2009 Direct Entry MSN at MGHIHP

Samm13: I was just accepted to the peds speciality at MGH, which one did you apply for? I'm going to go to the open house this weekend, I'm sure that will answer most of my questions. Are you going to go? I'm still waiting to hear from Simmons, but if I get in there too, I think I'll have a really tough choice to make.

Congrats!

The Columbia program is much larger than the MGHIHP program with at least twice as many students. MGHIHP program leads to an MSN only. Columbia is a joint BSN/MSN program. Columbia is more expensive of the two programs.
Both programs have strong clinical affiliation with some of the best hospitals in the country.

Is location a factor for you? MGHIHP campus is very different than the Columbia medical campus.

Another consideration is to find out how many students are in each of the clinical groups. I think MGHIHP has a maximum of 8 student per clincial instructor. Not sure about Columbia.

The MGH program schedule allows for break from classes from April to Sept. so students can get more clinical experience and earn some money. I was very impressed by the faculty at MGHIHP especially their research interests in addition to their clinical work.

Good luck

While on the topic, does Simmons lead to a BSN/MSN ? Anyone knows? Thanks

Simmons leads to an RN/MSN. It's 18 months for the RN portion, and then the following 18 months are the masters portion!

Jalin_2009,

Thanks so much for those tips. I, too, am deciding amongst several schools, two of them being Columbia and MGHIHP. You mention that MGH has the break from April - September, but that would only enable students to work for 6 months after the 2nd year when they have the RN license.....whereas, Columbia allows students to take a year break between the BSN and MSN portions so they could end up getting a year of experience. So I think it's safe to say that both schools would allow for work experience in between, right? Do you know if either school helps with placement during those breaks or if they have more of a chance to be hired for those breaks from their affiliated institutions?

Which program do you attend?

The MGH program has a break even after the first year. It's built into their academic calendar. During the first year, students attend class fall and spring term with the summer off. Their spring terms ends at the end of April.

During the break the first year, you would not be working as an RN. My sense of the Boston job market is that there is a lot of internal hiring. There is also a much larger influx of new grads each year than most places so finding a job can be competitive. Even if you don't work as an RN, it is good to have another opportunity to work, network and make connections for a job after graduation.

The Columbia program allow students to take a year off in between the BSN/MSN portion but it is the choice of the student versus being a part of the program. In my experience, most joint programs allow you to do this. Regis college in the Boston area allows students to take up to 2 years off before completely the MSN portion.

I am not sure if the school helps with placement.

Are you going to the accepted student event this weekend? It is a good question to ask.

Who's going to the open house this weekend? Anyone for the Peds track?

I'll be there I'm in for the Peds track, too.

I look forward to meeting you!

It will be great to get all the information about classes, meet the professors, fellow students etc. I'm definitely sending in my deposit... probably by the end of the week. I just wish I wasn't still waiting to hear back from schools. I was starting to get really stressed out because my bosses kept asking when I'd start school if I got in, so now I can give them an answer!