Seattle U - APNI 2012

Nursing Students NP Students

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Anyone already applying at Seattle U? Which track? I haven't finished my pre-req's, so I am probably not too competitive this year, but I am going to apply anyway. I am applying for the nurse-midwife track and my background is Microbiology (UW).

Specializes in Adult Nurse Practitioner / Gero NP.
MSW,

Do you know approximately how many members of the current co-hort have a Master's degree in another field? Seems like having a master shows that a prospective student has the ability to handle graduate level course work, but if the degree is unrelated to the health care field perhaps it is insignificant to the admissions committee. What are your thoughts? Do you believe that your MSW made you a more well-rounded candidate or were the most important application factors your volunteer work and high science GPA? Thanks

I know that MSW530 and I are among 3-4 people in the cohort who have our MSWs. Several others have masters degrees in psychology, counseling, and perhaps teaching as well. Most, however, do not have a degree higher than a bachelor's degree. I think it can show that you can handle graduate level work, but let me assure you that nursing is a whole different animal! While some of the classes (like Theories of Nursing, Epidemiology, and Vulnerable Populations) are similar in style to the classes I took in my MSW program, most of the clinical/science based courses are very different. They are taught at a much faster pace than our prereqs were taught, and I know that (especially in the summer), I would be in the library for up to 10 hours a day during the days before an exam, and I never studied like before that in my life. But, it's so worth it, and I can't believe how much I've learned already! Like the other students in my cohort mentioned, I have been able to assist with a lady partsl birth, care for babies in the NICU, and do all sorts of amazing things! It's really an amazing program.

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Specializes in Adult Nurse Practitioner / Gero NP.
I see your angle a bit clearer now and would agree with it to some extent. Nursing in general is centered around caring for those in need regardless of race, religion and SES so if you don't possess this first quality, you probably shouldn't be in the field. Playing the role of a NP goes further than all of this. You need to be able to make the correct decision the first time around because ultimately the responsibility for treating that patient is on you. The NP's I work with are all sharp people and understand the essence of treating patients. Yes, showing altruism through volunteering is an important step in formulating your view on helping others but shouldn't be the golden ticket, especially in an accelerate program. I would think those with the tools readily equipped would have an advantage, however, SU might look for applicants who don't possess much clinical experience so they can mold their nurses/NP's from what their programs sees fit. Nice bit thought, you can tell you've thought hard about it.

I think that the admissions faculty look for a strong aptitude in all their applicants to be advanced practice nurses. Strong clinical experience is one way to show that, grades might be another. I believe they understand not everyone will have as much experience available, due to their age or time out of school, so I think they take that into consideration. I think the school narrows the pool down to the applicants that it feels will be very strong academically and clinically...all of my classmates are quite brilliant and sharp, and will make excellent nurses.

However, to rely on your clinical experience and competence alone would be a mistake. There are hundreds of applicants that are well qualified, clinically. My opinion is that the CON (college of nursing) then makes its selection from that well qualified pool by figuring out who best matches their ideals and values. I assure you, there will be more than 50 applicants who meet both of those qualities. For all of you, in the interview, I would make sure to highlight both your clinical/academic prowess and your experience with volunteerism, social justice, and making the world a better place.

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Hey Flaneur,

What caused you to lose interest in psych and choose adult/gero instead? Did you have to make this decision before applying or were you able to make the decision during the RN portion once you had already started the program? Thanks!

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Flaneur,

Thanks for your thoughtful responses. It is so valuable to have the perspective of you and current classmates on this board. Good advice to just relax and not "freak out" about acceptances and the future when (according to last year's thread) you guys didn't hear from CON until March and later! The program sounds amazingly rigorous and your personal perspectives and advice add a lot of value. I applied to the AGNP tract and am encouraged to hear you are happy with this specialization!!!! :)

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Hello,

I am new to this forum, but I also just applied for the 2012 cohort FNP. Sounds like I might be one of the "older" applicants and this is certainly a career change for me. My undergraduate work was done almost twenty years ago, so it's been exciting to be energized by learning again. My BS is in Environmental Studies, so this is a radical shift for me. I'm doing well on my pre-requisites and think I've got a decent GRE score. It's helpful to read the comments from the student's currently enrolled. I'm looking forward to getting to know you all here and waiting out this nail biting time between now and interviews/decisions.

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Specializes in Adult Nurse Practitioner / Gero NP.
Hey Flaneur,

What caused you to lose interest in psych and choose adult/gero instead? Did you have to make this decision before applying or were you able to make the decision during the RN portion once you had already started the program? Thanks!

It wasn't so much that I lost interest in psych (I plan on staying involved in psych), but more that when I was working in outpatient mental health as a social worker, I found that a lot of my clients with severe mental health illness had a very difficult time finding a primary care provider that wanted to see them and did a good job balancing their physical needs with their mental health needs. I'd like to be able to do that, so I figured that learning how to be an adult primary care provider would be the way to go. However, I love the idea of being a PMHNP, and could see myself specializing in psych later in life, perhaps if I pursue a DNP sometime in the future.

However, this decision needed to be made before-hand. We are not able to change our specialty once we start the program, so there isn't a lot of flexibility that way. I think this is because they like to keep the specialties split fairly evenly so they have enough clinical placements and faculty for each track.

Flaneur,

Thanks for your thoughtful responses. It is so valuable to have the perspective of you and current classmates on this board. Good advice to just relax and not "freak out" about acceptances and the future when (according to last year's thread) you guys didn't hear from CON until March and later! The program sounds amazingly rigorous and your personal perspectives and advice add a lot of value. I applied to the AGNP tract and am encouraged to hear you are happy with this specialization!!!! :)

No problem! I can remember exactly this day, a year ago...right before the deadline to apply. It seems so long ago, now, and I've learned so much. I really think the AGNP specialty is a great option. For me it made the most sense since I do not have an interest in working with children, and instead I would get more class/clinical time working with adults with serious and chronic illness. And you're right...December is a hard month because you've applied, but you will hear absolutely nothing during this month. So, relax whenever possible and have a great holiday! It will be plenty stressful later on waiting to hear back.

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Specializes in Adult Nurse Practitioner / Gero NP.
I am new to this forum, but I also just applied for the 2012 cohort FNP. Sounds like I might be one of the "older" applicants and this is certainly a career change for me. My undergraduate work was done almost twenty years ago, so it's been exciting to be energized by learning again. My BS is in Environmental Studies, so this is a radical shift for me. I'm doing well on my pre-requisites and think I've got a decent GRE score. It's helpful to read the comments from the student's currently enrolled. I'm looking forward to getting to know you all here and waiting out this nail biting time between now and interviews/decisions.

I don't think you're alone in this...while most of the students are in their later 20s or early 30s, we have a handful of students in our cohort (2011) who are in their 40s or older. Many people in the program are parents of several children. I think SU values the experience someone brings when they are changing their career. :) Best of luck to you, and everyone during this time! We're happy to give you whatever support or information we can, as students a year ahead of you. If you ultimately end up starting the APNI program next year, you will certainly get to know us!

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wow, i don't know what happened, but i stopped receiving email notifications for this thread and thought it was dead since thanksgiving. :rolleyes:

anyways, welcome to this thread students! i couldn't thank you enough! i read everything about your application last year already, this site is such great place for information!

so, i sent my docs yesterday via email and beautiful, beautiful message showed up this morning: "all required documents have been received, and your application is now in evaluation."

december couldn't end fast enough! :)

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and this morning it changed to: your file has been evaluated and is ready for review by your intended program. please keep in mind some programs will not review files until after the application deadline while others will review files as they become complete.

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So who on this board has officially submitted their APNI Application and to which specialization? I'm glad the deadline has come and the waiting can begin...

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Scout,

I've officially applied to the midwifery track. Let the waiting begin

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I applied to the PMHNP program. I had a minor breakdown while writing my letter of intent, but I got it finished, thankfully! Just playing the waiting game now. Sometimes it slips my mind that I finally completed the application, and then when I remember, I get nervous all over again :)

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