MGH IHP DE NP 2020

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Did not see a topic made for this year's cycle so I thought I would create one. Looking forward to replies!

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Hi! I’m applying for this year’s cycle, what specialty did you choose? I went for acute care!

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On 11/24/2019 at 3:56 PM, pnambu615 said:

Hi! I’m applying for this year’s cycle, what specialty did you choose? I went for acute care!

Hi ? I applied to pediatrics. Do you know when they send out letters?

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Hello! I am applying for 2020 acceptance for Adult/Gerontology Primary Care. Does anyone know when we hear back? Applications were due 12/1 and now NursingCas is saying 3/1.

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Hello everyone! I'm applying to psych! I was told by the end of this month by admissions last week.

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Current student willing to answer some questions if anyone has any.

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@TheNietzscheI'm very interested in hearing more about the program!

1. What specialty are you in and how do you like the program so far?

2. How's the workload?

3. Have you been working while in the program? If so, how many hours are you able to manage a week?

4. Biggest challenges in the program?

5. I would be a commuting student from out of state..How difficult is it to be a commuting student/how do people get to campus typically?

6. Do you get the BSN and MSN when you graduate?

7. How are professors and clinical placements?

8. What is a typical schedule?

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2 minutes ago, swtowannabepsychnp said:

@TheNietzscheI'm very interested in hearing more about the program!

1. What specialty are you in and how do you like the program so far?

I'm specializing in psych. I have no issues with the program so far, and the clinical education at IHP and throughout Boston really can't be beat. We've only just started with clinicals for this semester, but my three clinical instructors so far have been good.

The program so far, for our class, has dealt with some issues with disorganization. This is my biggest complaint at this point. They do seem to be working on it, so it may not affect your class as much.

Also note that I'm in my first year of the program.

2. How's the workload?

It is manageable but best to go into it with the mindset that this is a full-time program.

The science classes (Patho, Pharm) move quickly. It is an accelerated program, it is manageable and the exams are fair. The clinicals, labs, and various other activities will eat up a good amount of your time, probably briefly confuse you (that's ok!) - particularly in the first semester. Some time is spent on busywork, which isn't challenging but just takes up time you could spend working, or napping.

You'll do much more prep work and reading at the beginning than is necessary, but you'll eventually learn what you need to do and what may be more optional. Faculty are realistic about all of this.

3. Have you been working while in the program? If so, how many hours are you able to manage a week?

I haven't been so far. I don't think I could have dealt with work and school in the first semester, or even now in the second. I know some who are working part-time, many in jobs they had prior to coming in to the program. Personally, I think I could handle 16 hours/week of work, but scheduling can make it a challenge.

4. Biggest challenges in the program?

Keeping track of everything happening in the program and not stressing out over every detail. It is important to learn what IS and what ISN'T worth freaking out over (most of it isn't).

Also: social life, social life, social life. Keep one if you can. I never really had one but I'm hunting. ?

Maybe more specific to me... I know many people who love their medical-surgical clinicals. Even though much of what we do in our RN clinicals we won't do as NPs, they like it regardless. I'm just not one of those people. But, psych people in particular dislike it the most, so I'm probably biased here.

It IS very survivable though. If I can... you can. Pro Tip: A small dab of Vicks VapoRub under the nose if you have, let's say, a strong gag reflex...

5. I would be a commuting student from out of state..How difficult is it to be a commuting student/how do people get to campus typically?

How far away? I know a couple of students who commute from southern NH as well as some further out in Western Mass. I couldn't imagine doing it myself but some do fine with it. Faculty are generally understanding so long as you communicate with them, but being late to labs, clinicals, sims, etc. can make life very challenging (particularly if it happens more than once or twice). Still, students commute from all over and many make it work.

Parking is available on or near campus. Many students drive, those who live more centrally in or near the city also use the MGH shuttles/buses/subway/Uber.

6. Do you get the BSN and MSN when you graduate?

Yes, you'll receive both degrees at the end of the program.

7. How are professors and clinical placements?

I'd say in general, second to none in the nursing field. Med-Surgical clinical placements are all at MGH, and you can't do much better than that for training. You'll get experience on two different medicine floors at MGH.

The psych clinicals are also all at top Boston institutions such as MGH, McLean, Brigham, Cambridge Health Alliance, etc. Everything related to placements is handled for you by the program staff. You may have to travel further for the psych clinical since there are fewer psych units out there.

We don't have peds or OB/GYN until summer so I can't speak to that, but I imagine the rotation placements will be of an equal caliber.

8. What is a typical schedule?

First semester we had clinical once weekly (Friday or Saturday), and class every day except Thursday. The prep work for clinical can take multiple hours when you first get started, so don't consider Thursday a free day... it really is a five day per week program.

The second semester is another medical-surgical clinical (Friday or Saturday) along with a psych clinical (Monday or Thursday), along with pharmacology, the med-surgical lecture, and the biobehavioral (psych) lecture. Biobehavioral/psych isn't really a big deal in terms of workload/time compared to med-surg.

The schedule can be unpredictable at the beginning. There is a frontloading lab day (or multiple days) at the beginning of each semester, regular labs which are scheduled in biweekly blocks, various other things. It levels out over time.

I would go into it with the mindset that this is a full-time program for at least the first two semesters.

Any other questions let me know.

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Last year decisions came out the last Monday in February.

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@TheNietzsche

1 hour ago, TheNietzsche said:

1. What specialty are you in and how do you like the program so far?

I'm specializing in psych. I have no issues with the program so far, and the clinical education at IHP and throughout Boston really can't be beat. We've only just started with clinicals for this semester, but my three clinical instructors so far have been good.

The program so far, for our class, has dealt with some issues with disorganization. This is my biggest complaint at this point. They do seem to be working on it, so it may not affect your class as much.

Also note that I'm in my first year of the program.

2. How's the workload?

It is manageable but best to go into it with the mindset that this is a full-time program.

The science classes (Patho, Pharm) move quickly. It is an accelerated program, it is manageable and the exams are fair. The clinicals, labs, and various other activities will eat up a good amount of your time, probably briefly confuse you (that's ok!) - particularly in the first semester. Some time is spent on busywork, which isn't challenging but just takes up time you could spend working, or napping.

You'll do much more prep work and reading at the beginning than is necessary, but you'll eventually learn what you need to do and what may be more optional. Faculty are realistic about all of this.

3. Have you been working while in the program? If so, how many hours are you able to manage a week?

I haven't been so far. I don't think I could have dealt with work and school in the first semester, or even now in the second. I know some who are working part-time, many in jobs they had prior to coming in to the program. Personally, I think I could handle 16 hours/week of work, but scheduling can make it a challenge.

  4. Biggest challenges in the program?

Keeping track of everything happening in the program and not stressing out over every detail. It is important to learn what IS and what ISN'T worth freaking out over (most of it isn't).

Also: social life, social life, social life. Keep one if you can. I never really had one but I'm hunting. ?

Maybe more specific to me... I know many people who love their medical-surgical clinicals. Even though much of what we do in our RN clinicals we won't do as NPs, they like it regardless. I'm just not one of those people. But, psych people in particular dislike it the most, so I'm probably biased here.

It IS very survivable though. If I can... you can. Pro Tip: A small dab of Vicks VapoRub under the nose if you have, let's say, a strong gag reflex...

5. I would be a commuting student from out of state..How difficult is it to be a commuting student/how do people get to campus typically?

How far away? I know a couple of students who commute from southern NH as well as some further out in Western Mass. I couldn't imagine doing it myself but some do fine with it. Faculty are generally understanding so long as you communicate with them, but being late to labs, clinicals, sims, etc. can make life very challenging (particularly if it happens more than once or twice). Still, students commute from all over and many make it work.

Parking is available on or near campus. Many students drive, those who live more centrally in or near the city also use the MGH shuttles/buses/subway/Uber.

6. Do you get the BSN and MSN when you graduate?

Yes, you'll receive both degrees at the end of the program.

7. How are professors and clinical placements?

I'd say in general, second to none in the nursing field. Med-Surgical clinical placements are all at MGH, and you can't do much better than that for training. You'll get experience on two different medicine floors at MGH.

The psych clinicals are also all at top Boston institutions such as MGH, McLean, Brigham, Cambridge Health Alliance, etc. Everything related to placements is handled for you by the program staff. You may have to travel further for the psych clinical since there are fewer psych units out there.

We don't have peds or OB/GYN until summer so I can't speak to that, but I imagine the rotation placements will be of an equal caliber.

8. What is a typical schedule?

First semester we had clinical once weekly (Friday or Saturday), and class every day except Thursday. The prep work for clinical can take multiple hours when you first get started, so don't consider Thursday a free day... it really is a five day per week program.

The second semester is another medical-surgical clinical (Friday or Saturday) along with a psych clinical (Monday or Thursday), along with pharmacology, the med-surgical lecture, and the biobehavioral (psych) lecture. Biobehavioral/psych isn't really a big deal in terms of workload/time compared to med-surg.

The schedule can be unpredictable at the beginning. There is a frontloading lab day (or multiple days) at the beginning of each semester, regular labs which are scheduled in biweekly blocks, various other things. It levels out over time.

I would go into it with the mindset that this is a full-time program for at least the first two semesters.

#4: Can you speak more to: "Keeping track of everything happening in the program and not stressing out over every detail. It is important to learn what IS and what ISN'T worth freaking out over (most of it isn't)." Is this the disorganized piece? Will they let you know when things are like labs, clinicals etc. so we can keep track of it in a planner?

#5: I live near concord, NH. About 1 hr 30 min drive to Boston. Is the parking pass based or first come first served?

#7: I'm extremely excited about the psych clinicals. My current degree is in social work and I work in a hospital with psych np's. I can't wait for these clinicals. I've already learned so much from the psych np's I work with.

#8: how long are you typically on campus for class and labs? Is the prep work for clinical done at the hospital the day before clinical?

Thank you again for answering questions! It's extremely helpful!!

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4- They will let you know. There's a lot of moving parts to all of it and sometimes things don't come out as quickly as you'd like. And some things are, out of necessity, just scheduled whenever they can be fit in. I'm sure that's not specific to this program.

5- I don't park personally but I do know there are multiple garages in the area that students use, and my friends who do drive and park don't seem to have issues. I can't find it now but there is a page on the MGH IHP site about parking options. There is metered parking in the area also.

8- Your schedule will vary week to week based on lab schedules and other activities. When you're on campus on a "normal" week it is usually from 9-12, 9-4, or 1-4. Some labs will start at 8. Last semester we were on campus three days per week and at clinical one day per week. This semester is twice a week on campus and twice a week at a clinical site. But again you may have a rotating lab scheduled on your normally "free" day some weeks.

All of this is outlined in course/clinical/lab schedules before the semester starts so you're not surprised. Buy a good planner or have an organizational system that works for you, that's my best advice...

Clinical prep is done the day before clinical but it can be completed remotely at home so long as you get your laptop setup with IT.

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@TheNietzscheThank you again for your help! It has been very helpful!

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