? After reading the program description online, I thought the DE MSN/CNL program was for career changers. However, most of the people attending the open house I went to, as well as the current DE student who talked with us, were already working in health care.

Has UVA admitted any career changing students with limited 'hands-on' health care experiences to its DE MSN/CNL program?

Would I or other potential students increase our chances of acceptance by becoming an EMT or CNA before applying?

To any DE students - what 'hands-on' experiences did you find most helpful once you started your program? What 'hands-on' experiences did you wish you had?

Thanks!

RN'ti,

I am a career changer, 36 w/ 2 kids under 4yo. I am in the DE CNL program at UVA, to graduate in August. I had no clinical experience entering but did volunteer in hospitals. I have a BS and MS... not healthcare related. I was a data analyst/statistician before. So the CNL program at UVA works for "real" career changers. Its the best move I've made.

I am fortunate that my husband was able to support us and be able to put our children in daycare while I was in school. I treat my school as a job. If I am not in clinicals or class, I am in the library studying. I "work" from 8-5 weekdays (except clinicals). That way I have my evenings and weekends free. That is the only way I could do it.

I would totally apply if I were you. Yes I have EMTs and CNAs in my program, but I also have former social workers, salespeople, computer science people, stay-at-home moms and others not with a healthcare background.

The CNL program is intense, but also quite good at giving you the skills and experience that will give you an edge in getting into the profession. When I graduate, I will have almost 1000 hours of ONE-TO-ONE preceptorship.... Regular BSN or ADN programs can't give you that experience in school.

Let me know if you have any questions!

The graduate program I attended (as a traditional, experienced-RN student) also had a three-year direct entry program (they joined us traditional students in the final two years of the program after they had completed their first year of basic nursing), so I was in classes with plenty of direct entry students. In my program, most of the direct entry students I knew had no prior significant healthcare experience before applying to and being accepted to the program (and it offered most of the advanced practice roles/specialties).

I'm not saying I, personally, think that's a good idea, but there are plenty of programs "out there" that do ...

Hi katmarie26,

I’m so glad you’re still on the boards occasionally! I can’t PM yet – but I am starting to volunteer at the main hospital this week and could easily meet sometime during one of your breaks on a clinical shift or your break on a class day. I would be easy to spot in my red volunteer vest and ID!

I was really glad to get your reply. I haven’t had time to follow up directly with UVA Grad Nursing yet, but I thought I would try posting on the boards first. As I mentioned, we only had one student who had time to talk with us at the open house and he had no dependents. Are there a lot of students in your class with spouses/children?

What kind of volunteer experiences did you have going in to the program? What hands-on experiences did you wish you had once you started?

Are you living in Charlottesville proper, or are you commuting?

I’ll hold my questions to those for today. I’m sure you are very busy, but I’d love to hear more about your experience if you have time. Thanks!

Hi elkpark,

Thanks for your reply! I am interested in DE CNL programs to start my career, not advanced practice specialties or even NP. Having been in a program with DE students, what hands-on volunteer experiences do you think would best prepare new DE students? What skill sets or knowledge areas seemed to be lacking?

RN'ti,

This week is crazy b/c of the last week before exams. I'll pm you w/ my email addy.

For your questions:

Are there a lot of students in your class with spouses/children?

There is one other in my class with younger children and a few with grown children. In the class below me, I know of another person with young children.

What kind of volunteer experiences did you have going in to the program?

I volunteered on a surgical floor in NoVA bringing snacks, drinks, and blankets to pts.

What hands-on experiences did you wish you had once you started?

PCA?CNA skills would be helpful, but you get all that in lab and clinicals.

Are you living in Charlottesville proper, or are you commuting?

I commute from Palmyra, about 30 mins.

HTH for now!

Hi Katmarie,

I know this is a very busy time, however after finals are over, would you mind meeting with me as well? Or perhaps you me and RN'ti could all meet together for lunch or something later in May. I live in Charlottesville, therefore commuting wouldn't be a problem for me. I too have many questions and would love to hear insight from a student in the program.

Thanks!

Meg11, I've pm'd you also