john f. kennedy university adn to msn pathways program

SF_RescueNinja · Jul 30, 2011

So I just started doing some research about this too and you have to get a BA/BS from JFK University THEN get priority for UCSF'a MSN program... I can understand UCSF as a respectable graduate school for nursing, but JFK? They are not accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges but rather something on their website called "National University System". What the heck is that? Are they non-profit? For-profit? Has anyone tried this program before? I'm thoroughly interested in actual student comments, not just that from the UCSF/JFK University...

nmdupre · Oct 11, 2011

JFKU is accredited by WASC : http://www.jfku.edu/About-Us/Accreditation.html

I'm trying to get in contact with the head of the admissions department at UCSF so that I can ask them how much weight is given to a graduate of JFKU. I'll keep you updated.

Cuddleswithpuddles · Oct 11, 2011

JFK does not offer a BSN. You get a BA or BS in a small variety of majors at JFK then you get priority admission (but not guaranteed) to UCSF. It's a little funky. If I find the list of BAs and BSs that JFK offers that is included in the ADN-MSN pathway, I will post it here.

inthemood · Oct 17, 2011

Hi all:

I am curious about this program too... something is just so fishy about this. JFKU is non-profit (not that that means much, if you ask me... That's another story.) There is very little (none) real info about JFKU online. I was invited by phone and plenty of mailings to open house. I noticed on their website that they have jobs open for adjunct faculty that require only a Master's degree. They also have an opening for Director of Marketing, or some such title.

UCSF has a similar program with Golden Gate University (GGU) as well.

FROM UCSF WEBSITE:

A number of defined specialty areas offered in the MS program at UCSF are open to Pathway participants, as long as participants graduate within a time frame agreed to by the participant, their GGU or JFKU advisor, and a UCSF designated faculty or staff representative. Participants must complete the MS application and identify their choice of MS specialty area a minimum of nine months prior to graduation from GGU or JFKU. If the participant chooses an oversubscribed specialty area in which UCSF cannot guarantee acceptance for Pathway participants, the participant's application will be screened and evaluated for admission with the general pool of applicants to the specialty area, provided the application meets the February admission review cycle timelines.

FROM GGU WEBSITE:

Qualifying Areas of Master's Degree Specialization

Advanced Community Health and International Nursing (CNS) and HIV-AIDS Focus

Adult Nurse Practitioner and HIV-AIDS Focus

Clinical Nurse Specialist in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing

Nursing and Health Systems Leadership

Occupational and Environment Health Nurse Specialists

Occupational and Environmental Health/Adult Nurse Practitioner

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Gerontological Nursing: CNS and NP

Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist

Health Policy

I might go to the Costa Mesa open house just to ask "Why should I get as BS at JFKU instead of a BSN anywhere else that also allows me to apply for a PHN certificate?"

nmdupre · Oct 17, 2011

I just wanted to comment on the validity of a degree from JFKU. I know a few people who have attended/are attending this school. People who have gone to this school always tell me how much they love it. They have all gone on to get jobs or go into a masters program with a degree from this school. Class sizes are very small...typically below 20 students and all students must complete 2 years of college credits in order to attend. The students I'm talking about were in other programs: Psychology, Philosophy, and Legal Studies/Paralegal certificate.

I guess the point I'm making, is that it isn't like a Kaplan or a Phoenix. Which I feel like has no validity as far as I'm concerned. And Universities often offer courses taught by Masters-level instructors. They obviously get paid less and are limited as to what they can teach.

The ADN to MSN pathway at JFKU does work for people. I know a few people who have gone on to UCSF through this program. The degree that you obtain through this program is a B.A. in Health Sciences. It's not a B.S. because they don't have the facilities to offer lab courses, but if you have an ADN you've already taken those so it would be redundant for JFKU to offer them.

There are people who get the B.A. in Health Sciences without having an ADN, but obviously they wouldn't be qualified for the pathway program to UCSF. I've heard (and this is pure heresay) that most of these types of students who graduate with this degree end up going to get their ADN. I don't know if they do it to go to UCSF or if they just desperately want to be a nurse. Just seems like a lot of money to spend on a bachelors just to end up going back for an associates. I've talked with the head of the program and asked if you could get a job with this program and she told me it is possible, but most students go on to get a graduate degree.

I don't know. I'm wondering what you think about someone getting a B.A. in Health Sciences. Would graduate admissions programs laugh at that?

inthemood · Oct 19, 2011

Thanks for the info nmdupre, et al. I guess the thing to do is call some other MSN programs and see what they think of JFKU. I would love to go to UCSF but I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket. I will let you all know anything I find out. Peace.

smellyacres, BSN, RN · May 1, 2012

Anyone find out anything more about this program? I'm interested as well, but as stated about, I don't want to rely on UCSF's master's degree program in case I don't get in.