Need help with essay for NP program

LoriAlabamaRN · Jan 18, 2006

What are the instructions given for the essay?

Trauma Columnist · Jan 18, 2006

What are your interests? Where do you want to go with the NP? What concentration is it? After you have looked at the instructions, decide some goals and go from there.

HealthyRN · Jan 20, 2006

Could you tell us more about the specific requirements for the essay? I submitted my essays a few weeks ago. I don't have any RN experience yet (I am graduating with my BSN in June), but I focused on why I chose nursing and NP in particular. Talk about why you chose the speciality and what you plan to do with it. A good guideline to use is where you see yourself in 5 and 10 years. Also, talk about your academic goals. What is the terminal degree that you plan on pursuing?

TooMuchFun · Jan 21, 2006

Thank you all for responding.

The usual stuff of ethics, culture, personal attrubites etc. I covered already. In terms of why I want to become an NP - honestly, I want to have independance in making clinical judgements based on my knowledge, assessment and critical thinking. I dont want to be stuck with following MD orders for the rest of my career. I think thats what almost all NPs want in their careers. How do I write this in a more tactful way?

I want to incude something about my continuous learning - I'm the type of person who is always borrowing nursing books from the library and devouring them, I read up on all my patient's condition, I speak to the docs and ask them about plan of care, why or why not they chose a certain med etc...

And finally, like Katy, I am quite young. Do I mention this and explain that at this point in life I can focus on work/school without other responsibilities that usually come along later on? I know pple are constantly telling me I'm young and should wait a few yrs for NP but for the reason mentioned above I want to do it now. Do I put anything about my age, or is the school not interested?

What else should I include in my essay? So far some thoughts - cultural diversity, continuing education, goals for my Masters career, holistic healing, importance of pt education..

Thank you all for your help.

Trauma Columnist · Jan 22, 2006

Okay, that helps. First, I would not mention your age - this is not germaine to your application. I would mention what committees you currently serve on and how they have influenced your decision. For instance, I was on a Six Sigma team that dealt with bariatric care. I went a little further and found some current stats for the number of bariatric patients we saw and how an APN would positively influence their care. Other things might be to decide what type of NP program you want to do? Adult med-surg, family practice, pediatric, women's health, acute care, geriatrics? Then...hone in on the skills in the particular specialty that you have acquired through your nursing care. If you don't have too much experience, I would play up your additional on-your-own learning.

TooMuchFun · Jan 25, 2006

A few more questions - do I talk a little about my succes in school? I have a very high GPA and have received several academic honors (not much in extra-curricular). I think it may sound boasting since they ask for my GPA/honors in a separate part of the applicaiton. On the other hand though, because of my limited work experience I dont have very much to write....

Every time I sit down to write somethign I come up blank... =) Now i know why I'm in nursing and not journalism!

I'm talking about my on-my-own learning, and then the rest is a bunch of fluff...???

Frustrated that this essay is taking so long... If anyone has any suggestions or two or three liners to add I'd appreciate it. Thanks everyone for your help!

ACNP · Feb 4, 2006

If you need something else to discuss in your essay you might talk about how NPs aid in health promotion, disease prevention, and thereby decreasing hospitalization expenditures and rising healthcare costs. As a NP you are not only able to diagnose and treat patients but also educate them about their disease and treatment plan to prevent extra healthcare costs in the future (for ex. think reducing hypertension with risk factor modifications and encouraging secondary care such as cholesterol and diabetic screening). Preventative care is a big thing with NPs. Also, with the advent of managed care in our society and an ever growing number of uninsured people, NPs are able to provide quality, cost-effective healthcare especially in underserved, rural areas like the Appalachian ones (Eastern KY, West Virginia, etc.). Hope this helps and good luck towards your goal of becoming a NP!