ECU MSN Alternate Entry Program any good?

Hey All,

I am looking to start an MSN program fall 2007. I'm an ER Tech at a local Chicago Hospital and I already have a B.S. in psychology with a 3.93 gpa. ECU offers a program for degreed non-nurses. From what I read, the 1st year is 12 months of intense study and then the NCLEX. Then, there is the graduate specialty which could take 2 1/2 to 4 years to complete. It sounds like the kind of program I'm looking for but, I'm not familiar with the school. How good are the clinicals? I read that a tennessee college (Vandy) leaves there students clinically unprepared for phase 2 of the program. I just want some feedback from someone who's in or completed the ECU program.

Sneaky1:)

Hi, Sneaky1 and welcome to the NC Nursing Forum

I attended the graduate program at ECU (MSN-Nursing Education) and it was excellent, as are all their graduate nursing concentrations. I am not personally acquainted with the MSN Alternative Entry Program, but I just finished talking with the director and have the following information:

She states that ECU's alternative entry program has more clinical hours than most programs. You will also have the opportunity to work with preceptors in various hospital settings and thus learn more skills.

Phase 1, 1st semester: Mainly consists of classes (undergraduate nursing courses), labs, learn skills in state-of-the-art simulation laboratories. 1 very short clinical this semester, just to get your feet wet.

Phase 1, 2nd semester: Two-9 hour-clinical days in various community hospitals, and at the local teaching hospital (PCMH). You will be assigned an RN as preceptor for these hours, but an ECU-SON faculty member is always available on the facility premises as a resource and to oversee your progress.

Phase 1, 2 full summer sessions:

1st summer session: You will work with an RN preceptor, following his/her schedule, 36 hours per week.

2nd summer session: You will go to various clinical community agencies, 3 days per week (9 hour clinical days).

Upon successful completion of the 2nd summer session, Phase 1 is complete and you are then eligible to sit for the NCLEX (usually in August or early September). You will also continue on to Phase II of the program, starting in late August. Phase II consists of the core nursing graduate courses and choosing a graduate nursing concentration.

For more information, please go to: http://nursing.ecu.edu/ae_overview.htm

Phase I: Pre-licensure

Phase II: Nursing Concentration

Hope this adequately answers your questions :) Best wishes to you for great success in your future career as a nurse :balloons:

Hi VickyRN:

Thanks for the information. It was very helpful

Sneaky1

Hi VickyRN:

Thanks for the information. It was very helpful

Sneaky1

You're very welcome :)

VickyRN:

Now if I can just get over the GRE testing jitters, I will be ok. Suffer from a tiny bit of test anxiety.

Sneaky1