Anyone applying to Yale GEPN program for Fall 2009?

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Hi,

Since there was a very extensive thread last year about application process to Yale, I thought I would start a new thread for 2009 hopefuls. I am working on my application and wanted to know who else chose Yale as one of their options. What program? How is the application process going? Essay writing? Any anxieties? I am applying to the Adult Advanced Practice Nursing but still deciding on the specialty. The hardest part for me is the essay writing as English is not my first language, but I have been working on it for some time now and getting close to finishing the final version. Anyone else wants to share?

I agree with you 100%. This is why I was confused that people are worrying about getting a BSN degree when they will be earning a MSN degree at the end of the program. I have friends that are nurses and I have never heard of this problem, before reading it on this forum. That confused me so much.

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Specializes in Cardiovascular Nursing.

I think maybe some groups emphasized different things at different interview days. My group of Advance Practice Nurses (Including Oncology, Acute Care, Acute Care/Critical Care CNS) were told that working as a medical technician your first year is HIGHLY encouraged, and then the quarter following our fall semester of our second year, we could transition to an RN after we take our NCLEX. This was stressed A LOT in my group in order to remain competitive and ready once we become NP/CNS's. My interviewer kept telling me that they really want us to work as RN's so we get as much clinical experience as possible by the time we graduate.

So I wouldn't worry about not being prepared when we become advance nurses with an MSN. They told us that we start clinicals within 2 weeks our first year. So yeah, that's what my group discussed and we definitely got more emphasis on clinicals than research.

Also I know that we were told that they highly discouraged switching specialties at Yale but during my interview day, the panel of current students ALL switched from one specialty to Pediatrics!!! It was crazy, one switched from Acute/Critical Care, one from Family, one from Psych (i think) but they were from all different specialites and all somehow got to switch. Although I am pretty confident that I want to stick with mine, those of you who are deciding against Yale based on the difficulty of switching specialites, should rethink it. The panel told us that they were "lucky" that spots opened up for them, but in the end I don't think Yale is going to force you to stay with a specialty you are uncomfortable with just as long as they know that you didn't apply to a certain specialty thinking that you wanted to get in easier and then switch to a popular specialty! Hope that helps!

I was blown away by Yale's program and their faculty. They really have their stuff together and know what they are talking about!

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ya, i remember one student in my group saying that her good friend switched from psych to peds...but who knows if they've changed anything since then

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On my interview day they said they highly discouraged switching specialties. The panel said that most people had been able to switch but they had heard of some people that had to take a year off in order for a spot to open up in the specialty they were looking for.

On a different note, does anyone know the average age of students in the GEPN program?

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i know of some people who switched and others who werent able to switch...so while it is possible...id say if you are more than 50% sure you will switch...another program may be better bc it is not a GUARANTEE.

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Yeah, I think Californiagirl2 may have hit the nail on the head with why there is confusion regarding RN/BSN, working, etc.

I applied for FNP, so was in the group with Adult, Gerontological and Women's Health at the interview day. We did discuss whether not working as an RN would leave you unprepared for NP practice, and I got the distinct impression that the faculty and current students seemed to feel that though work experience is definitely an asset, the roles of RN in a hospital say, and NP in a clinic or community health centre are so vastly different that RN experience wasn't all that crucial. It seems to me that it would make sense that in a track like Oncology or Acute Care, the RN experience would be more pertinent, which is perhaps why it was more emphasized. Just my two cents though, maybe others had a different impression?

On another note, are there any other students on here that aren't American? I'm Canadian and curious if anyone else is wondering about visas, licensing etc.

As for the person who was saying that they didn't think the NP would transfer to Canada - I've been researching (mostly Ontario and BC) and I can't seem to find any reason why I wouldn't be able to be licensed, at least for FNP. The regulations I read didn't mention anything about a BSN, just that you had to have an RN license. That being said, it seems like it would be more difficult for the more specialized position, though I think that may be simply because some of those positions don't even exist here! I'm trying to get in touch with boards to be completely sure though, and I'll post the response.

Also, thanks to everyone that's been posting - it's great to be able to read all the discussion and debate!

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I currently work in oncology and love it, but I am just slightly concerned with the fact that Yale is unflexible. I dont think I have picked the wrong concentration, but going in with no nursing experience I think it is difficult to ask a person to decide exactly what specialty before you have any experience in clinical rotations. I have been accepted to other programs, and that is why I trying to way my options.

Anyone can get certification as an AOCNP, and from what I have heard, working alongside oncologists, AOCNP's, and OCN's, it really isnt even that necessary to have, especially right out of school.

At this time I am sure I want to do oncology, however, I dont know if that will change once I get more experience in another area. It is just something I am waying when trying to decide between programs. I wasnt looking for someone to doubt my desire to be an AOCNP, I was looking for advice, or additional information that other may be able to provide.

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As for the person who was saying that they didn't think the NP would transfer to Canada - I've been researching (mostly Ontario and BC) and I can't seem to find any reason why I wouldn't be able to be licensed, at least for FNP. The regulations I read didn't mention anything about a BSN, just that you had to have an RN license. That being said, it seems like it would be more difficult for the more specialized position, though I think that may be simply because some of those positions don't even exist here! I'm trying to get in touch with boards to be completely sure though, and I'll post the response.

Hey Elizabeth,

I couldn't find anything for sure either way on Canada, what I was basing it on was that on the international forum they're saying that accelerated programs have a really difficult time of being accepted and that from what I can tell they're concerned with the programs looking similar, which Yale's program certainly does not resemble programs up here. I've tried one avenue to check for sure but they haven't responded - in fact, no nursing boards have been very useful in any country when I've tried to ask about their take on US accelerated programs, they just link me to the material they have up (which of course I've already looked at and am only asking because I don't see what I'm looking for :bugeyes:). It's so hard to know for sure how other places will look at these degrees! Please let me know if you find anything concrete!

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calalilly -

i understand what you're dealing with. i have a background in psychology and was accepted into the psychiatry specialty. i'm extremely excited but definitely have had some worries in the back of my mind that during the first year, i'll find that i really love working with other populations as well. what's also difficult with psych is that we have to choose to work with adults or kids, and get certified for that specific population. because i've enjoyed working with both adults and kids, having to choose one over the other was difficult.

for this reason i have been leaning towards columbia, as they made a point of saying during their visiting day that we can switch specialties during our first year. they understood that since we're new to nursing, it can be difficult to predict what population is going to interest us the most. from speaking with several MD's they also thought it odd that we would have to "know" at the time of application what our specialty would be. that said, i understand that yale has its reasons for wanting people who are firm in what they want to do. after coming for the interview, i was sure that i would attend if i was admitted. i felt that the faculty was so committed to its students, and that there was an even mix between clinical experience and providing research opportunities through the praxis.

it's going to a very difficult decision, to say the least! i wonder how many of us are torn between yale and other schools?

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i know for the psych specilaty if you go the child/adolescent route you can sit for the Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Exam which allows you to work with patients accross the lifespan - this may help you out whether you chose columbia or yale

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calalilly -

i understand what you're dealing with. i have a background in psychology and was accepted into the psychiatry specialty. i'm extremely excited but definitely have had some worries in the back of my mind that during the first year, i'll find that i really love working with other populations as well. what's also difficult with psych is that we have to choose to work with adults or kids, and get certified for that specific population. because i've enjoyed working with both adults and kids, having to choose one over the other was difficult.

for this reason i have been leaning towards columbia, as they made a point of saying during their visiting day that we can switch specialties during our first year. they understood that since we're new to nursing, it can be difficult to predict what population is going to interest us the most. from speaking with several MD's they also thought it odd that we would have to "know" at the time of application what our specialty would be. that said, i understand that yale has its reasons for wanting people who are firm in what they want to do. after coming for the interview, i was sure that i would attend if i was admitted. i felt that the faculty was so committed to its students, and that there was an even mix between clinical experience and providing research opportunities through the praxis.

it's going to a very difficult decision, to say the least! i wonder how many of us are torn between yale and other schools?

I too am having a really tough time choosing. I'm not sure if I'll regret leaving Boston AND a smaller school here offered me a nice scholarship...(in addition to letting you change specialties...) Yet i loved Yale and feel it will def have its benefits in the future... :( what to do.....

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ps- has anyone else's productivity at work completely diminished? bc between contemplating schools and this forum...i haven't been getting anything done!

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