Any UCSF Mepn Applicants?

tsscal · Mar 30, 2009

Hey all,

Have you received the long letter from UCSF that gives us a heads up of what we need to do prior to classes? Talk about a reality check!

schmooper · Mar 30, 2009

I have not received it, did you get it in the mail?

nightnurse007 · Mar 30, 2009

Hey all,
Have you received the long letter from UCSF that gives us a heads up of what we need to do prior to classes? Talk about a reality check!

OKKKKK! Yes, it's crazy! I need to make charts and graphs just to keep up with it all LOL. Good luck people...

Hopeful Nurse · Mar 30, 2009

I haven't received anything in the mail either. I just hope we don't get our information on orientation day. That would be so last minute especially since I have to figure out how to get to class and when and change a schedules.

nightnurse007 · Mar 30, 2009

I haven't received anything in the mail either. I just hope we don't get our information on orientation day. That would be so last minute especially since I have to figure out how to get to class and when and change a schedules.

Well the letter has information on orientation, uniforms, cpr certification, background check etc. It says we receive clinical information at orientation, so I'm assuming we will also know which group we are in that same day. It did mention that we would get more info on something before orientation, but I don't have the letter on me right now so I can't remember LMAO.

Hopeful Nurse · Mar 30, 2009

that probably means that the letters were just sent. I guess I'll be watching for it in the mail in the next few days! :wink2:

amym79 · Mar 30, 2009

Hello

well I have to say I have been following this blog for months but never responded. My heart goes out to all of you who are been tortured by this wait list...my friend experienced it and I know that if not this year then definitely the next... I will hope for the best for you. My story of my acceptance letter was a bit crazy and dramatic.

I feel very lucky to have been accepted into the ANP and HIV/AIDS specialty and I only hope that everyone has that opportunity to go where they feel is the best fit. I cant wait to meet all of you, a engaged with a few at the interview.

I was also interested to see if anyone was looking for housing in the city. I am a single woman and will be relocating to SF. I am from Santa Cruz/ Monterey so not to far or unfamiliar but just wanted to see if anyone was looking for a roommate. Rents are crazy so sadly cant live alone. I do have a dog :).

Any info on dress code? Are we expected to be in scrubs at class?

Take care and looking forward to conversing with you. :yeah:

raysm310 · Mar 30, 2009

Hey amym79,

Congratulations on your acceptance! I got into the community health CNS program (ACHIN). My boyfriend, dog, and I are looking for a place in San Francisco and keeping an eye out for houses with in-law units that we could then rent out to someone else (another dog person, since it is expensive and difficult to find places with yards and dog friendly land lords). I'll let you know if we find something.

As far as the dress code, the letter said that we have to wear khaki scrub pants and hunter green scrub tops for clinicals, but it didn't say anything about classes.

See you soon!

lananp · Apr 1, 2009

congrats to all accepted! to answer your question: no scrubs in class. i suppose you already know, but to reiterate- first quarter is the busiest and the most stressful, at least for me. prepare to do a lot of studying by yourself (or better, in groups). after the first year, acnp and pacnp need to take step out year and the school sadly does not provide any help in finding you jobs (there are 6 of us). not to discourage you, but do not expect too much- many of us have had high expectations from the program (knowing its reputation) and ended bit disappointed.

tsscal · Apr 1, 2009

congrats to all accepted! to answer your question: no scrubs in class. i suppose you already know, but to reiterate- first quarter is the busiest and the most stressful, at least for me. prepare to do a lot of studying by yourself (or better, in groups). after the first year, acnp and pacnp need to take step out year and the school sadly does not provide any help in finding you jobs (there are 6 of us). not to discourage you, but do not expect too much- many of us have had high expectations from the program (knowing its reputation) and ended bit disappointed.

I have heard the same thing re: being somewhat disappointed by the MEPN year, but I have also heard that the Master's portion of the program is what makes UCSF SON so great. What are your thoughts/insights?

star77, MSN, RN · Apr 2, 2009

I'm one of the ACNP track folks and I haven't been disappointed by the MEPN year. There are times when it's felt a little discombobulated - an instructor quits or the clinical site manager changes, so things happen. Our profs are coordinating 85 of us, and sometimes it's hard to find clinical instructors, so you get one last minute - even so, that Clinical Instructor (CI) is usually awesome. Those problems are endemic to nursing education in general. There is a greater shortage of nursing faculty than there are nurses (apparently there is still a shortage, just not in the SF Bay area). We are adult learners, and take responsibility for ourselves. I have learned so much this year, and I cannot believe that it's only been a year. I think that if you expect "good," you won't be disappointed. If you expect perfect, then you will be- but that's life in general, I think. Everyone has had varying experiences with this program, and I'm not trying to discount lananp's - I just have a different take on it. Certainly there are times I've been disappointed, but overall I am so excited to be at UCSF and have had the opportunities that are here. Seriously, amazing. I wish I had more time to go to the lunchtime talks and the conferences that are hosted here!

Am I frustrated by the job market? Yep. Do I wish we had help? Yep. But at the same time, I'm an adult, I've found jobs before on my own, and I started applying to Los Angeles, Modesto, Fresno, and had my resume together in December for applications. The job market is really tight, but there are jobs, just generally not in SF. A bunch of places cancelled their new grad programs, so that's been a problem. You have to be willing to travel outside of the SF Bay.

I just got hired down in Los Angeles, and I feel very lucky, although I've been working very hard to find a job. I had been working every connection to nurses I have up here, and nothing has panned out- even where my friends are nurse educators. I'm moving down south for my step-out year(s), and that's okay. It's an adventure. Not everyone can do that, and I realize that fact.

Regarding jobs, if you have to take a step-out year, start looking early. The earlier, the better.

ukulele · Apr 9, 2009

Hi all,

Just wanted to say hi and join in the shared excitement and, admittedly, anxiousness. I just got into the FNP track from the wait list, which was a shocking turn of events. In fact, I can't believe I'm writing to you as a colleague-to-be, rather than just an e-spy, covertly perusing posts of admitted students, whimsically. I was actually preparing to start a doctor of public health program at Berkeley this year--my plan B--and thinking I would have to reapply to nursing schools after, two years in the future. I would still like to do both degrees. But wow, I am totally overwhelmed by the reality, immediacy of nursing now. Feeling so honored to have this opportunity, even knowing this program will kick my ass. It's going to be hard, in unforseeable ways I'm sure. And I'm already grateful for what everyone tells me is the best asset of MEPN: the cohort of rockstar students. Thank you for posting and accompanying me through this process--little did you know! I'm eagerly awaiting receipt of all the registration/orientation details in the mail. Orientation is so soon! I think, err, I mean I haven't gotten the info yet...em....

xo