Pacific Lutheran University PLU BSN

WANurse123 · Feb 18, 2008

Hi Kristina,

I'm waiting PATIENTLY to hear back from PLU, they said around April..

Was it difficult for you to get in? What were you grades, background, letter of rec. writers?? Were you also notified of acceptance in April?

Are clinicals ever done on weekends?

THANKS

JuJu_Bean · Mar 4, 2008

Hi! I'm another applicant to PLU's ELMSN. They were supposed to send out admissions decisions by March 1, but it's taking longer than they expected. If any other applicants are wondering what the odds are of getting in - the admissions office sent out an email stating that they recieved "112 great applications" this year and I believe they let in only 30 students every year to the ELMSN program. Sorry, I don't know much about the BSN - I applied to a community college ADN as a backup. Has anyone out there gotten a decision yet for the ELMSN?

Thanks so much for posting about admissions! It's comforting to know that other people out there are in the same predicament waiting on a decision!! Just wondering - what focus option are you guys most interested in? I'm thinking the Nurse Educator role.

Good luck to everyone still waiting to hear! :nuke:

OlyNP2b · Mar 4, 2008

Hi JuJu_Bean,

Yep, I got the same email as well. I was really hoping to have their decision in my hands by now. This year they were supposed to begin interviews for ELMSN applicants, but I guess they weren't yet prepared to do so. I know interviews can be daunting, but at least you'd have a better understanding of whether or not your are in the competitive pool of applicants sooner than later. I've also applied to a local ADN program in my area if I'm not accepted or choose not to attend PLU's program. Good luck and welcome to AllNurses!

JuJu_Bean · Mar 5, 2008

thanks olynp2b for the warm wishes and good luck to you as well! i agree, it might have been helpful to have interviews so that we could've at least received some feedback from plu a bit earlier. i just wish i could stop driving myself crazy worrying about it! each day i rush out to the mail box as soon as the mail carrier leaves, breathlessly hoping for the letter. :uhoh21: the anticipation is driving me nuts!

yeah, i know what you mean. plu is so much more expensive than the community colleges and it's a huge time commitment. but, then again, it's the fastest way to get an msn if you already have a bs/ba in something else. working as an rn first and then going back to get an msn seems like a wise plan too. it would be nice to have some real nursing experience before diving headfirst into grad work. well, i wish you lots of luck olynp2b, whichever path you end up choosing.

and also best of luck to all plu applicants out there! keep your chin up, the wait is almost over! :heartbeat

JuJu_Bean · Mar 7, 2008

Hi again OlyNP2b! I just got an acceptance letter from PLU today!! So happy and relieved!!!!!!! :yeah: If you end up choosing to come to PLU too, let me know so that we can maybe bump into each other when classes start! Good luck!!!

OlyNP2b · Mar 7, 2008

congratulations juju_bean!

:ancong!:

that's awesome news, i'm sure it's a huge relief to finally have that acceptance in hand. now my waiting by the mailbox begins...

WANurse123 · Mar 7, 2008

Congrats on your acceptance! Although, I did not apply to the Entry Level program, I am glad they have already sent notices! BSN applicants won't know until late April. Two more months... waiting and waiting..

JuJu_Bean · Mar 8, 2008

Thank you OlyNP2b and WANurse123!! Good luck to you both, I hope that you find out soon and that the news is good! The waiting is sooooo hard, but hang in there, it won't be too much longer. Keeping my fingers crossed for you guys! :)

WANurse123 · Mar 21, 2008

JuJu_Bean,

When you found out about acceptance, did you receive a large packet or just a standard letter envelope? Thanks.

Ughh... 1 month left until I find out! So stressful.

JuJu_Bean · Mar 21, 2008

WANurse123,

I received a large packet from PLU with a folder of information inside. PLU included a request for medical history/vaccination record and a letter of intent to sign and return to them (along with an advanced tuition deposit of $300) to secure a place in the cohort. I would imagine that they will do the same for the BSN applicants. They also give you your student number. Please let me know if there's anything that you are wondering about! Good luck with enduring the rest of the wait!

stumillardkm · Mar 23, 2008

OlyNP2b - sorry for not responding sooner - I didn't get any notification that there was a new post. Congratulations on getting accepted! Did you get in to the BSN program or ELM program? I'm about to graduate the BSN program in about 9-10 weeks! yay. I'm doing my last semester clinical at Valley Medical Center in Renton in the ER and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! I'm definitely an ER nurse!

Clinicals are never scheduled on the weekends, and are usually only in the mornings, 2 days a week - usually M/Tues from about 7 am - 3:30 pm. Some semesters they may be Wed/Thurs. And sometimes you can pick if you want day or evening shifts - but that won't happen until your Junior year usually - like for OB or Pediatrics, or Med/Surg 2. So plan on 2 days a week, 7 weeks each semester for each clinical, from 0700 - 1530. If you have a semester with 2 clinicals classes (Med/Surg and Mental Health), then you have Med/Surg clinical the first 7 weeks, then Mental Health the 2nd 7 weeks, or vice versa - and I would STRONGLY suggest doing Med/Surg the 1st 7 weeks - do this any semester you have a choice - always good to get Med/Surg out of the way the 1st half of the semester. :)

take care!

Kristina

WANurse123 · Mar 23, 2008

stumillardkm/Kristina,

Thank you for the advice!!

I was wondering prior to applying to the BSN program, were you already a PLU student or a transfer student? Do you know if PLU Nursing has a preference in selecting their students? Also, if you don't mind sharing, what was your pre-reqs grade point average?

Did you receive notifications in LATE April or EARLY April?

I have been told "in April," and "late April." It would just be nice to know in advance.

Thanks for answering *all these pestering questions, as you can tell, I'm anxiously waiting to hear back!

Once again, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!