Direct-entry MSN programs

Izzygal · Aug 31, 2005

Let me also put in a plug for the Berkeley Free Clinic. It's a couple of blocks from UC. I got GREAT experience there as a Volunteer Medic in the men's STD clinic. You do physical exams, interview clients, obtain specimens/do blood draws, do UA to check for WBC, dispense oral meds, etc. under the supervision of a volunteer MD or NP. Other parts of the clinic do different things, depending on what section you work in. I did one afternoon a week for 2 years.
DL

Hi SympMgt,

Your volunteer experience sounds absolutely great there and something that I would be very interested in. However, with absolutely no prior medical experience or education in the field, what would I be able to do there for them? I will definitely look into it. Thanks so much for posting that to me.

Izzy :)

BladderCancerSxMgt · Aug 31, 2005

Hi SympMgt,
Your volunteer experience sounds absolutely great there and something that I would be very interested in. However, with absolutely no prior medical experience or education in the field, what would I be able to do there for them? I will definitely look into it. Thanks so much for posting that to me.
Izzy :)

They provide training to do whatever you're gonna do for them. For the men's STD clinic, I had training one night a week, plus working the Sunday afternoon /evening shift doing what I could do. I shadowed another medic, did the front desk patient check-in paperwork, etc. Then after I got done with training, a more experienced medic shadowed me while I saw a few patients, then turned me loose. There's always another medic or the shift professional a door or 2 away if you have questions. Again, a great experience to have, particularly while I wasn wondering "can I do a blood draw and not pass out?" and other questions that people thinking about nursing ask themselves.

Plus, the clients are poor/underserved/underinsured/uninsured, so you're volunteering to help people who need it the most.

Cheers,

Dave

BladderCancerSxMgt · Aug 31, 2005

The text below is from the clinic website - Note I am longer affiliated with the clinic. I volunteered there for 2 years and thought it was a great place to get experience. Your mileage may vary. Dave

http://www.berkeleyfreeclinic.org/home.html

Almost all services at the Berkeley Free Clinic are provided by volunteers who have been trained at the clinic or by volunteer professionals. Each year, an estimated 180 people donate approximately 31,000 volunteer hours doing direct client service administration, fundraising, building maintenance, conducting trainings, and more. If you would like to volunteer, or would like more information, come to a Volunteer Orientation held on the third Monday of every month at 7:30pm. The next Volunteer Orientations will occur on the following Mondays at 7:30pm:

Upcoming Orientations (2005)

May 16th

June 20th

July 18th

August 15th

September 19th

October 17th

November 21st

December 19th

No previous medical experience is necessary to volunteer and become a member of the Clinic. Requirements do include a commitment to the struggle for free, accessible healthcare and health education, to community empowerment and unification, and to eliminating racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia. In most cases, volunteers are asked to make a minimum one-year commitment following training.

The Lab Section is no longer accepting applications. Check back later for future training info.

The HIV Prevention Section (HPS) is no longer accepting applications for our Spring 2005 training. You may complete an application and check in with us in the fall or apply to other sections.

The Medical Section is not currently accepting applications.

The Peer Counseling Collective is now accepting applications for new counselors. No experience is required. Our extensive 5 month training program will begin September 22, 2005. Please submit your applicaiton to a PCC representative or the front desk of the clinic during clinic hours (M-F 3-9 PM). Or email it to [email protected]. You may also bring your application to the optional Informational Meeting on Thursday, August 25th at 7:00pm at the clinic.

Click here for an application!

Izzygal · Aug 31, 2005

They provide training to do whatever you're gonna do for them. For the men's STD clinic, I had training one night a week, plus working the Sunday afternoon /evening shift doing what I could do. I shadowed another medic, did the front desk patient check-in paperwork, etc. Then after I got done with training, a more experienced medic shadowed me while I saw a few patients, then turned me loose. There's always another medic or the shift professional a door or 2 away if you have questions. Again, a great experience to have, particularly while I wasn wondering "can I do a blood draw and not pass out?" and other questions that people thinking about nursing ask themselves.
Plus, the clients are poor/underserved/underinsured/uninsured, so you're volunteering to help people who need it the most.
Cheers,
Dave

Dave, honestly I am so excited about the perspective opportunity. Thanks so much for taking the time to share. I'm going to look into this more this week and definitely I will be attending the next information session. Part of what I desire to do long-term is to help underserved populations, particularly the homeless.

I'll let you know what happens! :)

Izzy

BladderCancerSxMgt · Aug 31, 2005

Dave, honestly I am so excited about the perspective opportunity. Thanks so much for taking the time to share. I'm going to look into this more this week and definitely I will be attending the next information session. Part of what I desire to do long-term is to help underserved populations, particularly the homeless.
I'll let you know what happens! :)
Izzy

YW - good luck with your studies.

DL

Jess RN · Aug 31, 2005

I'm so excited! It should be a really full day- buying books, uniforms, meeting classmates and professors. I've been doing pre reqs for the past two years. I can't believe this day has finally come! :)

-Jess

smile123 · Sep 1, 2005

I'm so excited! It should be a really full day- buying books, uniforms, meeting classmates and professors. I've been doing pre reqs for the past two years. I can't believe this day has finally come! :)
-Jess

Have fun at your first day of school Jess! :balloons:

Smile123

Jess RN · Sep 2, 2005

Have fun at your first day of school Jess! :balloons:
Smile123

Thanks smile! The orientation was good- very overwhelming though. My classmates seem nice. Books were insanely expensive. We got our schedules, which are more intense than even I thought- extra labs and such. The two syllabi we got were each over 10pp long! Lots of reading.

My big stress is not so much school- but our nanny. I don't think she is going to work out. She just started dating this friend of hers and she has not come home two nights this week. I had to wake her up for her shift yesterday morning- she overslept by 20 min because her alarm never went off. She does well with the girls when she is on shift and she completes her duties- it's just her off shift behavior that doesn't really instill confidence. I'm trying not to be judgmental- but we are both members of the same church- and she knows quite clearly that staying out all night with her boyfriend is not ok. I mean, I'm not imposing my moral standard on her- she's grown up in the church, and it has been her decision to remain active in it while she's away from her parents' home. I know for a fact she would never pull this kind of stuff back home, and I do feel a certain responsibility to her parents as she is young (19). Also, from a purely practical perspective, it's hard to be engaged and on top of what's going on with two young kids when you are out all night. I think the issue is magnified because she lives with us. If she just came in to babysit during the day and I had no idea about her personal life- as long as she was on time and did a good job- what would I care what she does with her free time?

Does anyone have any ideas on this one? Am I overreacting?

Thanks!

Jess

fotografe · Sep 2, 2005

Hi Jess

I use a nanny too, although she does not live with us. There are things about her that I would not choose, like her piercings and tatoos, but, she is so good with my kids that it is not something that I obsess about. You do have to lay down the law about being to work on time (such a short commute!) and maybe offer to wake her in the morning. She does have to be in good enough condition to work properly too. I would give her a chance to better plan her social life. She is young and needs to get a handle on how to do things "on her own".

If you ever think that the safety of your children is compromised, then yes, I would take immediate action. Other wise I would just state my expectations and not be concerned with her off hours behavior.

Having a nanny that young is like having another child, only they are of age. A friend of mine has used Au Pairs from Iceland, and it took her a while to come to terms with how to set expectations and when to back off. You have a teenager in your house now, woo hoo!

Good luck and look forward to reading of your adventures at BC.

Kathi

Thanks smile! The orientation was good- very overwhelming though. My classmates seem nice. Books were insanely expensive. We got our schedules, which are more intense than even I thought- extra labs and such. The two syllabi we got were each over 10pp long! Lots of reading.
My big stress is not so much school- but our nanny. I don't think she is going to work out. She just started dating this friend of hers and she has not come home two nights this week. I had to wake her up for her shift yesterday morning- she overslept by 20 min because her alarm never went off. She does well with the girls when she is on shift and she completes her duties- it's just her off shift behavior that doesn't really instill confidence. I'm trying not to be judgmental- but we are both members of the same church- and she knows quite clearly that staying out all night with her boyfriend is not ok. I mean, I'm not imposing my moral standard on her- she's grown up in the church, and it has been her decision to remain active in it while she's away from her parents' home. I know for a fact she would never pull this kind of stuff back home, and I do feel a certain responsibility to her parents as she is young (19). Also, from a purely practical perspective, it's hard to be engaged and on top of what's going on with two young kids when you are out all night. I think the issue is magnified because she lives with us. If she just came in to babysit during the day and I had no idea about her personal life- as long as she was on time and did a good job- what would I care what she does with her free time?
Does anyone have any ideas on this one? Am I overreacting?
Thanks!
Jess

janony · Sep 7, 2005

I know yall are probably super busy already, but if you're still reading this thread - please let us know how the first few weeks of school are going! I'm particularly interested to hear from the people at the Boston schools and Hopkins (since I'm applying there....), but I'd love to hear from everyone.

Thanks, and I hope things are going well. :)

janony

Summitk2 · Sep 7, 2005

Hi Janony,

I'm in the 13.5 month accelerated program at Hopkins. I'm not going on to the MSN portion, but right now we're all together until we become RNs. This portion of the program is the only part that's accelerated and more strenuous. The program begins at the beginning of June, then you graduate the following July with a BSN, regardless if you're going on to the MSN and/or MPH (some direct-entry programs do not award a bachelor's degree, only the master's). You will not do any course or clinical work towards your MSN until after you get your BSN and RN. You would start the regular MSN that Fall.

I'd say maybe 15-20% of our class of 150 is going on to the MSN. Some changed their mind already, some decided to go part-time and work, and others are going to work for a year or so, then return (Johns Hopkins Hospital gives a huge break on education costs to employees).

The beginning of our program is very heavy, hard, and fast. As you continue into the spring, the clinicals increase and the classroom load lightens, making it seem easier. The last 2 months or so you have 1 class and the rest is a 32 hr/week "internship" type of experience.

The Baltimore community is tight-knit, proud, and diverse. The citizens here for the most part are wonderful. Drugs and crime are 2 major downsides to the culture, though as a nurse you will get every type of hands-on experience you could ask for. There are 2 Level I trauma centers, and many hospitals. There's a lot of research going on. I couldn't imagine a better place to be educated in the medical field. You will see it all!

Make sure the school you choose has an MSN program that fits exactly what you want to do as a nurse (neonatal, forensics, gerontology, etc).

Best of luck!

Summitk2

I know yall are probably super busy already, but if you're still reading this thread - please let us know how the first few weeks of school are going! I'm particularly interested to hear from the people at the Boston schools and Hopkins (since I'm applying there....), but I'd love to hear from everyone.
Thanks, and I hope things are going well. :)
janony

Izzygal · Sep 7, 2005

Hi Janony,
I'm in the 13.5 month accelerated program at Hopkins. I'm not going on to the MSN portion, but right now we're all together until we become RNs. This portion of the program is the only part that's accelerated and more strenuous. The program begins at the beginning of June, then you graduate the following July with a BSN, regardless if you're going on to the MSN and/or MPH (some direct-entry programs do not award a bachelor's degree, only the master's). You will not do any course or clinical work towards your MSN until after you get your BSN and RN. You would start the regular MSN that Fall.
I'd say maybe 15-20% of our class of 150 is going on to the MSN. Some changed their mind already, some decided to go part-time and work, and others are going to work for a year or so, then return (Johns Hopkins Hospital gives a huge break on education costs to employees).
The beginning of our program is very heavy, hard, and fast. As you continue into the spring, the clinicals increase and the classroom load lightens, making it seem easier. The last 2 months or so you have 1 class and the rest is a 32 hr/week "internship" type of experience.
The Baltimore community is tight-knit, proud, and diverse. The citizens here for the most part are wonderful. Drugs and crime are 2 major downsides to the culture, though as a nurse you will get every type of hands-on experience you could ask for. There are 2 Level I trauma centers, and many hospitals. There's a lot of research going on. I couldn't imagine a better place to be educated in the medical field. You will see it all!
Make sure the school you choose has an MSN program that fits exactly what you want to do as a nurse (neonatal, forensics, gerontology, etc).
Best of luck!
Summitk2

Hi Summitk2,

I will also be applying to Johns Hopkins and was wondering if you could tell me how far a commute it would be from DC (either Arlington or Bethesda), if you know?

TIA!

Izzy