MGH Direct NP program 2016

AspiringFNP30 · Feb 12, 2016

@Romero1027 Thank you so much!! All of that was so incredibly helpful :)

Quick general question if anyone is able to answer.. I'm a bit confused about how the semesters will flow for the direct-entry program.. So Romero1027 already said we will have to do fall-spring-summer straight during our first year but some of you mentioned that we can take summers off in the future.. Does that mean it will just take us over 3 years to graduate?

Romero1027 · Feb 12, 2016

Not problem!

Year 1: Fall-Spring-summer

year 2: Fall-Spring

year 3: Fall-Spring

It is a 3 year program. 1 to become an RN and two to become an NP. I think people in the dual track take 3.5 years but that's because they are doing a double, other than that it only takes 3 years.

tesiahmae · Feb 13, 2016

Thanks Romero! I have another question! Do students usually work during the 2nd and 3rd years? Or is it still too intensive? Also, I have a toddler and am wondering if you know of anyone in the program with small children. I'd love to connect with someone to see how they make it work.

ToTheStudent · Feb 13, 2016

Someone asked when they admitted students day is, it's March 5th. They'll notify you all soon. If you're super far away I'd say there's no need to brave the Boston winter or expend a whole lot of travel, it's a good day to visit, but in no way a requirement.

CindyBoston · Feb 13, 2016

Thanks so much for answering all of our questions!

Do you know if the all of the DNP concentrations have similar 1st year schedules? I'm guessing I'll be taking a peds class when the Psych-MH students take their psych class on Mondays?

I sure hope I get you as a guide, I'd love those PDFs hahaha undergrad loans are killing me enough already

Romero1027 · Feb 13, 2016

During your second and third years, the workload goes down from 18 credits to 12 credits so many people work as RN's once they pass their NCLEX or as CNA's if they haven't taken it or passed it. We definitely have mothers in our class and they are doing great. @cindy I don't understand your question.

CindyBoston · Feb 13, 2016

Sorry! Let me clarify. You listed a weekly course schedule for psych students, with a psych lecture on Mondays. Since I'm on the Peds track, would I be taking a pediatrics-related course? I just want to see whether all of the 1st year students, no matter which concentration they're in, have a similar schedule

Romero1027 · Feb 13, 2016

So like I said, first you do the RN portion of the program. That's your first year: Fall, Spring and Summer. At the end of summer 1 you can sit to take the NCLEX. Once you have passed the NCLEX you start your second year where you begin taking NP classes. Tracks apply only for the advance practice (NP) so to recap. Everyone is together for year 1 then at the end you take off to your respective tracks. You and your classmates will be taking the classes I listed together your first semester. Your second semester you are all again together for Med surg 2, pharmacology, community health, health assessment and impact 2. Followed by summer semester when everyone is again together taking maternity and pediatrics along with a policy class and advanced Pathophysiology. At the end of the summer/start of fall you will be only taking classes pertaining to your specific track! But year one you are all together for the RN portion :)

CiaMia, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Feb 13, 2016

Cindy -- you can't get through NCLEX and have RN licensure without covering everything; for example being in the psych track for the NP sequence doesn't mean you don't cover the maternity/pedi in the prelicensure sequence! You wouldn't get though NCLEX without that solid foundation. :-)

CindyBoston · Feb 14, 2016

Got cha, that makes so much more sense. I got confused because I didn't see psych in the curriculum plan, but the course name is probably different.

Another question if you don't mind. Do you know what the student-preceptor relationships are like? I've heard mixed reviews about the clinical placement process. Some thought that it was a little unorganized and that their preceptors didn't really know what was going on; some loved their placements and preceptors.

Romero1027 · Feb 14, 2016

Your Biobehavioral class during your first semester is your psych class. I personally don't think they are unorganized. In fact, I think they are really good at finding placements. It may seem unorganized because clinicals are unpredictable as are health issues some days are slow some days are hectic but that's not the instructors fault. That's how working in a hospital is.

ginger_99 · Feb 15, 2016

I'm a current student at MGHIHP (Dual Track NP) too & classmate of Romero1027 (HI J!) & found all of this info REALLY helpful for me last year when I had gotten in so wanted to see if I can contribute anything as well!

Everything that Romero1027 said is very true! A couple things I wanted to add:

-Some of you can have clinicals on Saturdays & Sundays, too. I had my Psych Clinical on Sundays in the Fall. It sucked, but it's part of the program and part of becoming/being a nurse. Some MedSurg clinicals are on Saturdays too. For the most part, everyone that I knew that had a weekend clinical liked it better/was okay with it because we had weekdays off and found ourselves to be more productive on those days more so than we would be on the weekends. Just be prepared to be flexible.

-I came from SF, CA & had no idea what I was doing or where to move at all when I came, literally just did Craig's List, found roommates and decided to live there. If you are in the same boat as me, I have suggestions on where to live depending on what you are looking for! Just ask :)

-They tend to change the program format year to year, but the new thing that started with our class this year is no Summer Year 1 off because we do our OB/Peds Clinical. It works out better because we get better placements for clinical. But, just be prepared for that cause I know some people weren't and had made some summer plans already!

-I agree with Romero1027 that some people say the program is disorganized, but I don't really think it is at all either. It's just a lot of information to take in and a lot of moving parts for the school to deal with, which makes it hard to try to sit down before hand and try to plan everything out, as most of us would like to do. Just TRUST that everything will work out & be okay, and try not to stress too much about it! The class ahead of us PROMISED it would work out and be okay, and everything has worked out for us so far.