I recently came across a very helpful thread on allnurses regarding last year's applications to the ELMSN program and thought I would try to get some dialogue going for those applying for the program starting in June 2016.
I took the GRE earlier this week and am wrapping up my applications (PLU, Seattle U, etc) now. I would be happy to answer any questions about my experiences throughout the application process, but mostly I thought this would be a great space to encourage and motivate one another!
I'm a non-traditional student and former finance professional making one of the most exciting transitions into healthcare. I'm also a current PLU student so I'm familiar with the campus, which is beautiful by the way (if some of you aren't and were curious).
If you have questions, ask away. If you have answers, we'd love to hear them. Or, if you just want to pop in and introduce yourself, we'd love that too!
Oh haha. Yeah The rei part and your picture made me think of Japan. I double majored in psychology and Japanese and I've studied Japanese since I was a freshman in high school. I mentioned earlier that I studied abroad too and that was in Tokyo, Japan at Waseda University.
I will probably go for the MSN at PLU over a BSN anywhere else. I am a bit concerned though since the MSN is preparing us as generalists. I wonder what kind of work we'd be suited for in this modern society that focuses on specialization. I was looking at job postings around the area and many of the higher positions require special certification or specialty focus like psychiatric, midwifery, public health, etc.
Portland is a great place! I've lived there since I was in elementary school. It's where all my family lives.
When you received your call of acceptance, what did they talk about in terms of what to do next? Did she send an email with documents and things to be filled out, signed, and returned? Was there a deadline to accept or decline the acceptance, etc.?
I'm just curious because I got my missed call "good news" Thursday of last week, and I am trying to call and sent emails but no one is responding just yet and it's making me feel a bit antsy.
That's awesome! I've always wanted to visit Japan I haven't really been out of the country though. I've been to Canada just because it's so close to Washington and I went to Mexico for my honeymoon last summer.
I think the Care and Outcomes Manager role is similar to what BSN's do, but that would be a good question to ask the school of nursing. The PLU website says, "the advanced generalist nurse plans and provides direct care to patients, interacts with families, and coordinates patient care. The MSN-prepared nurse participates in organizational activities that promote safe, quality and efficient patient care." The specialties you listed seem like they're more for APRN's (nurse practitioner, midwife, etc) though- which SU's program is a better fit for.
When I got my call, the graduate admissions person said that she was sending out the calls before sending out any e-mails or snail mail. I actually don't remember much that she said because I was in so much shock at getting accepted (really didn't think I'd get accepted). I sent her an e-mail asking about when we would receive more info though. She's supposed to be back in the office today, so you should try calling again today or tomorrow.
Thanks for the information rei. I figured it was similar to management kind of like what BSN trained nursed do. However, I can't help but question whether that would make us competitive in today's work force that calls for specialized nurses. I wonder what statistics PLU has on fresh graduates of the program and their outcomes (jobs, title, position, salary, averages, etc). It would be kind of neat to know.
In any case, I think that if I go to PLU, I'll probably have to enroll in a 1-2 year certificate program (post-masters) in some sort of specialty in order to be competitive for those sorts of roles. Though an MSN by itself it already a huge accomplishment and will definitely set me apart from ADN and BSN nurses and will definitely make finding work much easier hopefully.
I've tried called all day today but unfortunately she is away or busy. So I will try again tomorrow. It's good to know they will actually send snail mail or email to officially confirm acceptance. I'm still a bit anxious because she didn't specifically say "you've been accepted" instead she said in the voicemail "I have good news." In the back of my paranoid mind, I worry this could mean "Oh, you've been waitlisted but towards the top of the list." I know I'm probably being slightly irrational, but the nerves are getting to me. Fingers crossed***
Yeah, I'm also interested in the job outcomes for the PLU ELMSN grads. Pursuing a post-master's certification sounds like a good idea to make yourself more marketable though. I'm aiming for PLU's DNP program after the MSN program because it seems like the DNP is becoming more standard for NP's. Even SU's changing their program to an entry level DNP program next year.
I'm fairly certain you were accepted so I wouldn't worry too much about it. Looking through the posts in the last couple years, if you've been accepted, but were unable to be reached by phone, they seem to always leave a message saying "I have good news". :)
That's an excellent point! I agree that the standard is becoming more DNP focused for NPs now. I remember in last year's posts on the SU allnurses page and on the Facebook group, that prescriptive authority for master trained NPs in Washington was amended, and only Doctoral trained NPs can prescribe. Masters trained NP before the time of this amendment were grandfathered in. This is probably an example of how the title of NP is being pushed towards the doctoral route in order to be achieved. The DNP is also only 2 years at PLU which is equivalent to a post master certificate (2 years average). So I might as well just go with the doctoral route haha.
That's also very reassuring to hear that in previous years they said "we have good news" to applicants that couldn't be reached by phone. That's a relief!
Nice! Accepted applicants have until 3 weeks from the date of the letter to accept the offer. That makes it like February 29th as the deadline x.x Oh dear. I hope SU gets the ball rolling a little faster then.
Looking at posts by other people (on both allnurses and in the Facebook group) who've gotten interviews, I think they'll know the decisions around early to mid-March.
I'll probably send in the agreement form for now and wait a couple more weeks to see if I hear anything from them about an interview. If I don't within a couple weeks, I'll assume I'm not getting an interview and proceed to pay the deposit by the deadline stated.
I haven't really been out of the country though. I've been to Canada just because it's so close to Washington and I went to Mexico for my honeymoon last summer.
MSNhopeful
33 Posts
Oh haha. Yeah The rei part and your picture made me think of Japan. I double majored in psychology and Japanese and I've studied Japanese since I was a freshman in high school. I mentioned earlier that I studied abroad too and that was in Tokyo, Japan at Waseda University.
I will probably go for the MSN at PLU over a BSN anywhere else. I am a bit concerned though since the MSN is preparing us as generalists. I wonder what kind of work we'd be suited for in this modern society that focuses on specialization. I was looking at job postings around the area and many of the higher positions require special certification or specialty focus like psychiatric, midwifery, public health, etc.
Portland is a great place! I've lived there since I was in elementary school. It's where all my family lives.