Direct Entry MSN program 2

Published

The old thread seems to be closed...either it was too long or I shouldn't have been dispensing exam tips...

So the new one is born...

Hi Cfrimer,

If you're still trying to decide on a DE program in Boston, you should really consider Northeastern! The program is fairly new (5 years old?) so it can still feel a bit disorganized at times, but as a nurse you need to learn flexibility anyway! NEU has great relationships with area hospitals because of their undergrad co-op program. NEU students are respected in the hospital (though you're bound to run into some flak once in a while for being DE - some of the traditional path nurses are jealous I think!) Anyway - I have one semester left at NEU before the NCLEX & I am confident they have prepared me to pass! All of the area DE programs have their shortcomings & all are EXPENSIVE, but I researched each of them & have never once regretted my choice (also applied & was accepted to MGH.) It's been a tremendous amount of work & have broken down in tears at times from the stress of it all - but I know I'm a stronger person and a better nurse for the experience.

Hope this helps!

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
I am in the U of Illinois- chicago's program and I really like it. I agree with Gen that I wish we got a degree out of the RN portion, but I am happy with the program. I have had such a wide away of expriences, especially in community health. I am midwifery track and it is very highly ranked (for what that's worth). I love Chicago.

Hello!

Congratulations CEG. :)

I think one thing that all of these programs share in common is that they are tough and require lots of dedication, time and effort!. I feel like there is so much at stake many times.

It is hard to believe that there are only 11 more months until graduation for my program. Gosh!! I am not 100% sure how I am going to go about the FNP post MSN certificate just yet but, definately plan on it. Possibly part time right away at DePaul, possibly full time in a couple years or who knows right now, just very busy working my way through this first portion.

Take care, I know it is brutally hot lately. :)

Gen

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Hey All!

I just joined this sight today and glad I did. I am a career changer in Chicago and have been working in health care for almost 4 years. I've got a B.S. in psych and have my science and stat prereqs done. My gpa is 3.93 and I am ready to start applying for the 2007 class but, I have a problem with standardized test anxiety. :chair: I'm in my late 30s and it's been this way most of my life. I don't want to freak on my GRE test, so I'm thinking about taking a review course. Is a GRE review course worth the money? I've noticed some locals like U of I Chicago(UIC) offer a much cheaper review for around $300. Has anyone taken it? If so can I have some feedback? I don't want to spend $1200 plus for a Kaplan or other review. Lastly, I'd like some feedback on UIC and other direct entry MSNs (Marquette, Vanderbilt, Case Western) that are closer to the midwest.

Thanks....sneaky1:cool:

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
Hey All!

I just joined this sight today and glad I did. I am a career changer in Chicago and have been working in health care for almost 4 years. I've got a B.S. in psych and have my science and stat prereqs done. My gpa is 3.93 and I am ready to start applying for the 2007 class but, I have a problem with standardized test anxiety. :chair: I'm in my late 30s and it's been this way most of my life. I don't want to freak on my GRE test, so I'm thinking about taking a review course. Is a GRE review course worth the money? I've noticed some locals like U of I Chicago(UIC) offer a much cheaper review for around $300. Has anyone taken it? If so can I have some feedback? I don't want to spend $1200 plus for a Kaplan or other review. Lastly, I'd like some feedback on UIC and other direct entry MSNs (Marquette, Vanderbilt, Case Western) that are closer to the midwest.

Thanks....sneaky1:cool:

Hi Sneaky 1,

I also stink at standardized tests. Really do. What I did was to use a review book, (and the ETS cd that comes a few weeks after you register for your gre, so register). It helped plenty, I spent about a week or 10 days basically cramming and practicing and did okay. I only did well enough to cover the bare minimum requirements but, the GRE is only a part of your application package, not the end all. I would bet that you will do fine. You have your undergrad completed, you can do this. :)

Good luck,

Gen

p.s. I have read around various places, including DePaul, my school, and they suggest the minimum of 500V 500Q and 4Writing. However one person I know had a weak GPA and they requested for her to have a much stronger GRE, I see you have a very strong GPA and want to assure you that no matter what, even if by a fluke you earn a mediocre GRE you ought to still be very competitive.

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I've noticed some locals like U of I Chicago(UIC) offer a much cheaper review for around $300. Has anyone taken it? If so can I have some feedback? I don't want to spend $1200 plus for a Kaplan or other review.

Thanks....sneaky1:cool:

I invested in the Kaplan course, as I knew I would never push myself hard enough to truly study on my own. I spent ~$900 (they were offering a special at the time), and I would HIGHLY recommend it. I raised my score almost 300 points total. Before the class, I had an average GRE score (I suck at standardized tests too), but now I actually have a competitive score which will help the admission process along. :) It forced me to spend 2 months studying and practicing, instead of just cramming last minute.

I see this whole process as an investment (GRE study, application fees, and finally the massive expense of SCHOOL) that will hopefully pay off in the end. Hey, the average salary for NPs is currently around $75,000/yr. Not bad. Anyone know what starting salary is right now?

But, as I was saying, I'd recommend a class of some sort, even if it isn't Kaplan. It definitely helped to review the math that I haven't done in 7 years plus. And the practice tests (Kaplan has 8 practice exams) help you see where you are and what you need to work on more.

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Hi everybody,

I just joined this thread today and noticed that a number of people are considering MGH. Let me just say that all the programs have advantages/disadvantages and a lot of it boils down to which school is a better fit for what you want to do.

I researched a number of different schools before I decided on MGH several years ago. One of the reasons I chose MGH was because of its affilation with Mass. General Hospital and the hospital's resources and world wide reputation. MGH students have access to many of the resources that Hospital employees have. And as an alumni I still have access to some of those resources today. MGH also had a class that collaborated with Harvard Med students (not sure if that's offered now). Many times doors were opened to me simply because I was a student at "MGH".

There were some kinks in the program, but for the most part the instructors were fair, approachable, and flexible. Most all were knowledgeable about their field of expertise...some were more academically challenging than others. We had a 99% pass rate for NCLEX, and the MSN portion positioned me well for where I am today. My only criticism is that (at the time) they didn't have a residency program following graduation.

The school I attend now has a residency program that requires a certain number of clinical hours after graduation (similar to medical school residency). This is nice because you have a lot of autonomy to practice your skills, but you still have someone to fall back on before you have to fly on your own.

The administrators at MGH were also very helpful. They listened to student feedback and included students in all levels of the school's governance.

I moved to the midwest and am now finishing my program at a school here. I have no regrets about choosing MGH. Its reputation has served me well.

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Specializes in Psychiatric/Mental Health.
Great question. I wish I knew the answer. :chuckle I started as psych/mental health and then realized that I don't want to play mind games and hate dealing with manipulative people (I'm referring to you antisocial personality disorder patient from my psych rotation) for the rest of my life. I'm currently peds but I think I might switch to acute care (which alas is only adults). I have absolutely no interest in primary care so I'm worried that the clinicals for peds are going to be torture since 500 out of the 600 hrs are primary care. ICK. Why they can't have an acute care specialty with both peds and adults is beyond me.

I'd hate to see someone abandon psych. because of one notoriously manipulative Axis II client...working with the antisocial personality is comperable to working with criminals. As a person who actually loves working with personality disorders, especially borderline, I can tell you that not that many people in psych. do. Many co-workers in psych. have told me how much they hate working with these Axis II disorders, but they still have plenty of other interests in the field. There's always the psychotic and mood disorders as well as trauma, geriatric, pediatric, etc. Also, antisocial personality disorder is quite different than the others in that there aren't many known treatments whereas my work with BPD has lead me to a love affair with Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. I see tremendous amounts of change with these clients and, though it is challenging due to "manipulative" behaviors, once you begin to understand these people it is very intersting and rewarding. I've always loved the psychoanalytic aspect of personality disorders...figuring out what from their life caused these issues, plus the fact that they are not diseases, but disorders which can really be worked with instead of just managed. I will be applying to direct entry psych NP programs this year, but am currently finishing my BS in Psych. and have been working in the field for several years. I hope this helps somewhat, I can tell you that it is a very rewarding field once you find your niche.

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Specializes in Psychiatric/Mental Health.

I am currently looking into applying for direct entry NP programs with psych. specialities. I have been looking at Boston College, MGH, Columbia, Pace University, UPenn, and some schools in Chicago, but am really hoping for BC. I am finishing up my BS in Psych. at Northeastern University with about a 3.7, taking all of my prereq.s in the next year (hopefully getting A's), and my GREs this summer. I've also been working at McLean Psych. Hospital as a Mental Health Specialist and with Vinfen Corp.'s Mental Health division as a Residential Counselor at both a Co-occurring House and and DBT House for women with Borderline Personality Disorder. I have been stressing over this big time and have no concept of what I really need to get on my GRE's to get in, my chances of being admitted, what other schools are out there, aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh. I begin my first two prereq.s, two 5-week courses (Micro. and A& P I), in July so here's hoping. IF anyone has taken similar courses at Quincy College or has any advice or info. for me whatsoever I'd love it. Thanks!

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hi there,

sounds like you're doing the right things... and btw, we have a little in common as I work at mclean right now, and I'm going to start at the psych NP program at yale in the fall. don't stress too much. one of the most important things (i think) is having good experiences that back up your interests. I never had a clear idea about what competitive gre scores were... Let me know if you have more questions about the application process, interviews, etc...

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I join this thread today- I am glad I did. Iam starting Direct entry nursing program at MGH boston in Fall 07. I am VERY EXCITED! I am nervous as well. I need some advise from current student at MGH, I know it is an intensive program and I am just wondering if people have time to socialize at all. I have an 18 months old baby will i have time for him at all? I guess that I will like to know how the program is like. Thanks Chello32!

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Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.

I'm another one of the DePaul students. I'll be starting in the fall of 2007.

I know there are varying opinions about the quality of the program. While I can't yet judge the program, I can tell you I took education classes at DePaul several years ago and was very impressed with the instructors.

Granted, that doens't tell you much about the nursing programs but I hope it's representative of the school itself.

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
I'm another one of the DePaul students. I'll be starting in the fall of 2007.

I know there are varying opinions about the quality of the program. While I can't yet judge the program, I can tell you I took education classes at DePaul several years ago and was very impressed with the instructors.

Granted, that doens't tell you much about the nursing programs but I hope it's representative of the school itself.

Hello AlanG,

I'm a June 07 graduate of the MENP program and the nursing department is "not" necessarily representative of DePaul.

I'd been advised repeatedly by former graduates to go elsewhere but jumped in.

Right now I cannot say anything positive about it except you will get your MS and prepare to sit for NCLEX in 22 months.

Keep copies of EVERYTHING, as it is likely it may be lost; keep track of ALL timelines...good luck,

Gen

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