Any UCSF Mepn Applicants?

Nursing Students Post Graduate

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Hi everyone--

Has anyone else out there applied to the UCSF MEPN program? They're supposed to send out letters this month (December) for the interview process. Has anyone gotten a letter yet? Will those that aren't asked to the interview process get a rejection letter now?

Crossing my fingers...!

hello. i know most schools require its applicants to take microbiology and chemistry. i have never taken these courses. are there any applicants who are on the same page as i am? has anyone actually got accepted w/o these prereqs being taken?

veni, vidi, vadi

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I thought I'd just jump in here too and say hi, and yes, waiting SUCKS! Although I think reading these threads makes me *more* nervous and discouraged than anything! Eek! :) Hang in there!

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Thanks for respoding newtonian and moreplease.

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Speaking of pre-reqs, does anyone else get frustrated by how it seems like each and every school has a different set?

A&P is obviously standard and a fair number of schools require Micro and/or at least 1 semester of Chem...but then you've got places like Georgetown who wants you to Theology and Philosophy or Duke who wants you to take Sociology or San Jose State which requires "Writing for Health Professionals" and "Public Speaking" and of course Samuel Merritt which requires Pathophysiology and Pharmacology.

The worst part of it is that a lot of them won't even let you apply until you've completed all the pre-reqs...so you don't even know if taking "Underwater Basket Weaving for Healthcare Enviroments" is even worth it.

I suppose I just wonder how schools can have such different ideas of whats required for an entry level nursing student....

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Yup and UCLA requires Epi. Courses like Sociology, psych, human development, and research are requirement too, but they are mostly embeded in your undegrad work. I think if you have a bachelor in science, you will more likely to have these courses already taken. I have looked at some community colleges and cal state requirements; they usually ask for these courses. I do agreed w/ you though TippyToo.

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speaking of pre-reqs, does anyone else get frustrated by how it seems like each and every school has a different set?

a&p is obviously standard and a fair number of schools require micro and/or at least 1 semester of chem...but then you've got places like georgetown who wants you to theology and philosophy or duke who wants you to take sociology or san jose state which requires "writing for health professionals" and "public speaking" and of course samuel merritt which requires pathophysiology and pharmacology.

the worst part of it is that a lot of them won't even let you apply until you've completed all the pre-reqs...so you don't even know if taking "underwater basket weaving for healthcare enviroments" is even worth it.

i suppose i just wonder how schools can have such different ideas of whats required for an entry level nursing student....

veni, vidi, vadi

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I am a current MEPN and it's interesting to read through all your posts. I remember being in that same boat one year ago. I got my letter re: the interview right before I left town before Christmas.

Just be supportive of one another. There is no reason to want to feel smarter, better prepared, or more capable than the rest of the applicants. I remember that issue was addressed during one meeting we had. Apparently, MEPN applicants tend to be extremely competitive among each other. Half way through my first year, I would have to say that I saw a bit of that in the beginning mostly. Perhaps it was insecurity that drove people to really try to demonstrate what they already knew, that they felt the cohort didn't. I would recommend chilling a bit on that, because you will just be irritating more than anything. The first semester is HELL, maybe a combo of it all being new, the speeding-through of an intense amount of material, and adjusting to clinicals and being a student again.

It is great that UC doesn't require a whole lot of pre-reqs, but I would suggest kicking butt on the one's they do require. Not so much for them, but for your own knowledge. The last pre-req I took was physiology and it was tough, but it completely prepared me for the patho we take the first quarter.

Is UCSF disorganized? Well, yes, quite a bit actually. I've gotten frustrated with admin on more than a few occasions, but had to quickly get over it and stay focused. They will tell you during orientation that they get "creative" around trying to give you credit for courses you've taken previously so that you don't have to repeat them once in MEPN. This is not true, actually, and they discourage and don't really like students to "test out" of courses. You will not know much about your schedule until the week of, or your first day. They are often scrambling to hire faculty to teach courses.

There's also a control thing that happens with admin. Some students tried to coordinate their own clinical placements by actually doing the leg work that the school would otherwise have to do, i.e., meet nurse managers, seek out preceptors, stay within UC system, etc..., but the school really wants to be in charge of this, even though they end up obtaining clinical placements at the last moment, and the clinicals turn out not to be so great. It would be great if they would allow students to be involved in the planning, especially as you will be expected by the school to behave as "adult learners." Even more argument for being involved in your own education, right?

This is not a gripe-fest, I am sharing my experience. Despite the imperfections of the school, I know that in 6 months I will be able to take the NCLEX, and then move on to the courses I really want to get into. The first year is completely RN generic. You take nothing that has to do with your specific specialty.

Good luck to you all. I am on break all month, and let me tell you...it's great!!!!!

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i am a current mepn and it's interesting to read through all your posts. i remember being in that same boat one year ago. i got my letter re: the interview right before i left town before christmas.

just be supportive of one another. there is no reason to want to feel smarter, better prepared, or more capable than the rest of the applicants. i remember that issue was addressed during one meeting we had. apparently, mepn applicants tend to be extremely competitive among each other. half way through my first year, i would have to say that i saw a bit of that in the beginning mostly. perhaps it was insecurity that drove people to really try to demonstrate what they already knew, that they felt the cohort didn't. i would recommend chilling a bit on that, because you will just be irritating more than anything. the first semester is hell, maybe a combo of it all being new, the speeding-through of an intense amount of material, and adjusting to clinicals and being a student again.

it is great that uc doesn't require a whole lot of pre-reqs, but i would suggest kicking butt on the one's they do require. not so much for them, but for your own knowledge. the last pre-req i took was physiology and it was tough, but it completely prepared me for the patho we take the first quarter.

is ucsf disorganized? well, yes, quite a bit actually. i've gotten frustrated with admin on more than a few occasions, but had to quickly get over it and stay focused. they will tell you during orientation that they get "creative" around trying to give you credit for courses you've taken previously so that you don't have to repeat them once in mepn. this is not true, actually, and they discourage and don't really like students to "test out" of courses. you will not know much about your schedule until the week of, or your first day. they are often scrambling to hire faculty to teach courses.

there's also a control thing that happens with admin. some students tried to coordinate their own clinical placements by actually doing the leg work that the school would otherwise have to do, i.e., meet nurse managers, seek out preceptors, stay within uc system, etc..., but the school really wants to be in charge of this, even though they end up obtaining clinical placements at the last moment, and the clinicals turn out not to be so great. it would be great if they would allow students to be involved in the planning, especially as you will be expected by the school to behave as "adult learners." even more argument for being involved in your own education, right?

this is not a gripe-fest, i am sharing my experience. despite the imperfections of the school, i know that in 6 months i will be able to take the nclex, and then move on to the courses i really want to get into. the first year is completely rn generic. you take nothing that has to do with your specific specialty.

good luck to you all. i am on break all month, and let me tell you...it's great!!!!!

veni, vidi, vadi

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I am not NurseSF. I don't mean to say not to be proud of your accomplishments or your experience, but whatever it is you bring with you, you are not an RN, and you've never received the specific education that an RN has. The point is to not be a know-it-all. You will be a student. Practice humility, it goes a long way. No offense, but even that last post about how you shine at work and how it results in others having an inferiority complex is kind of a funky statement, wouldn't you say? This is not to tell you what kind of person to be, we are all adults and our personalities are pretty set at this point. I got into the program my first time applying, take what I say with a grain of salt.

If you get in, you will see that your decade of healthcare experience is not exceptional. Many of us have tons of healthcare experience under our belts. Use what you have learned to clarify your educational and career goals. You will see that there are specific nursing skills that can or can not be delegated to assistive personnel. I am assuming you have been an assistive personnel so it would have been impossible to have obtained the RN skills that are taught the first year. A lot of it is RN assessments. Because it is an accelerated program, you take exactly what is required by the state to obtain your license.

The "chill out" statement was regarding this message board, nothing else. I was just adding my unsolicited 2 cents to the reactions I read of this board to comments toward someone. I say now and before you start school are great times to take vacations. There's nothing else to do but wait. Good luck again people.

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i am not nursesf. i don't mean to say not to be proud of your accomplishments or your experience, but whatever it is you bring with you, you are not an rn, and you've never received the specific education that an rn has. the point is to not be a know-it-all. you will be a student. practice humility, it goes a long way. no offense, but even that last post about how you shine at work and how it results in others having an inferiority complex is kind of a funky statement, wouldn't you say?

this is not to tell you what kind of person to be, we are all adults and our personalities are pretty set at this point. i got into the program my first time applying, take what i say with a grain of salt. if you get in, you will see that your decade of healthcare experience is not exceptional.

many of us have tons of healthcare experience under our belts. use what you have learned to clarify your educational and career goals. you will see that there are specific nursing skills that can or can not be delegated to assistive personnel. i am assuming you have been an assistive personnel so it would have been impossible to have obtained the rn skills that are taught the first year. a lot of it is rn assessments. because it is an accelerated program, you take exactly what is required by the state to obtain your license.

the "chill out" statement was regarding this message board, nothing else. i was just adding my unsolicited 2 cents to the reactions i read of this board to comments toward someone. i say now and before you start school are great times to take vacations. there's nothing else to do but wait. good luck again people.

veni, vidi, vadi

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Whoa, dude, chill out. I've been lurking on these boards for a while too. I am waiting to hear whether I got an interview. I applied to the midwifery specialty. I am currently a doula. Anyone else?

There's way too much aggression going on here. What happened? I hope that last response was about being anxious for the letter from UCSF. I don't think Yup was saying anything that some of us here on this board haven't already thought. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I've been offended by some of the posts by Newtonian, which have seemed rather arrogant at times. Don't you think you might have over reacted just a bit in your response? Maybe we will be classmates one day, and I hope so because you sound like you have a lot to offer the nursing profession. I read all the way back to the first posting on this thread and everyone seems so supportive of each other each year. Let's keep it that way people!

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Whoa, dude, chill out. I've been lurking on these boards for a while too. I am waiting to hear whether I got an interview. I applied to the midwifery specialty. I am currently a doula. Anyone else?

There's way too much aggression going on here. What happened? I hope that last response was about being anxious for the letter from UCSF. I don't think Yup was saying anything that some of us here on this board haven't already thought. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I've been offended by some of the posts by Newtonian, which have seemed rather arrogant at times. Don't you think you might have over reacted just a bit in your response? Maybe we will be classmates one day, and I hope so because you sound like you have a lot to offer the nursing profession. I read all the way back to the first posting on this thread and everyone seems so supportive of each other each year. Let's keep it that way people!

Nice to hear from you Karla-

Im Iris, I have been lurking around these postings too with the occasional comment, but lately I feel that the vibe on this thread has gone south. I understand that everyone is really anxious, but there is no need to make snide comments in order to legitimize our worth.

Thank you MEPN student for putting you two cents forth. I think we needed a reality check.

Ive applied to the Pediatric specialty and I am currently a respiratory therapist at a childrens hospital and a home based asthma educator.

In regards to being supportive....I think thats really cool that you are a doula. Do you work in the city? My aunt is considering becoming one as well. Any suggestions as to where to obtain certification?

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