Direct-entry MSN programs

[elizabells]

just moving the other thread to its new home. Here's where we talk about issues unique to Master's-entry programs!

[smile123]

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

Hi Izzy,

I think it's at least a hour away from DC with the traffic. You'll want to get a closer place if you were thinking of commuting.

Smile123

[smile123]

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 Janony,

I'm at Hopkins too. We just started our 2nd semester of the accelerated program. It will be nice because we have 15 weeks instead of 9 weeks to digest all the material. Half of us are doing a labor and delivery rotation first and the other half does peds. Then we switch half way through the semester. We will be on two 8 hour shifts (either 7am to 3pm to 3pm to 11pm) on Thursday and Fridays to see patients. I'm looking forward to it.

Hopkins also has various opportunities to do community outreach. You can work with Baltimore's inner city populations: HIV and AIDs patients, homeless, single mothers, refugess, etc.

http://www.son.jhmi.edu/academics/academic_programs/undergrad/enhancements/outreach.asp

There are advantages to working for a year or at least 6 months before you go on for the master's portion. JHH (Johns Hopkins Hosptial) will pay for your tuition after you have been there for 6 months working full time as a RN. It may take you a year longer to get the MSN portion of your degree (3 yrs instead of 2), but you are getting your tuition paid for and earning some money too. It's also nice because Hopkins lets you defer for up to 2 years for the master's portion. They are very flexible in that regard.

You also may decide you just want to see what it's like to be a RN. With the Hopkins BSN you can work as a RN for a few years or apply for a master's program. As Summitk2 said, some master's programs do not award a BSN, so if you leave after one year (getting enough credits to take the NCLEX exam), you don't have a BSN. So students without the BSN option must continue in their program to get the MSN degree.

Good luck!

Smile123

[Summitk2]

Izzy,

Arlington is on the opposite side of DC, so it's around 1.5-2 hrs in "normal" traffic. Bethesda is closer, but still about 1 hour from Baltimore. If you want to be in the DC area, I would check out Silver Spring, College Park, Beltsville, etc. all closer to I-95.

Getting in and out of Baltimore is not quick... the freeways pretty much dead-end into city streets without any ramps or arterials. I live about 2 miles from the nearest freeway and it adds about 15-20 minutes to my drive.

Remember getting to/from clinicals is also important, not just school. You'll be placed in hospitals all around the city. Time during school is at a premium (not to mention the cost of gas lately), so that's another consideration.

Talk to students and other locals for more tips.

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

[Gennaver, MSN]

...

My big stress is not so much school- but our nanny...She just started dating this friend of hers and she has not come home two nights this week. ...Does anyone have any ideas on this one? Am I overreacting?

Thanks!

Jess

Hi Jess,

Fotograf's response was very good to this. I do not think you are overreacting but do believe that pro-active might be better than reactive.

Maybe you and your nanny should schedule monthly meetings for the both of you to discuss expectations or obligations from both directions. I mean, maybe your nanny may need to have two nights a week 'off' so that she can feel her freedom as a 'very' young adult. I worked as a live in nanny but, was older at the time, (31) and very, very rarely had any nights out. However, my boss and I did plan a few times when I had the house to myself, no family and we planned a few times when I also went out for the weekend, (at friends) too.

As fotograf said, a teenager needs to find her way and rather than struggle against this maybe negotiating days optional nights out or away from the family may be useful.

Maybe she needs to really consider the example her behavior is giving to your girls as well. If she has nights out or a weekend away it would be better than for your girls and your whole household than to just not 'know' where she is when she is expected home.

Good luck Jess, I know that you do not need any worries!!

Gennaver

[Gennaver, MSN]

Hi Jess,

I am sorry that I did not address a major concern of yours regarding your situation.

It must be very distressing to watch such a young girl suddenly get swept up with a 'friend' that she is abandoning her previously held beliefs, (and seemingly her own self-image and self-respect). Now, if this girl previously had been running 'the streets' all night with various beaus that would be one thing.

I would not fear that you are imposing your own morals upon her Jess, you are a caring and concerned person who know this girl, and her family and her upbringing, her beliefs and so on.

It seems to me like you are very concerned for her. This takes effort. If you did not care less about her or her emotions or her future that would be different Jess, but, you care about her.

How can this boy care about her if he is keeping her out all night against her religious upbringing? He obviously does not. He may be a nice guy but, just by keeping her out like that it looks like he is only interested in his own good time.

This may be the wrong impression but, we are old enough to have been around the block. If during my 20 something years I had a friend tell me that drastically changing my beliefs for a boy is not worth it because he should respect ~my~ beliefs, then I may have reconsidered what I would deem tolerable in dating relatiohsips.

However, I do not know if I would have listened at the time...may still have had to experience those broken hearts to figure it out...darn!

Gennaver

p.s. Jess, I do believe that you have every right to be concerned, especially because this young lady is a part of your household as well and within that context alone, (regardless of her present experiences and desires) there are standards and rules that your house demands, such as no unnanounced not coming home...no coming home at four or five in the morning...and so on, let us know how you guys negotiate things

[Jess RN]

Thanks Gen and Kathi for your thoughts! We drew up a list of "House Rules" and presented them to our nanny. Basically, it involves a 12 am curfew on weeknights and no curfew, but letting us know when/if she'll be home on weekends. I tried to clearly separate the friendly advice that she asks for and I give from the rules which are not negotiable. I let her know that I was worried about her choices and behavior off duty- but that I wasn't her mom and she needed to learn to make decisions that she was comfortable with. I also emphasized that she needed a good night's sleep on weeknights so I would know she was able to be alert and aware of the kids on her shift the next day. Things seem to have improved this week. We'll see how it goes.

School is crazy already. The readings are insane! like hundreds of pages each night. Ugh. We had labs and learned bed baths and bedmaking. I love my Patho class so far and I have Pharm/Nutrition tomorrow which I think I'll like as well. We go to the hospital in Oct! Man, I can't believe I'm in nursing school! Gen, NP to Be, and others- have your classes started yet? How is it going?

-Jess

[cherainaustin]

I am attending an MN program...general masters of nursing...it is a direct entry program...there arent too many in the country yet....so far I love it but it is very hard! As master students they really expect quite a bit out of us...we go at such a fast pace that sometimes we dont even get to some chapters of pathophys...so our teacher made videos of herself giving the lecutre and we get to watch them at home:) thats some good tv right there!

Which program are you attending? Thanks

[cherainaustin]

Gen,

Hello! NEWBIE here. I have an Organizational Comm. degree and I'm interested in NP direct/alt entry programs (live in Austin, TX, but husband and I are willing to move; he's in IT so would need to find computer related job). It took me a few weeks to choose NP over PA so now I'm threading through here and the net trying to find a great alt entry program that will lead to CNS or NP. I haven't made a decision of which specialty yet, but I love surgery and preventative care.

Could you please pass on some of the schools you applied for and of course any other info that you might find helpful? In the mean time I will look back through here.

Congrats on your new adventure and happy studying!

Chera

Gen,

I looked through the old threads and found some info. on these schools:

Northeastern

Simmons

UMass

Boston College BC - shortest with grants (harder to keep up)!

MGHI - check tuition (doesn't give grants, scholarships; true?)

Hopkins - tuition, ask about research orientation

DePaul (focuses on Pathyo which is good for NP)

UV

UMd - someone questioning this (mystery)

George Mason - allnurses didn't say good things?

UIC

Pace University's program began in 1984

Xavier - Cinc., Ohio

Univ of Florida

Univ of Virginia

Rockhurst Univ (Kansas City)

I do have other general lists from other NP sites, but it always helps to hear about schools through great forums like this one. If anyone has any comments about applic. experience, visiting schools in person, grants/schol. offered or not, please let me and the other NEWBIES know. THANKS!!! AND again, congrats to all who are busy studying in their new programs.

Chera

[Jess RN]

Hi Chera-

Welcome to the forum! Here are some notes on what I know about some of these schools

Northeastern- reputation of a solid, well orgainized, if somewhat newer program. No idea about grants- but they do have co-op incorporated, so that helps with money somewhat.

Simmons- Excellent Boston rep from healthcare people (docs, RNs) actually working in Boston hospitals, no idea on fin aid.

UMass- also relatively new for their Direct Entry program, I think they are better known for medicine rather than nursing

Boston College BC - The accellerated portion is, well, accellerated. I'm only a week in and I'm already a little overwhelmed. They gave me tuition remission (grant, don't have to pay it back) for about 1/3 of tuition for this first year. I'm unclear if it will continue into the advanced practice portion. Not everyone got tuition remisson though- don't know how many did and no clue the criteria that were used when deciding who got what- I just got a letter in the mail.

MGHI - expensive, no grants, good rep locally, not *as* accellerated 3 yr course of study with summers off. I loved it when I visited- interesting, involved faculty, neat location.

I only applied to Boston area schools- so that's all I can really help with. Let us know what else you find! Good luck!

-Jess

[cherainaustin]

hi chera-

welcome to the forum! here are some notes on what i know about some of these schools

northeastern- reputation of a solid, well orgainized, if somewhat newer program. no idea about grants- but they do have co-op incorporated, so that helps with money somewhat.

simmons- excellent boston rep from healthcare people (docs, rns) actually working in boston hospitals, no idea on fin aid.

umass- also relatively new for their direct entry program, i think they are better known for medicine rather than nursing

boston college bc - the accellerated portion is, well, accellerated. i'm only a week in and i'm already a little overwhelmed. they gave me tuition remission (grant, don't have to pay it back) for about 1/3 of tuition for this first year. i'm unclear if it will continue into the advanced practice portion. not everyone got tuition remisson though- don't know how many did and no clue the criteria that were used when deciding who got what- i just got a letter in the mail.

mghi - expensive, no grants, good rep locally, not *as* accellerated 3 yr course of study with summers off. i loved it when i visited- interesting, involved faculty, neat location.

i only applied to boston area schools- so that's all i can really help with. let us know what else you find! good luck!

-jess

jess,

thanks so much for taking time from your schedule to give me your input. very sweet of you

i will take your advice, keep on researching and begin searching for faithful references. i think i might throw in sweets for them! i will also post what i find for others out there.

i have never visited boston. being a native austinite, can i handle the cold? actually, i'll be studying so much, i guess it won't matter, but i would like to try and attend school in a state that i would like to make my career in. mabye california or virginia? who knows. i think searching for a decent program, with decent tuition rates, a nice climate, no outrageous prereqs., etc. is more stressful than the genetics class i'm now taking!

thanks again, happy studying!

chera

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

Duuuuuuuude you guys. Summer was nothing compared to this. MedSurg, pathophys, stupid research methods class...Just need to vent. AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! I know I can do this well enough to make the grades and pass the tests, but what if I KILL someone because I forget something??? I - I - I - this is a lot of material, is what I'm saying.

Whew, okay, better.

Cheranaustin, I think University of Virginia has a program. I think it snows there, though.

[smile123]

Duuuuuuuude you guys. Summer was nothing compared to this. MedSurg, pathophys, stupid research methods class...Just need to vent. AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! I know I can do this well enough to make the grades and pass the tests, but what if I KILL someone because I forget something??? I - I - I - this is a lot of material, is what I'm saying.

Whew, okay, better.

Cheranaustin, I think University of Virginia has a program. I think it snows there, though.

I hear you Elizabells! I think this semester is also challengiing for me with Pathophys, Pharm, Peds, OB, Medical Spanish and Community Outreach. It's a lot of contnet but it's over 15 weeks instead of 9, so that's the saving grace. Our clinical instructor is very cool; we won't administer any meds without her being present. Don't worry, I'm sure there will be someone watching over you so you cannot harm a patient!

And yes, Virginia does get snow, same as Maryland. I have my winter underwear, fleece and down jacket ready!

Smile123