Economy affects my MSN application

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I have applied to the RN to MSN program in psych at the local university and have been eagerly awaiting to hear of my acceptance. My phone rang at work last Tuesday, and I received a surprise phone call from the MSN program chair. She told me that the psych NP program I'm interested in may not exist in a year -- be discontinued -- because of severe budget cutbacks from the state. Therefore, the college of nursing would not be able to admit me into the program.

We decided to pass my application to the FNP program coordinator and maybe by the time I got to the mental health portion of the curriculum, the psych program will have been rescued. Well, two days later I received another call from the chair and she told me that the school would not be admitting *any* RN to MSN students for any concentration.

She convinced me to consider entering their soon-to-be-released all-online RN to BN program because I would be working on BSN-level core courses in that time frame anyway. In the meantime I researched other programs and found one I think will work better for cheaper (because it has no clinical requirements -- Jacksonville State Univ in Alabama. If you have any info, please pass it to me.)

So ... it looks like my legitimate membership to this forum will be delayed. I am a firm believer of things happening for a reason and see that this is probably the best thing for me. Instead of attending classes for four or five years (part-time work, part-time school), I can spend some of that time online and affect my work and family a little less.

But still ... oy vey!

:ornament:

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Specializes in Tele, Home Health, MICU, CTICU, LTC.

I think everyone is feeling the effects of our current economic situation. At least you found out before you started. It would have been horrible to find out half way through. Good luck, I'm sure you will find a program that meets your needs.

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Specializes in behavioral health.

That happened to my psych NP program (university of arizona)...last tuesday..as well. This also sends me scrambling to find other programs which are out of state and hopefully not wildly expensive. =(. This definitely concerns me that the demand for psych NPs is not as big as I had previously believed, but perhaps this trend will now create a shortage. good luck for both of us

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I'm sorry to hear that. I've been reassured by those I've networked with that there are plenty of psych NP jobs out there. I don't think programs are being cut because there isn't a need. I think they have to serve the masses first. At least I hope so!

:bell:

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Budget cuts are unfortunately meaning the suspension of academic programs for many schools. At my own institution we suspended admission to the online Geriatric NP program this year because of low enrollment. In order for us to offer a class, we need a minimum of six students entering in each specialty area each year. If enrollment in any individual class is 6 or under, the course would be cancelled.

We had seen decreasing enrollments for the GNP program, so we have stopped admitting students for the time being rather than having to cancel any classes 'mid-stream'. The GNP students near graduation will complete the program this year. The two students who are taking their first MSN course (very part time) will transfer into the FNP program.

The same situation happened with our Womens Health HNP program a decade ago (it closed in the late 90s because of low enrollment). Our remaining NP programs (Family, Pediatrics, Psych, and Acute Care) are have very strong enrollments (enrolling 10-20 each year in all specialty areas).

I agree with inthesky -- it is better to find this out now before you enrolled. Good luck in locating the right program for you.

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care, Gero, dementia.
Budget cuts are unfortunately meaning the suspension of academic programs for many schools. At my own institution we suspended admission to the online Geriatric NP program this year because of low enrollment. In order for us to offer a class, we need a minimum of six students entering in each specialty area each year. If enrollment in any individual class is 6 or under, the course would be cancelled.

We had seen decreasing enrollments for the GNP program, so we have stopped admitting students for the time being rather than having to cancel any classes 'mid-stream'. The GNP students near graduation will complete the program this year. The two students who are taking their first MSN course (very part time) will transfer into the FNP program.

The same situation happened with our Womens Health HNP program a decade ago (it closed in the late 90s because of low enrollment). Our remaining NP programs (Family, Pediatrics, Psych, and Acute Care) are have very strong enrollments (enrolling 10-20 each year in all specialty areas).

I agree with inthesky -- it is better to find this out now before you enrolled. Good luck in locating the right program for you.

GNP programs, unfortunately, are hard to maintain, despite the on-going and increasing need for geriatric practitioners. I believe one of the problems is that for Medicare reimbursement you have to have an FNP.

If you have students who really wanted that gero content please let them know about OHSU's Post-master's certificate option in Advanced Practice Gerontological Nursing. The program is a one-week intensive (all day for 5 days) over the summer followed by 7-weeks on-line and help in setting up a clinical practicum in your area. AP nurses who do this program are able to sit for the GNP licensure exam.

For more details: http://www.ohsu.edu/son/academic/pmco-gerorfaqs.shtml

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Thanks Marachne:

Yes, GNP programs are tough to sustain. Our post Masters GNP was 100% online (never had to come to campus at all), and the the MSN was mostly online. And still low enrollments.

We remain committed to geriatric education, and are considering opening a ANP/GNP blended program when the budget situation looks brighter.

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Specializes in behavioral health.

Low demand was actually the reason stated. I guess that means that my biggest issue was not that my application was not good enough =P. I wonder how the 2015 DNP issue is going to pan out when DNP/MSN programs around the country are being canceled.

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