Any current AEM UP applicants out there?

Boognish · Dec 18, 2009

Update: I've been accepted to University of Portland's Alternate Entry Master's in Nursing program! Are any of my soon-to-be classmates out there?

scortorvin · Jun 4, 2011

Hello- I'm looking into this program. I would love to get some feedback from you. Especially since you should be almost finished. Any info helps.

Boognish · Jun 4, 2011

Over all, I've been extremely happy with my experience at UP. The instruction has been, for the most part, excellent. As have been my clinical experiences. I've found my experiences on dedicated education units to be especially beneficial, since the nurses there have an established relationship to UP students, know what is expected of us, and are genuinely engaging.

Just as important, I'm very pleased with my cohort. The program emphasizes group learning, and I have had the pleasure of collaborating with some incredible individuals, both on class projects and in clinicals, and there is an atmosphere of mutual support among my class mates. I believe the highly involved application and interview process helped to make this possible. Furthermore, the campus is beautiful, and it has a state-of-the-art simulation lab.

That's not to say UP is without flaws. I won't elaborate most of them here, because there problems I believe one would encounter at any educational institution. However, the big concern I have personally that specifically relates to my program is that I'm still uncertain about the CNL role. It's not that I don't understand the value of the training I will receive in the master's portion of the program; it's just that I'm not sure how much more employable it's going to make me in the end for all of the extra money I'm spending to get there- especially since we keep hearing that we probably won't find many jobs with the actual title "CNL," but rather will be eligible for other leadership roles.

In the end, though, I'm still 100% certain that I made the right choice in enrolling in the AEM UP program. I'm being challenged more than I feel I would be in an AA or BSN program, and ultimately I think I'll be the better nurse for it- which is really what matters most to me. I trust that I'll be able to successfully launch my career when the time comes, and that I will be well prepared to do so by my education- even if that path seems obscured at the moment.

scortorvin · Jun 5, 2011

Thank you for your quick response. I am glad that you mentioned the role of CNL because that was my main concern as I researched the program. I cannot find anyone who can elaborate on the role or where it fits in clinically. Furthermore, I cannot find any job listings in the Portland area requiring CNL training. I would really like to discuss this further so I wonder if it would be too weird to meet for coffee. I realize you are pretty busy so there is no pressure to do so. Also, I can always post if I have other questions that pop up.

I really am in a quandry. I want a graduate level nursing degree and the program would need to be alternate entry. Therein lies the problem, UoP is the only school I know of that offers this. OHSU is turning their alternate entry NP into a doctorate program and I am not interested in being a practitioner anyways. Thanks again for responding.