University of Hawaii-MEPN PROGRAM...anyone heard about it?

U.S.A. Hawaii

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I'm applying for UH MEPN program for Fall 2009. Has anyone heard about the program? It's fairly new but I just want to know what I'm getting myself into...lol. I know overall, nursing school is tough but would like some feedback on the MEPN program itself.

Thanks!

hollattaplaya.. good luck with the APRN-FNP program.!! And yes, I am prepared for the intensity this program brings for the first yr & a half but i thank you for the heads up. =) congrats to your friends who will be graduating from the program this summer. i really commend them for their commitment to finishing the intensive coursework. but if i do have any questions i will be certain to ask you =)
hey everyone,

i was wondering if i could get your input for those who have applied or are currently in the program. I was wondering if when you apply do you already need to know what specialty track you want to go in? And if you are in the program and decide to change specialty after the first year is this possible? I assume that through the first year you would have a better understanding of what specialty you want to go in. But does admission already wants students to know? Furthermore, upon applying, does the type of specialty increases your chances of getting submitted? i.e FNP is highly popular vs. CNS so do they accept those who directly apply for a CNS, and limit those who want the FNP?

when you do apply to the program you must choose a specialty track when you submit your application. they said they have had a few people who have changed their specialty upon completing the first year, but you must go in front of the board and explain what your reasons are for wanting to switch. don't quote me on this but a person i know contacted one of the committee persons to see if it were possible for them to change their mind. i am not too sure if the type of specialty track you choose increases your chances of getting in but i am assuming they do accept only a certain number of people per specialty track, some more than others. therefore, if a certain specialty track is more popular than the others, you will have a higher chance of competing with more people for the same track. i don't know if any of this helps but i can try help if you have any other questions.

thank you so much. it was really insightful. i have an idea of what i want to pursue as my specialty but a nurse administrator at PLU said that the flaw in already choosing your specialty is that students dont really know until the first year through clinicals. and i believe that im a split between two specialties so I wasnt sure. have you already applied? Im a little worried as UHM is the best option for me and seeing that there is a great amount of applications and not enough seats its intimidating.

also has anyone brought this too attention or know more about this issue. there is a great debate of new information that in 2015 nurse practioners can no longer practice with a msn they need a dnp. I dont know if UH has any information on this currently but it seems that it would even be more difficult with more schooling just to be a np.

and now with all the nursing shortages it seems like its its not being solved by only allowing entry np programs. and now you may even have to go further getting dnp to be a np. why did they remove the acclerated bsn? did they just want np? doesnt make sense now that these new requirements are coming up.

anyhow i thought if anyone knew more it would be helpful as i may begin to think of other options.

Specializes in PNP.

DPN, really?... Can you direct me to some sites on the issue, please. Is this nationally or state? Where did you get this info?

Nothing about DNP is official. It's still in the process of work. If it does go into effect (I don't think it will, many people in the profession are against it), everyone who is currently in practice or NP school will be grandfather in. So no worries. One thing at a time folks. 1. Get accepted 2. Survive school (will come with enormous lists) 3. Find a job (light at the end of the tunnel?).

Switching specialty wise, I heard it was simple as filling out a form w/o any interview or explanation :) There will always be haters with "MEPN" at any school you attend. Don't listen to the negativity that is created by people you don't know. Some of these people have never worked with MEPN students. It is who you are that makes you a good nurse. MEPN is created for the shortage of nurses, primary care providers (NP), and especially public health nurse.

Wishing everyone the best of luck.

yes its not official but there has been some debate on this new requirement. i was only given this information at attending one of the info sessions as PLU. the nurse administrator and dean brought this issue up and how they will be making more changes to their ELMSN program in the near future. i googled to see what the debate has been on, so im sure youll be able to find articles on it. maybe type 2015 new dnp requirements. hope this helps. if anyone knows more your input would be greatful.

I had two interviewers and it was over the phone. There were 7 questions and it went very quickly, succinct. My track is APHN. cheers

Specializes in PNP.

Thanks all!!!!

Specializes in FNP-C.

Hollownurse, who'd you get interviewed by? Don't be fooled by my screen name as I made this screen name when I first signed up for allnurses.com and I can't change the screen name until April this year. :uhoh3:

Specializes in FNP-C.
DPN, really?... Can you direct me to some sites on the issue, please. Is this nationally or state? Where did you get this info?

The DNP requirement will be in effect nationally by 2015. Those who are already in the MSN APRN programs will be grandfathered in. So get it while you can! However, if you would like to go for your DNP later as I am going to, you would still need to complete 2 more years after your MSN. Which totals to 4 years of graduate school, nearly the same years as getting a medical degree :eek:, but totally different method of training. The thing about this DNP is, the two more years of schooling for those who have an MSN wouldn't be doing more "clinical disease" types of training, but more political, clinical research, health policy type of content.

The DNP wouldn't necessarily expand scope of practice. In Hawaii, NPs would be allowed to prescribe Schedule II-V narcotics by this year in accordance to the Hawaii BON's adopted formularies. So yes, I would think the MEPN program would be revamped soon to correlate with the future requirements of becoming an APRN by 2015.

Specializes in FNP-C.
Nothing about DNP is official. It's still in the process of work. If it does go into effect (I don't think it will, many people in the profession are against it), everyone who is currently in practice or NP school will be grandfather in. So no worries. One thing at a time folks. 1. Get accepted 2. Survive school (will come with enormous lists) 3. Find a job (light at the end of the tunnel?).

Switching specialty wise, I heard it was simple as filling out a form w/o any interview or explanation :) There will always be haters with "MEPN" at any school you attend. Don't listen to the negativity that is created by people you don't know. Some of these people have never worked with MEPN students. It is who you are that makes you a good nurse. MEPN is created for the shortage of nurses, primary care providers (NP), and especially public health nurse.

Wishing everyone the best of luck.

The DNP will become official. Some colleges in the US are already offering DNP programs that require more capstone hours. However, there are minimal "diseases and clinical" courses and this bother me, as there are more classes that are about health policy and such. They say the DNP is a clinical practice doctorate? :confused: However, I'm still for the DNP as it will give us more of a political uplift and supposedly "collegial status". The reason why many people may be against it is because there aren't that many people who has the knowledge of what a DNP really is and it's entitlement as well as it's purpose and scope of practice issues. Also, calling the APRN by the title of "Doctor" is thought by some people, that physicians own the title which they don't. Physicians own the title MD (Medical Doctor) though.

As hilife808 said, don't worry about haters. Keep in mind that APRN practice is vastly different from bedside nursing. Such as for NPs, you'll be using medical diagnoses instead of nursing diagnoses for example: Asthma. Instead of "ineffective airway".

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