Any UCSF Mepn Applicants?

Nursing Students Post Graduate

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Hi everyone--

Has anyone else out there applied to the UCSF MEPN program? They're supposed to send out letters this month (December) for the interview process. Has anyone gotten a letter yet? Will those that aren't asked to the interview process get a rejection letter now?

Crossing my fingers...!

I am from an incredibly underserved rural area where we are definitely feeling the nursing shortage, and additionally, provider shortages. Lack of hospitalists particularly. I want to go to UCSF so I can learn to be an ACNP and come back to help the people where I am from. There are few educational opportunities near my home, so many people end up leaving for school and get pulled to the bright lights and big cities. My mother and I both suffered (unrelated) traumas and nearly died b/c ambulances have to drive eternities to a facility that can treat the patients. It's really sad to think how many people suffer b/c of this.

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JudeyRooney81, I hope that you will get in so you can help out your community. Just out of curiosity, what other schools did you apply to?

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For logistical reasons, this is the only one I applied to thus far. I will get in eventually. If I do not get directly into the MEPN program, my back up is to apply to Samuel Merrit for the Accelerated RN track then apply to the MSN program, and if that doesn't work, re-apply next year. I am going to make it happen one way or the other. I am from out of state, but transplanted to the Bay Area for my spouse's job. We are moving back home in about 5 years when his contract is up. (Sorry it's confusing.)

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No, I totally get it. It looks like a couple of other people are applying to Samuel Merritt, maybe I should look into it also. I have been feeling defeated since two of my other schools turned me down. I really want to get into nursing, but I don't want to have to go the slow route; that is basically why I applied to the MEPN programs.

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Yeah, I am not mobile (though I currently don't live in the Bay Area but will be moving there once I am married). The current economy makes it very difficult for my fiancee to get a job somewhere else and one of us needs to be working while I am in school. Once I am out of school, I will be able to get a job back at home and support us for awhile he if is unable to find a job with his current company.

I am really hoping to get in, but am willing to do anything at this point to become a nurse. I have a masters in epidemiology, so it seems silly to have to retake all the classes to go the "slow track" i am not entirely sure how that would even work.

I wonder how competitive Samuel Merrit is, have you heard anything? What other accelerated programs exist?

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I think all the schools are pretty competitve especially with the influx of people trying to pursue accelerated nursing programs (if not regular nursing programs).

Does anyone know if Ohlone has an accelerated program? I thought I heard from someone they did...

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The economy stinks, but everything will work out in the long run when it comes to finding jobs and where you and your fiancee belong.

I feel your frustration. Some of the programs offered here in San Antonio that would lead up to a BSN would require me to take even more prerequisites, thus requiring me to wait another year before I could begin nursing school. What really gets to me is that there is no prerequisite uniformity between the many schools that offer an accelerated track. Some schools wanted intro chem, some wanted gen chem, some wanted no chem etc. I think it would be positive for nursing schools that offer an accelerated track to have a standard amount of requirements like medical schools do.

Having a masters in epidemiology strengthens your application, I think. Whereas I have a BA in history, it's not a science or medical degree, but I think it is valuable to have an understanding of different people.

I'm not sure of any other schools in California, but I know of others in the country.

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Who knows what weakens or strengthens our chances. Because of my degree being so research based, most of my health volunteering came from lending my research skills to institution on behalf of improving patient care, not from directly caring for the patients. I fear this will greatly hurt me.

Don't worry, by B.A. was in Sociology and Latin. so I am sure they won't look down on your history degree. I hear they like variety. Funny how we all end up outside our majors. I took a lot of math and Stats in college so that's how I got into Epi. This waiting and seeing thing sucks, I thought we would have heard by now, but no luck.

I have an A and P final today. I found out if I don't get into this program, my A and P is pretty much null and void since it doesn't count toward Samuel Merrit's A and P program, so I will drop it to save a few hundred bucks if I don't get it. I just wish the wait was over! Then at least I could cope with the outcome. *sigh*

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I guess there will be some give and take when it comes to what we have accomplished. I don't know I guess we will just have to wait and see.

I am waiting rather impatiently too. Today, I opened my mailbox hopeful that I would hear something, but instead I had a jury summons! My biggest regret is not sending them a letter explaining my past academic mistakes. My transcripts aren't that pretty and I feel like that is really going to hurt. Oh well, I'll just have to wait and see what happens.

Classes are still in session for you?

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Today is my final then classes are over.

Nothing in the mail today, but since I am so far East you will probably get your notice before I got mine. I got something from SF today, I just about jumped out of my skin before realizing it was a birthday card. Ha ha, at least that was good news!

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aACHINs, I encourage you to look elsewhere. The program almost died this year- actually was cancelled and then was resurrected. When you interview, ask your interviewer tough questions. The 3 ACHINs in our class were seriously bummed. Then graduate faculty was found but I don't know how stable the program is. Seriously, ASK. There is no trouble in that.

There is no nursing shortage in the Bay Area, and I think this is important to know. As far as our nurse recruiters have told us, UCSF has a moratorium on hiring new RNs, and SFGH is funded by the state (which is in debt). Think very carefully on what you want to do and where you want to do it. NPs are in demand, but not in the Bay Area, and neither are RNs. In fact, I'm even looking in Sac and having trouble. Many people are not taking the step-out year because due to the recession, it's better to stay in school. Just think about what you want to do. I'm not trying to dissuade you from one way or another (I mean hell, I network like crazy, and I believe in myself), but you should think about what you're doing. And a BSN is a valuable degree as well, if you don't end up in MEPN.

Best of luck to you. And to all of us!:heartbeat

Hi starr77,

Wow, thanks for the info on the achin specialty... do you know if the program having problems only due to lack of faculty, or if there are other factors? i applyed to this specialty since the majority of my professional experience is with community organizations, and i would like to continue on this path. hopefully the program will stabilize!

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this is from the UCSF MEPN 2009 website: someone has an update from the office:

latest update from the office:

letters are going to be sent end of this week, friday. probably, we will receive them either on saturday or monday!

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