ECU MSN-AE Program 2008

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Mar 23, 2009

i also make this recommendation to anyone entering nursing school: purchase a good quality nclex review book.

i highly recommend the saunders comprehensive nclex review (4th ed).

isbn-10: 141603708x

isbn-13: 978-1416037088

http://www.amazon.com/saunders-comprehensive-nclex-rn%c2%ae-examination-nclex-rn/dp/141603708x/ref=sr_1_1?ie=utf8&s=books&qid=1237235152&sr=1-1#

it is the best review on the market and broken down into subject material. that way, you can follow along with your lectures and practice, practice, practice!!! don't just answer the questions, but delve deeper. analyze each answer - and the rationale provided by saunders - as to why the answer was right or wrong. make sure you understand the rationales. doing this will greatly improve your test-taking skills and your comprehension of the course content material.

you may find this link very helpful: https://allnurses.com/nclex-discussion-forum/nclex-test-review-86651.html

CarolinaHurricaneFan · Mar 23, 2009

GoECU & Medic-

Wow, let me first say thanks for all the information. So awesome to hear about the progression of the program and a little of your experiences. A couple more questions for either of you.

Are either of you currently or did you try to work during the program? I'm "hoping" to be able to work perhaps 1-2 days/week during the first semester of the program however, sitting on the outside I'm not sure I may be able to with the course load. Perhaps you both can better answer this for me. Anyone in your class attempting to work now?

Also, have you had many papers to write or has the course work been more clinical in focus/application???

Is there a certain point when you have to choose your concentration by?

Have either of you applied for jobs yet? What are prospects looking like?

Thanks so much for your answers in advance. Please send me a private message (PM) or feel free to email me anytime (use e-mail function on profile page). Hope your having a good Monday!

Aneroo, LPN · Mar 23, 2009

i also make this recommendation to anyone entering nursing school: purchase a good quality nclex review book.
i highly recommend the saunders comprehensive nclex review (4th ed).
isbn-10: 141603708x
isbn-13: 978-1416037088

http://www.amazon.com/saunders-comprehensive-nclex-rn%c2%ae-examination-nclex-rn/dp/141603708x/ref=sr_1_1?ie=utf8&s=books&qid=1237235152&sr=1-1#

it is the best review on the market and broken down into subject material. that way, you can follow along with your lectures and practice, practice, practice!!! don't just answer the questions, but delve deeper. analyze each answer - and the rationale provided by saunders - as to why the answer was right or wrong. make sure you understand the rationales. doing this will greatly improve your test-taking skills and your comprehension of the course content material.

you may find this link very helpful: https://allnurses.com/nclex-discussion-forum/nclex-test-review-86651.html

i agree. my husband used a nclex book to help study during nursing school. it's helpful b/c it gives rationale for all of the answers, not just the correct one.

sclement23 · Mar 23, 2009

Im interested in the ECU program and was wondering if anyone would share their prereq grades, GPA, GRE score and how your interview went and any advise for the interview. I just wanted to see if I stood a chance. Thanks!!!!!!!!!

medic97RN09 · Mar 24, 2009

CarolinaHurricaineFan,

To answer some of your questions:

#1. Are either of you currently or did you try to work during the program?

Yes, i currently work one 24 hour shift a week and a 12 hour shift every Saturday and Sunday (48 hrs week). However, my situation is a special case. I have a lot of experience in the pre-hospital setting such as starting IV's since 1993, reading EKG's & 12 Leads since 1995, and of course being a paramedic since 1997. This background allowed me to easily pick up and understand medical and nursing concepts. I work at a low volume station for the 24 hour shift (avg 0-3 calls a shift) and the weekends are the slowest shifts for my department. Hence, i was able to get a LOT of studying between EMS calls.

The problem with having a part-time job is that it takes away from your study time. You need to be able to read and retain 5+ chapters a week plus work on careplans and the other assignments. It is possible to do both but it is a balancing act.

#2. Also, have you had many papers to write or has the course work been more clinical in focus/application???

First of all, let me tell you, I hate writing! I can write but i think it would be easier for me to pull out my teeth with a broken set of plastic pliers than to write a paper. With that in mind, the instructors and the ECU Writing Center helped me tremendously with the APA format and with giving advice on my paper. (I haven't written a paper in almost 20 years!) We had one big paper due for the Fall semester and one big paper due for the Spring semester. Both of them actually weren't that bad of an experience. Of course i did stress a st** load over them but it was a great learning experience for me. From what i hear, for phase 2 of the program, you mostly write papers so the paper writing assignments give you a lot of valuable writing experience. I can honestly say that I can now quickly write a 10 page paper with the correct APA formating in no time flat.

The fall semester is more about building up your knowledge base. We only had a couple of clinicals which "exposed" us to the nursing realm. In the Spring semester, we have clinicals every Monday and Tuesday 630am-230pm with seminar from 230pm-330pm. For summer session #1 we have clinicals every Tue/Wed/Thur and class all day on Friday. For summer session #2 (capstone) we work 36 hours a week for 5 weeks.

#3. Is there a certain point when you have to choose your concentration by?

Well, i'm almost finished with the 2nd semester and nothing has been mention by the instructors yet. When you finish Phase 1, you are guaranteed a spot in the leadership or education tract. If you want ANP, FNP, NNP or midwifery, you will have to apply to get into those programs because there is a lot of competition for only a few seats. Pretty much, if you have the grades, you will get into whatever program that you want. Everyone that starts the MSN concentration has to attend the same Core Curriculum classes. This means that you have to take 1 to 1 1/2 years of Core Courses before you even start taking classes in your desired concentration.

#4. Have either of you applied for jobs yet? No, i have not applied but again, i am a special case. I have worked at "my" hospital for 11+ years so I feel that i am pretty much guaranteed a job. There are a couple of my classmates who interviewed during Spring Break and were given offers.

#5. What are prospects looking like? It depends on what you want to do. For example, its very hard to get a job as a new grad in L&D, PEDS, or the emergency department. However, if you have the right connections or politics, you can go wherever you want.

Hope this answers some of your questions.

medic97RN09 · Mar 24, 2009

sclement23,

Go to this website:

http://www.nursing.ecu.edu/studentservice.htm

Schedule an appointment with any of the advisors and bring your transcripts. They will tell you what your chances are of getting in. Pretty much, if you have good grades, you have a good chance of getting into the BSN program.

If you are interested in the AE Program then i would HIGHLY recommend that you attend any of the information sessions in the Fall. The instructors will be able answer your questions and they may be able to give you an indication of your chances of getting into the program.

I applied to both the AE program and the BSN program at the same time (with my fingers crossed into getting into either one). Luckily, i was accepted into the AE program.

Hope this answers some of your questions.

GoECU · Mar 24, 2009

I'm not currently working while in phase 1. It is strongly advised by the instructors to not work, however there are some people that are doing it that have to out of necessity. If you do try to work, I recommend part-time. You are going to have so much on your plate and you will be exhausted after being in class all day or clinical all day and then studying for hours on end, not to mention trying not to neglect your family. I haven't applied for jobs yet but I've signed a contract with University Health Systems (Pitt) for tuition assistance so I will need to work there for 2 years to pay it off. Some areas have waiting lists (NICU). I'm sure they will have something for me and the good thing about nursing is if you don't like one area, you can always change!

CarolinaHurricaneFan · Mar 24, 2009

Medic/GoECU-

That is a wealth of info you both gave....thanks so much for that. I absolutely understand what you both are saying about working. I'm thinking that I may only attempt to work one 8hr shift a week (Family Therapist) with the agency I'm currently with to help out with the bills and what not for the family. We'll be strapped but we may have to do this out of necessity....keeping in mind it will be worth it in the end.

GoECU---did you sign your contract with UHSEAST prior to beginning the program or along the way? I'm looking at the Health Careers Academic Loan Program but have already missed the deadline and the next application timeline is September I believe. We would love to stay around here (Gville) as well and am interested how you set your deal up with Pitt.

Either of you recieve scholarships from the CON? Getting ready to turn in my application for that too.

I believe that is all for now. Thanks so much again to both of you.

CarolinaHurricaneFan · Mar 24, 2009

Im interested in the ECU program and was wondering if anyone would share their prereq grades, GPA, GRE score and how your interview went and any advise for the interview. I just wanted to see if I stood a chance. Thanks!!!!!!!!!

sclement-

Glad to hear that you are interested! As you may have read, I JUST got accepted into the program and will begin in the upcoming Fall class so everything is pretty fresh for me.

As Medic pointed out already, they have information sessions about once a month (usually on a Friday) where the director of the program will pretty much go over the program in detail, answer any/all questions people may have, and even direct you to the person to have a trascript evaluation done right on the spot that day.

Re: pre-req courses....how far along are you with these? Started with a couple or just prospecting right now? Let me tell you, I looked at this program for 3 years before I even began pre-reqs (Chemistry, Anatomy, Microbiology, etc.)....basically I had myself convinced that I sucked at science and wouldn't be able to do it. If it scares you, take one class at a time, see how you do and go from there. My wife and I spoke together/prayed about it and decided to venture into this taking a couple classes at a time and I was able to earn A's in the classes........took a lot of work though but keep the end goal in mind----doing what it takes to get accepted into the program and ultimately becoming the RN, NP, etc.

Can't really speak too much re: the GRE....I have a previous Master's degree so that made my GRE score exempt which I was super pumped about.

Interview was more of a "getting to know you" phase. Tell about yourself, why you wanna be an RN/NP, what do you bring to the field, how will you stay balanced throughout the program. It was really laid back....mine was about an hour long and was more of a flowing conversation b/w myself and the two professors interviewing me. Also was able to ask them about 3-4 questions as well at the end.

I encourage you to AT LEAST go to one of the information sessions if possible. I think that is a good starting point and may help gauge thing for you.

Hope this helps a little....any other questions feel free to ask!

GoECU · Mar 24, 2009

I applied for my loan before starting the program. The September deadline is the deadline for those of you starting in the fall (I had the same question). Go to the main website for uhs east and click on health careers. Download the application. If I remember correctly you will need 2 or 3 letters of reference. You will also have to send a copy of your fall schedule once you are registered. Once you mail your application in, they will mail you some info and a contract within a couple of weeks. Our program is eligible for 5,000 total (you will have to work at a uhs identity for 2 years). I received 2,000 at the beginning of fall semester and 3,000 at the beginning of the spring. As far as CON scholarships go I didn't get one but I encourage you to apply, you never know! Good luck!

2007Mom · Mar 25, 2009

Hi! I was accepted to the Fall 2009 class and have a question for those currently in the program. I live about 2 1/2 hours from Greenville and am married with a 2-year-old. I am trying to decide whether to move my family there with me (husband would have to find a new job & we would have to sell our house) or whether to move there by myself and commute home on the weekends. What would those of you who have been thru the program recommend? Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated! :)

GoECU · Mar 25, 2009

Fortunately I live Winterville (which is basically Greenville) so I didn't have to make a decision like yours. Several people have moved temporarily for the year and are staying in apartments during the week then commuting home on the weekends. Some of them are married but none of these people have a child. There are some people that commute from Raleigh (but thats only about an hour away). I guess you need to think about some things: how easy it will be for your husband to get a new job or selling your home in this economy? Or will you be able to stand not seeing your child for 5 days. I have a 2 year old also and I don't think I could stand that. I'm sure you will decide what is best for your situation...good luck!