2013 GHSU CNL applicants

Nursing Students Post Graduate

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Hi! Anyone else out there apply for the 2013 Georgia Health Science University's CNL MSN program? I just submitted my application for the early decision Nov 1 deadline. Let's chat!

mygirlmontana.....how much have you done yet with the checklist of things they sent us after we were accepted? I've set-up my email although for some reason it won't let me change from the original password so I need to sort that out. I also don't have a shot record so I need to go next week and get titers drawn. I wonder when they tell us about uniforms and books.

Sadly not enough. I need to do the vaccinations, financial aid, etc. I did set up email and pulse account. I guess books and uniforms will be closer to when the entire classes are selected? I'm thinking summer. It seems so far away!!

Hi everyone! I just applied.. congrats to everyone that has been accepted

I know, I'm so impatient...I want to start now! Of course remind me of that when we start in August and I'm dying for a break, lol!!Good luck to everyone that is applying! Is anyone else applying to the Augusta campus?

So to those of you who have already been accepted, how did it work? Do they call you first and tell you that you have an interview, and then do you just wait for a letter to tell you if you have been accepted or not? AND what was the interview like??

I got an email a few weeks after the application deadlone to say that I had an interview. Then I got a letter to say I had been accepted just a few weeks after I was interviewed.I thought the interviews were fine, the ladies that interviewed me were really nice. It went by very quickly though, you aren't in there long! They did am orientation too and we got to see one of the labs where you practise skills...very exciting :-).

Hello everyone...I submitted my application for the Augusta campus last week. Congratulations to those who have been accepted and good luck to those waiting.

Hello, I hope someone can answer my questions. I've been trying to reach people who have done this program, but nobody has gotten back to me. I live in the Augusta area, and I've been wanting to do this program for a few years now. I started taking prerequisites a few years ago but quit after being deterred by negative remarks about direct entry MSN programs and new grads not being able to get jobs. However, I decided to give it a shot because I've been wanting to pursue nursing since high school.

My main concern of course is finding a job after graduation. Here are my questions.

1. How is the program perceived locally? What has been the reaction among employers? I've read on this forum that employers prefer to hire BSN nurses over direct entry MSN nurses. This may be the case in other states, but I want to know what it's like in this area.

2. Are people finding jobs after graduation? How many people in your class have found jobs? It's so disheartening to constantly read about new nurses not being able to find work.

3. When you apply, can you just apply to the Augusta campus, or do you have to provide a location of second choice? I only want to do the program in Augusta since I live here.

4. I haven't worked in years. I was laid off in an industry that pretty much vanished at the start of the recession. So I decided to finally finish my bachelor's degree. I didn't work while I was in school since my husband took care of us financially. A few months before I graduated, my mom was diagnosed with cervical cancer. She had a very rough time after her treatments ended. Instead of working, I took care of her the last few years. Since I haven't worked in a while, would this count against me? I don't feel like a competitive applicant since I don't have a job.

I would appreciate any information about the program.

1. How is the program perceived locally? What has been the reaction among employers? I've read on this forum that employers prefer to hire BSN nurses over direct entry MSN nurses. This may be the case in other states, but I want to know what it's like in this area.

I read the same thing on these forums about employers preferring BSN nurses over MSN nurses. Honestly, this does not seem to be the case with this program. The surrounding area hospitals (at least in Athen's and Atlanta) are excited about CNLs and hire them fairly quickly after graduation. I don't mean to be offensive, but I think a lot of the comments about BSN > MSN are from experienced nurses who are irritated that the profession is changing and that direct-entry programs even exist. Just don't expect to jump straight into an administrator role of course! Graduates go on to become staff nurses, but move up the ladder more quickly with the MSN degree.

2. Are people finding jobs after graduation? How many people in your class have found jobs? It's so disheartening to constantly read about new nurses not being able to find work.

They don't tell us statistics based on years past, but we had a lot of conversations with the graduating CNLs during our first semester (their last) and many of them had jobs already lined up. As of right now, I think all of them have been hired. Again, this is in the Athens and Atlanta area where there are more hospitals, I don't know anything about Augusta (sorry!).

3. When you apply, can you just apply to the Augusta campus, or do you have to provide a location of second choice? I only want to do the program in Augusta since I live here.

I think you always have to chose a back-up, but the Augusta campus is less competitive than the Athens campus so that will play in your favor. You can always reject your acceptance if you get in to another campus though.

4. I haven't worked in years. I was laid off in an industry that pretty much vanished at the start of the recession. So I decided to finally finish my bachelor's degree. I didn't work while I was in school since my husband took care of us financially. A few months before I graduated, my mom was diagnosed with cervical cancer. She had a very rough time after her treatments ended. Instead of working, I took care of her the last few years. Since I haven't worked in a while, would this count against me? I don't feel like a competitive applicant since I don't have a job.

You didn't provide any info about your GPA, past work experience, volunteer experience, etc. There is such a wide variety of backgrounds in our group, don't think that because you've been out of the workforce for a while that you are at a disadvantage. Your GPA, GRE score, volunteer experience and a good interview will mean more than recent work experience. That's not to say that candidates with healthcare experience aren't more competitive--they are; but many of us don't have past healthcare experience and still got in! :)

I'm a student at the GHSU Athens Campus and will be graduating the MSN-CNL program this December. I don't know much about the Augusta campus and overall experience there, so some of my answers might not apply.

Peach nurse, thank you for responding to trin. I've been checking the thread daily to see if a current student had replied, I didn't feel qualified to answer. I begin at the Athens campus in August. How have you been received in clinicals in the area. I have had many of the same questions and on here they scare you to death with the negative connotation that direct entry programs receive.

I will say that I applied to Athens only. My husband has a stable job and I have two small kids, so moving wasn't an option. I got in!

peachnurse22,

Thank you so much for answering my questions. Apparently, the CNL program is well received in the Augusta area, so I feel a lot better. I guess it just varies by location. I don't mind investing in my education if it gets me somewhere. I was just worried that I would end up with no job and more student loan debt.

I think people's negativity towards the CNL program stems from not fully understanding the CNL role. The title is kind of misleading. A lot of people think it's an advanced practice role. Like you mentioned, a CNL starts out as a staff nurse doing bedside nursing. I just wish people wouldn't bash it without fully knowing the details.

I think it's a great program. I'm amazed that there are over 1,200 clinical hours (according to the curriculum posted online). I considered doing the bachelor's program, but it would take me longer to complete since there are more prerequisites and because it's not accelerated.

Do you know how competitive the program is? Do you know approximately how many people applied and how many were admitted? How about the average GRE score? What was your score? I've been studying like crazy for the GRE, and it's really stressing me out.

mygirlmontana,

Congratulations on getting accepted. I'd rather live in Athens, but my husband's job is here.

Do you have health care experience? The only health care experience I have is working as a hospital pharmacy technician for a few years over ten years ago. I'm not even sure if that counts. I plan to start volunteering at a hospital soon. I volunteered off an on over the past ten years. I couldn't volunteer the last few years since I was taking care of my mom. I also did other volunteering as hobbies, such as teaching kids how to play the piano. Again, that probably doesn't count since I'm not sure how I'd substantiate it.

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