OHSU ABSN to FNP 2018

Nursing Students School Programs

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Hey all!

Long time lurker, but now that the application deadline has passed, I feel comfortable finally starting a post.

Just curious to hear who else applied to this program. It's fascinating to me to hear about people's different experiences, stats, expectations, etc. I'm also wondering what other programs people might've applied to? I got my submission in for the Portland ABSN program as well.

Best of luck to everyone! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and perspectives.

It is. I applied for both the ABSN by itself and the FNP/MSN track. I was unfortunately only able to apply to OHSU and not other schools in the areas for fall backs as I don't mean most of their basic requirements yet (having pre-reqs completed vs. in the works, having a CNA license). How about you?

As far as I know, if someone does that and gets invited to interview for the MSN/DNP track, that interview should also be enough for their ABSN program as well. Whereas if you only got an ABSN invite, it's pretty likely that you're not in the running for the MSN/DNP program. Could be wrong, but that's also how it's seem in the past.

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I'm probably biased as a native Oregon/Portlander, but it's a great place to visit. Definitely not move, but visiting is awesome.

Haha! Why do you say it's not a good place to move?

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Haha! Why do you say it's not a good place to move?

Haha partially because I'm just one of those bitter natives who is completely frustrated by the way tons of people moving to our city has completely changed it. But largely because those changes that have occurred (insanely large homeless population, the subsequent litter, traffic that's basically always at a standstill, high rental prices, etc.) also just lead me to believe most people would actually be happier somewhere else if they really knew/experienced it.

Mostly joking and the city is completely tolerable for the period OHSU would take any of us, but I do think these problems are just going to get worse.

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Haha partially because I'm just one of those bitter natives who is completely frustrated by the way tons of people moving to our city has completely changed it. But largely because those changes that have occurred (insanely large homeless population, the subsequent litter, traffic that's basically always at a standstill, high rental prices, etc.) also just lead me to believe most people would actually be happier somewhere else if they really knew/experienced it.

Mostly joking and the city is completely tolerable for the period OHSU would take any of us, but I do think these problems are just going to get worse.

Ah I see! Yes I would actually find any program more appealing if it was in a more suburban area or (even better) in the woods - but it seems like the accelerated graduate ones are all in hubs. It makes sense given clinical placements - but I went to an undergraduate school where you could walk to a dairy farm and pet cows (but still had colleges in the area and a small hippie city). I would rather have the cows, hiking trails, mountains, and no traffic though! Haha. For the amount of time the program is I think it would be okay but I feel what you're saying.

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It is. I applied for both the ABSN by itself and the FNP/MSN track. I was unfortunately only able to apply to OHSU and not other schools in the areas for fall backs as I don't mean most of their basic requirements yet (having pre-reqs completed vs. in the works, having a CNA license). How about you?

As far as I know, if someone does that and gets invited to interview for the MSN/DNP track, that interview should also be enough for their ABSN program as well. Whereas if you only got an ABSN invite, it's pretty likely that you're not in the running for the MSN/DNP program. Could be wrong, but that's also how it's seem in the past.

I am in exactly the same boat. This is my first time applying to any programs and I only applied to OHSU because I also haven't taken some of the classes that the other local programs require. I do have my CNA license but it has been expired for some time. I also don't want to have to move out of Oregon, haha.

I feel like the ASBN is more competitive than the ASBN-MSN/DNP programs, but it would be nice if they offered interviews for both so that we can have a choice between the two.

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I feel like the ASBN is more competitive than the ASBN-MSN/DNP programs, but it would be nice if they offered interviews for both so that we can have a choice between the two.

So technically this piece of wisdom came from two nurse practitioners (a mother and daughter) who either work at OHSU or did their schooling there that one of my parents spoke to at a Portland dog park, but they said the direct entry programs are easier to get into. I think it's largely because it's a more holistic application process, you have to really know what you want to do to apply and a lot of people who haven't been nurses before don't so they don't apply, and also because that basically straps you in for three to four years of tuition, which pays a lot better than just one. But again, take it with a grain of salt because I have no idea about the validity of this.

And it would be nice if they did that, definitely. I think the reasoning is basically just that if you get a direct entry interview, you know you're still in the running for both and could get into both. If you get one for the ABSN, you're only being considered for the ABSN at that point. Again, don't know about the accuracy of this, but that's how it seems to be - a lot of people on here in past years appear to have been offered ABSN interviews after they didn't get a MSN/DNP one. Guess it just kind of tells us how many options we have.?

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I read a lot of other threads about past year applicants. All our frustrations are the same as theirs. I email the school with specific questions or comments and I get a generic email back with links, cut and paste responses that don't address any of my questions. From what I understand the ABSN program has a specific number of seats, since the ABSN program any of the ABSN-DNP/MSN students also need a seat in the ABSN portion.

All of these programs look at 1 thing, what is your likelihood of throughput. If they believe you will finish the program and be a good representative of the school you will get in. If you don't have any history of accomplishing long term goals, they may weight your motivational essay more heavily. The point is they won't put someone in the ABSN-DNP program if they feel they may dropout/withdraw following the ABSN program.

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It's tough. Especially not knowing if they've already completed the calls/emails for the program you've applied to. I wish that they just send out denials to those that didn't make it, or they wouldn't've considered ....instead of waiting until they've completed everything.

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I read a lot of other threads about past year applicants. All our frustrations are the same as theirs. I email the school with specific questions or comments and I get a generic email back with links, cut and paste responses that don't address any of my questions. From what I understand the ABSN program has a specific number of seats, since the ABSN program any of the ABSN-DNP/MSN students also need a seat in the ABSN portion.

All of these programs look at 1 thing, what is your likelihood of throughput. If they believe you will finish the program and be a good representative of the school you will get in. If you don't have any history of accomplishing long term goals, they may weight your motivational essay more heavily. The point is they won't put someone in the ABSN-DNP program if they feel they may dropout/withdraw following the ABSN program.

This is accurate, from what the said at their on-campus informational session. That's why the numbers for the ABSN program are so low - only 32 seats in Portland. They need to have enough room for the other students. I know people dropping out following the ABSN portion intentionally as a way of loopholing the system has also been a problem in the past, unfortunately, so you're also right there.

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I emailed OHSU for numbers on the FNP program. Apparently about 100 people applied for 6 spots last year. Talk about nerve-wracking.

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So technically this piece of wisdom came from two nurse practitioners (a mother and daughter) who either work at OHSU or did their schooling there that one of my parents spoke to at a Portland dog park, but they said the direct entry programs are easier to get into. I think it's largely because it's a more holistic application process, you have to really know what you want to do to apply and a lot of people who haven't been nurses before don't so they don't apply, and also because that basically straps you in for three to four years of tuition, which pays a lot better than just one. But again, take it with a grain of salt because I have no idea about the validity of this.

And it would be nice if they did that, definitely. I think the reasoning is basically just that if you get a direct entry interview, you know you're still in the running for both and could get into both. If you get one for the ABSN, you're only being considered for the ABSN at that point. Again, don't know about the accuracy of this, but that's how it seems to be - a lot of people on here in past years appear to have been offered ABSN interviews after they didn't get a MSN/DNP one. Guess it just kind of tells us how many options we have.?

That makes a lot of sense. I think typically people who go into direct entry advanced practice programs are ones that have worked in healthcare in some way or another. I would have no idea what a NP does had I not worked in primary care. The program is definitely a huge commitment! I read on another thread that about 100 people applied for the Acc Bac to FNP program last year and about 6 got in. I'm not necessarily liking my 6% chances!

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That makes a lot of sense. I think typically people who go into direct entry advanced practice programs are ones that have worked in healthcare in some way or another. I would have no idea what a NP does had I not worked in primary care. The program is definitely a huge commitment! I read on another thread that about 100 people applied for the Acc Bac to FNP program last year and about 6 got in. I'm not necessarily liking my 6% chances!

Yeah, I'd be REALLY hard pressed to commit to any particular specialty without being 100% sure, which is why there are probably less applications. I'm feeling the exact same way at the moment though - 6% odds are NOT good, which is sad because they're still better than the ~4% chance for the ABSN alone. Admissions told me they'd be sending out invites this week too, but I haven't heard anything, so I'm naturally on edge. Wonder if they were being honest?

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