CSULB EL-MSN Fall 2009--any applicants/ current students?

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Hi, everyone! I am getting ready to submit my application to CSULB's EL-MSN program--who else is applying?

Also are there any current students or graduates from this program out there? What do you think of the program--can you offer any advice?

Thanks!!

We're graduate students because we have a BA/BS. 2nd Bachelor's degree students are grad students.

The difference would be if this program was like CSUF's, CSULA's or UCLA's where the BSN is not awarded, we would have answered the question on the fafsa that mnguy mentioned differently. Next year we'll be working on our master's degree without having to reapply (to an MSN program)! When we fill out that fafsa, we'll change the answer to that question.

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Hi everyone,

I am hoping you guys can help me. I am trying to choose among a few programs. such a big decision!! I am having a headache! :crying2::uhoh3: Some questions I want to clear in my mind for CSULB program:

1. first 16 months for BSN, how many units/classes we need to take each semester? we start in Fall and finish in next winter?

2. How many units/courses for the last 18 months? Do we choose a specialty here?

3. What can a clinical nurse specialist do? is it easy to find job afterward?

3. Can we join the NP programs right after the MSN program? How many years is is NP program? Full time or part time?

4. can you guys tell me some cons and pros of the program? :bowingpur

Thank you so much! I really need more information to make a final decision. Thank you thank you! :bow:

Thanks all and good luck future nurses! :nurse:

=)

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This is quite a blow. I was counting on $20500 stafford loan.

Actually, I may have to choose another school. :( I may run out of money.

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i don't know anything about the schedule, but my understanding is that we'll have classes during the fall, spring and summer--i don't know about winter.

at the info session i went to last year, i remember ms. ward saying that after finishing the msn portion, we'd be able to transition into the np-post-master's certificate program without reapplying. here's some info from the csulb website:

http://www.csulb.edu/divisions/aa/catalog/2009-2010/chhs/nrsg/nrsg_grad_programs.html

master of science in nursing, option in clinical nurse specialist – adult (code nrsgms02)

this program is designed to expand the scope of nursing practice within acute and chronic care settings. the courses are designed to increase the graduate's clinical skills and knowledge in order to enhance the opportunities for career advancement and quality patient care. the programs was developed to allow each student to identify and define their clinical specialization in acute and chronic care areas such as perioperative, oncology, respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, medical surgical, or rehabilitative nursing. the programs will prepare graduates to practice in collaborative and leadership roles within hospitals, clinics and community health care organizations as advanced practice nurses. the curriculum will prepare graduates for eligibility for taking the national clinical nurse specialist certification examination.

prerequisites

bachelor's degree in nursing preferred. a bachelor's degree in a related field will be considered if the applicant has completed an upper division public health nursing course and meets all other prerequisites.

  • 1. current license to practice as a registered nurse in california.
  • 2. admission to graduate standing in nursing at california state university, long beach.
  • 3. upper division or graduate course in statistics.
  • 4. physical assessment course which includes clinical practice taken within the past five years.
  • 5. upper division course in pathophysiology.
  • 6. overall gpa of 2.75 or better in the last 60 units of the undergraduate bsn program.

requirements for completion

  • 1. a minimum of 47-48 units of approved upper division and graduate level courses including:
    • core requirements: nrsg 511a, 521a, 530, 530l, 540, 550, 560, 596
    • concurrent requirements: nrsg 556a, 556b, 556l
    • clinical courses requirements: nrsg 673, 673l, 674, 674l, 675, 675l
    • culminating course requirement: nrsg 698 or 692

    [*] 2. an overall gpa of 3.0 or better in graduate coursework.

    [*] 3. directed project or thesis.

nurse practitioner certificate (code nrsgct01)

a nurse practitioner certificate is awarded to students who complete 31 units of post-masters course work in one of four nurse practitioner specialty areas. applications from students who hold a masters degree in nursing as a nurse practitioner will be reviewed individually.

admission

  1. copies of transcripts of baccalaureate in nursing and masters in nursing degrees.
  2. copy of state of california rn licensure.
  3. three letters/checklists of references
  4. completion of the department of nursing graduate program application.

family nurse practitioner

requirements

  • completion of nrsg 510, 520, 530, 530l, 540, 550, 560, 682, 682 a&b, 683, 683 a&b.

pediatric nurse practitioner

requirements

  • completion of nrsg 510, 520, 530, 530l, 540, 550, 560, 684, 684 a&b, 685, 685 a&b.

adult-geriatric nurse practitioner

requirements

  • completion of nrsg 510, 520, 530, 530l, 540, 550, 560, 686, 686 a&b, 687, 687 a&b.

psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner

requirements

  • completion of nrsg 510, 520, 530, 530l, 540, 550, 560, 688, 688 a&b, 689, 689 a&b.    

women's health care nurse practitioner

requirements

  • completion of nrsg 510, 520, 530, 530l 540, 550, 560, 667, 667 a&b, 668, 668 a&b

here's a job description that i found online (it seems like we'll need more experience before being able to work as a cns). below this info is a link to a website that also explains what a cns does.

position information

provides enhanced or improved health care delivery to a specific patient population by evaluating nursing practices, developing methodologies and implementing standards of care, providing consultative services and by assessing and addressing patient and staff educational needs, in one or more clinical specialty areas, under the general direction of a chief nursing officer ii or nursing director, administration.

essential job functions

assesses, plans, implements and evaluates the total health care of a specific patient population in one or more clinical specialty areas; uses the nursing process drawing upon extensive knowledge, experience and research to identify problem situations or issues in patient care; analyzes, interprets, advises and consults with staff and other health care professionals to provide high quality, contemporary care; provides consultation and guidance to all levels of the nursing staff pertinent to patient care problems within the field of specialty; advises the nursing staff in the establishment and maintenance of records of treatments given and the related process of each patient for the purpose of analyzing patterns, synthesizing actions and evaluation patient care plans. selection requirements

a master's degree from an accredited* college or university in nursing with emphasis in an area of specialty** listed below. four years of recent clinical nursing experience, two years of which must have been in the area of specialty.

**specialties may include: critical care, gerontology, pediatrics, emergency care, mental health, rehabilitation, medicine, surgery, obstetrics/gynecology, wound management, nurse educator, psychiatry.

physical class: 2 - light:

light physical effort which may include occasional light lifting to a 10 pound limit, and some bending, stooping or squatting. considerable walking may be involved. licenses: a license to practice as registered nurse and a certificate indicating that the person is qualified to use the title of clinical nurse specialist, both issued by the california board of registered nursing.

a valid california class c driver license or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job related essential functions.

special requirement information: to compete in this examination, applicants must possess:

  • a current active license to practice as a registered nurse issued by the california board of registered nursing -or- have a license to practice as a registered nurse issued by a state government board of registered nursing, within the united states of america. please note: applicants, who have completed the exam process with a passing score, will not be added to the eligible register until they have obtained a license to practice as a registered nurse in the state of california.
  • proof of a master's degree from an accredited* college or university in nursing with emphasis in an area of specialty must be attached to the application at the time of filing.

http://nccn.northcarolina.edu/recruitmentandretention/youth/roles/cns.htm

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hi guys! when was yall's deadline for replying to accept/decline admission for the MSN? i'm still waiting to hear something... i'm still an alternate

....goobers.......

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May 29th

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oh cool...that was the date for me to respond for my status too. that means i may hear news some time next week!! can't wait to see everyone at the orientation! even though i'm not quite there yet, i feel so excited. such a big step in life!! =D :up: a bit scary too, curriculum seems like a handful :eek:

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I'M IN!!! monalisa called me today... i'm so stoked

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Congrats!! :D

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congrats!! see you friday :)

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I went through the CSULB ELM program as well and am in the masters portion right now. The undergraduate portion of the program was very fast paced and can be challenging at times (many moments where I thought "oh god, do I have enough time to finish/study?"), but somehow we all manage pretty well in the end. The curriculum is packed, I do admit. In my case, I said good-byes to a lot of Saturdays/Sundays due to clinicals/preceptorship. However, some of my classmates were fortunate enough to have only one clinical rotation out of our many on a weekend. Even though, it is tough, the best advice I can give you is create a great support group (besides, the whole time management part). I really do believe that is how many of my classmates and I got through this program.

The graduate portion (I am on the FNP track), so far, is not at all what I had expected. It is somewhat disorganized, the classes are not helpful (or was taught in an ineffective manner) and some not useful from my perspective. I had thought about leaving the program to work (though, it is pretty tough right now due to the economy and hiring freeze) and going back to school somewhere else. We shall see.

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Thank you so much for posting pandora12. I haven't had any luck meeting anyone that is actually in the program. I've only talked to people that did CSULA's program and they all told me that long beach had a good program too. I'm so disappointed to hear that you are so frustrated. What is it you are most unhappy/disappointed about?

So you mentioned that you're in the FNP track, does that mean that you don't have to finish the CNS degree before switching to FNP? Is it really that bad?

I was so excited about this program because of the option to transition into the post-master's certification program. I didn't realise that we wouldn't have to complete the CNS coursework before starting on the FNP.

Do people in the other available specialties feel the same? Would you recommend sticking with the CNS coursework and doing the FNP elsewhere?

Thanks again for any input/ advice you can offer :)

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