Direct Entry MSN Programs 2013

Nursing Students Post Graduate

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Anyone on here applying to direct entry MSN programs that begin in summer or fall of 2013? I think I have finalized my list of programs to apply to, and I am beginning to get everything together to start applying this summer/early fall (I know this is rather early, but I'm a bit anxious and I was wondering if there was anyone else on this board who is just as excited as me!). I am pretty certain that I will be applying to UPenn, Yale, Johns Hopkins, Northeastern, University of Massachusetts, Boston College, Columbia, Vanderbilt, and Marquette. I am also applying to a few accelerated BSN programs in my state (Florida) - UCF and UF, for sure. I have all of my prerequisite courses completed, and currently have a 3.76, but my BS is still in progress and I have to retake the GRE this summer. I look forward to hearing from other people!

Does anyone know how many clinical hours these programs have? All I know is Duke (well it's an ABSN) has 700 clinical hours. UVA has 1,000. Does anyone know for the other ones?

Good question! I actually thought that Duke had a little more than that, so I'm glad to know it's 700 hours.

Oh yeah Duke is a bit more than that. I just rounded I think someone on here said it was around 756 or something

Does anyone know the advantages and disadvantages of doing the summer entry vs. the fall entry for Johns Hopkins BSN/MSN program. I know that the Fall entry is slower paced and consequently a longer program...but does that result in a big difference in tuition. Initially, I had plans to apply to the summer entry but have been sick for the past two and a half weeks...which has set me back a bit. I'm not sure I'm going to make the deadline for summer-entry and am at the point of just considering fall-entry.

I don't want to regret anything though if the difference could mean a big jump in tuition. I wish they didn't have to have so many prompts :T sigh!

Do the fall session... I remember reading in older posts that a lot of people who did summer eventually had to switch to fall because of how fast paced it was.

I'm applying for fall for the same reason hopeful! I hate that there's a word limit for these prompts! I'm having so much trouble with this application! Feel better :)

Pizza...i think the tuition for the summer- and fall-entry programs are identical. I'm leaning towards the Fall start date...what's 4 months in the grand scheme of things?

I just got back from an info session at MGH IHP and thought I would report back for those who are interested but can't make it to an info session.

- Facilities seem very nice. They have a brand new building with a student lounge and interactive classroom, plus the main building, where the info session was, which seemed clean and up-to-date. They are located in Charlestown, which is a quick shuttle from the MGH main campus in downtown Boston.

- Clinical groups are 5-6 max until your 4th semester, then they are 1-to-1 with an NP twice a week

- There is a mix of hybrid and in-person classes. The hybrid classes are online with in-person meetings once a month or so. It sounds like for almost every hybrid, there is an option to take the class just in-person, too. She said they are trying to give students as many options as they like to choose between the two for as many classes as possible

- They have started letting students take courses over the summers after your 1st and second years to lighten the load. They said that this way, people can be full-time students and have part-time jobs during the last year of the program.

- Because of limited peds clinicals in the area, you will only have a peds clinical rotation in the pre-RN portion if you are in the Peds, Family, Psych, or Women's Health specialties (ie not if you are in any of the Adult specialties), which I think is different from most schools where everyone does a Peds clinical their first year.

- Their NCLEX pass rate was in the high 90s last year (she did not remember the exact number)

- Most people are licensed in their 2nd spring and many get RN jobs over the summer that they continue part-time in the fall.

- Last year's GRE average was 145, 145, 4.0 and they have about 500 applicants for a class of 100

- Most grads have jobs within 6 months

- You don't get the BSN until you graduate, but she said once you have your RN most students don't have a huge problem getting a job, even at the major teaching hospitals, because the hospitals are familiar with the program and will hire them without their BSN since they know they will be getting it at the end of the program

- This year, applicants will be notified earlier than they were last year (last year was late March), she thinks late Feb/early March

- You do need a car because some clinicals are far away (especially for NP portion). She said to expect having several clinicals far away, but I will say my friend who is in her 2nd year has had every single clinical so far at MGH except for community health

I hope this was helpful for those of you interested in the school and good luck to everyone!

Specializes in Midwifery/Women's Health.

Wow JP999 Thanks so much for the full report. This definitely gives me a lot more information on MGH than what's available on their website. This is my last application I'm submitting this month, total of 12 (yeah I'm pulling my hair out with all these schools) so I'll be glad to be done with it! And I'm surprised how low the averages are for the GREs... that makes me feel a lot better about my scores. And it's always great to know that results will be sent out earlier :) YAY! Thanks again JP999.

One more note about UVa's clinical hours: Yes, we have 1000 hours as part of the program for all students. They are all 1:1 hours (no clinical groups in our program). For the first 15 months you have a different preceptor every 7 weeks as you rotate through different areas. In the last 2 semesters (500 hours) you are in one specific unit where you also conduct your capstone project.

Specializes in Clinical Nurse Leader.
One more note about UVa's clinical hours: Yes, we have 1000 hours as part of the program for all students. They are all 1:1 hours (no clinical groups in our program). For the first 15 months you have a different preceptor every 7 weeks as you rotate through different areas. In the last 2 semesters (500 hours) you are in one specific unit where you also conduct your capstone project.

Do the students choose their capstone project and are the last 500 hours in a unit of choice?

Soulshine:Students are asked to rank order their top three units, and all in cent years have had one of their top choices (with most getting the first choice).In the course of the first semester the student meets with the unit manager to discuss possible capstone projects. The project develops from a student-perceived idea, or from a suggestion of the manager (ie, from a defined clinical need). Managers at UVA Health System all have a list of projects they would love to undertake if there existed sufficient resources. Most of these capstones concern quality improvement, patient/family/employee satisfaction, or safety issues. Many capstone findings have become posters and papers at national conferences, and become adopted as policies at the UVa Health System.

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