Alverno College Direct Entry into Nursing (DEMSN) 2022 Arizona

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Hello!

Has anyone applied to the Mesa location DEMSN program with Alverno? Looks like a brand new program in AZ. I'm currently waiting to see if I got accepted, but wanted to see if anyone else has already gone through the process, learned of where clinical rotations in the program could be at, etc.

 

Hello All

I recently applied to the program here in Mesa Az for the Spr 23 semester. Praying I get into the cohort. Good luck to you all.

Finally!! Received an acceptance letter! Planning on attending the open house event at Mesa next Wednesday. I hope to see some of you out here. ? 

8 hours ago, Bandana Paija said:

Finally!! Received an acceptance letter! Planning on attending the open house event at Mesa next Wednesday. I hope to see some of you out here. ? 

Congrats! See you then ? 

Specializes in Emergency Medicine and Education.

Hi. I can tell you that your concerns are valid. You are entering a program that is new. You are looking into a program that has mixed reviews. You are looking into a program that is intense. As a successful graduate of the DEMSN program, I can tell you I faced the same concerns. You do need to understand that there isn’t a program that is made perfect, but the team at Alverno is listening to their students and making adjustments as needed. I felt like I was heard while I was in the program. I felt like I was supported while in the program by some outstanding faculty that I have kept contact with. 

As a student I took advantage of the resources Alverno had to offer and I passed my NCLEX on the first try and so did the majority of my classmates in my cohort. One thing I can tell you is that the students that didn’t pass on the first try are the ones that didn’t study well before their first attempt. 
Alverno has a coach dedicated to helping students succeed in test taking. As a student that didn’t need the resource, I still took advantage of it and it was the best decision I made. Learning about where my deficits are and how to approach different questions helped better prepare me as a nurse. I felt like I had the proper resources provided for my success. 
The DEMSN program isn’t going to be easy. It will be a challenge but once you overcome all the challenges, you will be better prepared than your BSN counterparts as you will hold the advanced knowledge that MSN nurses hold which include the advanced patho, pharm, and physical assessment. I feel like I am respected in my practice as a nurse by providers due to my training and education through the program. 
Regarding the grading system, Alverno holds their students at hight standards with the 80% average rule. A GPE is calculated to allow you to apply to NP programs. I have friends that have started post-masters certification programs for NP and dnp programs. One student is already starting at Vanderbilt! Find a good mentor in the program. A instructor, academic coach, your advisor, etc. and you’ll have the support to succeed.  

I hope this helps! Best of luck! 

Hi everyone! 
Is there a FB for the Mesa location? Has anyone created one? If so, post the link please!
 

I applied and have been accepted for the Spring 2023 cohort! 

Specializes in oncology.

I can tell you from working in Milwaukee, Alverno's program was a standout. But these statements question the current sate of affairs there:

On 8/9/2022 at 10:18 PM, RNDEMSN21 said:

As a student I took advantage of the resources Alverno had to offer and I passed my NCLEX on the first try and so did the majority of my classmates in my cohort.

Are they not creating exams that require the critical thinking of NCLEX or the critical thinking that is REQUIRED as a nurse and or both? There are plenty programs produced by the National Council of Nurse Examiners to help novice test developers.. https://www.NCSBN.org/index.htm

On 8/9/2022 at 10:18 PM, RNDEMSN21 said:

Alverno has a coach dedicated to helping students succeed in test taking. As a student that didn’t need the resource, I still took advantage of it and it was the best decision I made. Learning about where my deficits are and how to approach different questions helped better prepare me as a nurse. I felt like I had the proper resources provided for my success. 

This is a great positive. 

On 8/9/2022 at 10:18 PM, RNDEMSN21 said:

Regarding the grading system, Alverno holds their students at hight standards with the 80% average rule. A GPE is calculated to allow you to apply to NP programs. I have friends that have started post-masters certification programs for NP and DNP programs.

Is this like WGU, all students get a pass with a B (most programs regard an 80% as a C..    trust me on that. I had a couple of them. What is a GPE?

 

In case, you thinking I am a chronic complainer, I found ALverno on the cutting edge of nursing education at the time of the 1980s. I worked with several who did student teaching there. All praise. 

 

Specializes in oncology.
On 8/9/2022 at 10:18 PM, RNDEMSN21 said:

One thing I can tell you is that the students that didn’t pass on the first try are the ones that didn’t study well before their first attempt. 

Or may be weren't prepared? Are those SN to RNs who did not have basic knowledge now thinking they can move to an advanced practice role? 

On 8/9/2022 at 10:18 PM, RNDEMSN21 said:

you will be better prepared than your BSN counterparts (otherwise known as boasting - added by me)  as you will hold the advanced knowledge that MSN nurses hold which include the advanced patho, pharm, and physical assessment. I feel like I am respected in my practice as a nurse by providers due to my training and education through the program. 

Wait until you are done with orientation before making claims like this.

Once again I will repeat Alverno has had a great reputation. 

Hello everyone,

 

I recently applied to Alverno's DEMSN program for the January 2023 start date. I applied October and found out 5 days later that I was not accepted. I'm currently in the middle of finishing my last two prereqs with Alverno, and was told over the phone from an advisor (not email, or official letter) that I was not accepted. Has anyone else has this experience? A s Ifind it strange to tell someone one verbally they weren't admitted. Also I would think all of the prereqs would need to be completed to look at the the GPA as a whole. Any insight would be great! ?

Hello,

I have been accepted into Alvernos program for the Fall 2023 cohort. I have read so many mixed reviews so I wanted to ask everyone who started last year or this Spring how the program is going? is it worth the money and how has the workload been? How are the professors and the school in general?

Any info would be amazing. I am kind of doubting on doing the program.

Rhiannon Solorzano said:

@miracle93, the good news is that Alverno is around the same (or better) than all the rest of the schools there (all include repeat test takers). 
 

I'm left wondering how any school could go from 94% pass rate or 91% (I saw that rate for them somewhere-I forget where) and an "A" grade on rncareers.org to "needs a 75% pass rate" to not lose accreditation.  


The Mesa location is brand new & hasn't even opened. They just secured accreditation in Arizona. Would they have been granted it if they're about to lose it in Wisconsin? 
 

I'm not asking you this, just sharing my thoughts/questions... 

 

If anyone else sees this and has more insight, please let me know!

Yeah some peoples opinions are confusing because based on the Arizona Board of Nursing https://drive.Google.com/file/d/1EDO4d7Pfh9j4IpPto5YoS9grcSHJa9NE/view 

 

they have their national accreditation until 2029. National being CCNE I believe. So IDK how they are losing their accreditation. I somewhat remember asking my recruiter about the NCLEX rates and I believe she mentioned covid and trying to do things online affected students. 
 

I see you stopped posting, did you get accepted? I hope you did ?

Specializes in oncology.
Chyna said:

they have their national accreditation until 2029. National being CCNE I believe.

CCNE is programmatic accreditation

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