Direct-entry MSN programs

Future_NP110 · Feb 15, 2006

Krissy:

MGH = Mass. General Hospital Institute of Health Prof.

Angie O'Plasty · Feb 15, 2006

Angie-o-Plasty (and others who have heard from MGH):
I am a long time lurker, new to posting on this site....
I am waiting (read: checking the mail every 5 minutes) to hear from MGH. I was accpeted into the program at Regis a few weeks ago and while I am very relieved to have an acceptance under my belt, I really like MGH's program, specifically the Women's Health Option. At Regis they do not offer the WHNP option, only Family, CHild or Psych.) When did you hear, and if you don't mind me asking, what other schools did you apply to (if any)?
Thanks and have a great night.
COngrats on your accpetance at MGH!!!

I just got the letter from MGH today; the date on it was 2/14 and it was an early acceptance; the bulk of letters will go out in early March I believe. I think the reason I got it so quickly is because I live only an hour away from Boston; depending on where you are it could take a couple more days to get to you. The other schools I applied to were UMass Worcester (right in my backyard!) and Yale; I didn't get into either of those schools so I am definitely going to MGH. I think it will be a great place to study! Best of luck.

--Angie O.

cfrimer · Feb 16, 2006

Future_NP110, my letter from MGH was dated Feb 9th, and I got it on the 11th. I also applied to UMass Worcester and to Simmons.

Angie-O-Plasty, congrats on MGH!! Bu it's so unfortunate that you're going to have to face that monster commute! The interviewer I spoke with at UMass told me that a few people actually commute from Boston to Worcester, but much as I love my neighborhood, I do believe that kind of a drive might kill me. In fact, part of what makes MGH appeal to me is that I might be able to get away with not having a car. Maybe? If I actually get into UMass, I'll be torn because both programs offer dual-track adult/gerontological health, which is what I'm interested in. I really liked the MGH campus, but the price difference is hard to ignore! There's also that year-long residency at UMass, which seems like a really valuable opportunity... I couldn't quite tell from the info I have on MGH if there is something equivalent... Do you know about that? If I do end up at UMass, I'll definitely be in touch to get the low-down on what's good in the neighborhood!

janony · Feb 16, 2006

Hey there Bostonians

Just wanted to say that I also got a letter from MGH last week.... so now I have do decide between BC and MGH. Simmons and Northeastern have rejected me - hehe. Simmons due to lack of a transcript for 1 class, 7 years ago; Northeastern due to the fact that I missed my interview. I had to make a very short-notice trip to FL for my grandmother's funeral, so I couldn't make the interview. I tried to call and leave messages, but apparantly it didn't go through. Oh well!

Anyone else facing the BC vs. MGH decision?

janony

Jess RN · Feb 16, 2006

Hey there Bostonians
Just wanted to say that I also got a letter from MGH last week.... so now I have do decide between BC and MGH. Simmons and Northeastern have rejected me - hehe. Simmons due to lack of a transcript for 1 class, 7 years ago; Northeastern due to the fact that I missed my interview. I had to make a very short-notice trip to FL for my grandmother's funeral, so I couldn't make the interview. I tried to call and leave messages, but apparantly it didn't go through. Oh well!
Anyone else facing the BC vs. MGH decision?
janony

Congrats janony, angie, cfrimer and other direct entry acceptances!!

As always, I am happy to answer any boston area school questions. Either ask in this thread, PM me or email me at jessicaceleste at yahoo.

-Jess

janony- did you get the PM I sent you last week?

Angie O'Plasty · Feb 16, 2006

Future_NP110, my letter from MGH was dated Feb 9th, and I got it on the 11th. I also applied to UMass Worcester and to Simmons.
Angie-O-Plasty, congrats on MGH!! Bu it's so unfortunate that you're going to have to face that monster commute! The interviewer I spoke with at UMass told me that a few people actually commute from Boston to Worcester, but much as I love my neighborhood, I do believe that kind of a drive might kill me. In fact, part of what makes MGH appeal to me is that I might be able to get away with not having a car. Maybe? If I actually get into UMass, I'll be torn because both programs offer dual-track adult/gerontological health, which is what I'm interested in. I really liked the MGH campus, but the price difference is hard to ignore! There's also that year-long residency at UMass, which seems like a really valuable opportunity... I couldn't quite tell from the info I have on MGH if there is something equivalent... Do you know about that? If I do end up at UMass, I'll definitely be in touch to get the low-down on what's good in the neighborhood!

I'm not sure about the residency, although I've gotta believe MGH has some way for us to get experience like that. I'm sure we'll be able to work part-time once we're licensed. As for the commute, I won't be driving in; I'll be taking the commuter rail so that will give me some built-in study time. If it weren't for the train, I'd be moving closer no question about it. However, I think I can make this work without having to move since I'm already established here.

Jess RN · Feb 16, 2006

I'm not sure about the residency although I've gotta believe MGH has some way for us to get experience like that. I'm sure we'll be able to work part-time once we're licensed. As for the commute, I won't be driving in; I'll be taking the commuter rail so that will give me some built-in study time. If it weren't for the train, I'd be moving closer no question about it. However, I think I can make this work without having to move since I'm already established here.[/quote']
One of my classmates commutes to Chestnut Hill from Worcester. He takes the train and gets lots of reading done. It makes for long days- but it is totally doable. I remember at the infosession at MGH they said that many (most?) people work at least a shift or two a month after licensure.
-Jess

lovingpecola · Feb 20, 2006

Silly me, I strayed away from this area of the forums and I really got a bad vibe about how nonDE nurses feel about DE students. What is up with this? I asked an unrelated question to DE graduates, and immediately I started to get the "experience" speech from nonDE or *seemingly* antiDE folks. I plan on doing bedside nursing *first* for the experience, but why are people so touchy about DE? Can't we all just get along?

br107 · Feb 20, 2006

Silly me, I strayed away from this area of the forums and I really got a bad vibe about how nonDE nurses feel about DE students. What is up with this? I asked an unrelated question to DE graduates, and immediately I started to get the "experience" speech from nonDE or *seemingly* antiDE folks. I plan on doing bedside nursing *first* for the experience, but why are people so touchy about DE? Can't we all just get along?

i've only recently looked into DE programs. so dow do nonDE nurses feel about DE students? and can you clarify where/how you came to form this impression? was it just one experience? also, are other programs doing something different because i thought a DE program gets you into bedside nursing?

Gennaver, MSN · Feb 20, 2006

Silly me, I strayed away from this area of the forums and I really got a bad vibe about how nonDE nurses feel about DE students. What is up with this? I asked an unrelated question to DE graduates, and immediately I started to get the "experience" speech from nonDE or *seemingly* antiDE folks. I plan on doing bedside nursing *first* for the experience, but why are people so touchy about DE? Can't we all just get along?

Loving pecola,

I recall about a year ago there was a long thread about this, started as a misinformed rant by someone who didn't know how people could go from "having a degree in basket weaving" to becoming a nurse. Regardless of the clarified information from many direct entry students it was obvious that an awareness wasn't forthcoming.

It may be simple misinformation, prejedice, self-bias or self serving bias that keeps people under such misconceptions as to say that we are getting a no good quickie degree. Ha!

Do not sweat it. I have encountered more favorable reactions about this in hospitals, (mixed but, more favorable).

Gen

lovingpecola · Feb 20, 2006

Thanks Gen, I agree with what your ideas are about why this may be the case for some folks!

br107 I dont want to rehash everything, but it is just the feeling I get when some people respond to some of my questions about the program I will enter-but I certainly don't think it is all or even most nonDE nurses who feel this way... things like "how can you be an advanced practice nurse with no experience...nothing can take the place of years of experience...you won't be able to practice as a NP coming out of school because you won't find a job" Just a lot of negative vibes!

but to answer you question, Master's level DE students are preparing for a different role than bedside nurse (in my case, Midwifery) but I will certainly work as a bedside nurse first (maybe 6 months or so) to get a better feel for the basics...

bruinlaura · Feb 20, 2006

Silly me, I strayed away from this area of the forums and I really got a bad vibe about how nonDE nurses feel about DE students. What is up with this? I asked an unrelated question to DE graduates, and immediately I started to get the "experience" speech from nonDE or *seemingly* antiDE folks. I plan on doing bedside nursing *first* for the experience, but why are people so touchy about DE? Can't we all just get along?

I can't tell sometimes whether they are concerned for the patients or just think that everyone needs the pay their dues. I try to give them the benefit of the doubt.

It is all just opinion anyways. Until someone comes up with real evidence, I would take it with a grain of salt. In fact research shows that DE students do just as well academically in the master's portion of the program as nonDE. And, an article just came out in The Nurse Practitioner (Dec05) that found no significant differences between the skills of NPs with lots versus little RN experience. I personally feel the study is preliminary and more research needs to be done however it is the first to actually try to scientifically determine whether all these opinions have any merit.

I think it is funny how much people will say without any evidence to back it up. I took this quote for the sticky NP w/no desire for RN thread: "The question is not how well the students/PAs/NPs with no experience did...it's how well their patients did! Many can die during that learning/experience curve!" I mean seriously, I almost wet my pants when I read that.:chuckle Absolutely no documented proof but DE graduates are apparently killing people none the less. :rolleyes:

That being said pretty much everyone is my program is freaked about the prospect of going straight through with little RN experience. My program director has told us several times that RN skills are very different from NP skills. It really hasn't helped my comfort level much but I can always work as an RN until I am comfortable starting an NP job.

OK I really need to stop procrastinating studying for my community nursing midterm.