mcluvin

Any waitlisters receive news on the waitlist yet? I'm guessing no but thought I'd check in.

Yes, some do place you in a cohort you best fit based on completed and transferable coursework. A couple of schools in my area do this for students with 4 year degrees (but you have to make a special request and it's only if space is available). I am sure other programs do this or else you'd only be a part time student (or less than half time) for 2 years before clinicals began; this just makes no sense. Keep applying to ABSN and Direct entry Masters (I'm right there with you). It's just ridiculous to go all four years (even 3) when you already have a degree and prereqs under your belt. ABSN and Direct Entry exist for a reason and it's for students like us with degrees and professional experience. If you can apply out of state go for it, the competition is tight everywhere for these programs. Cast a wide net. You'll get what you need somewhere.

Hi Ryan, I wondered if you could tell me how flexible classes are at Fort Kent for ABSN (online classes). I was recently accepted to ABSN but I live in the Southern part of the state (I have a family and can't move them). Is there any distance learning component to the ABSN at UMFK? Any insights would be so helpful. Thanks!!

I accepted the slot as well. USM is my only option as I can't relocate and UNE ABSN is ridiculously expensive. Here's hoping!

Congrats! Great news! That's three on the waitlist so far. Did they offer to consider you for a spot in the traditional/transfer program starting in fall as well?

Hi gcano93, Did you ever get off the waitlist? I was waitlisted for 2020 and unsure of what to expect. I'd appreciate hearing about your experience on the waitlist for the ABSN. Thanks!

Got my letter and waitlisted, so I feel a bit better. Hopefully a spot opens up. With 50 slots I am sure someone may pursue other options and let me squeeze in. Any other waitlisters on here?

maybb, how did you find out you were waitlisted? Did you get your letter in the mail already?

Well, I'm definitely sunk (again)...no green check mark and it seems accepted people have them. This was my final try to get into USMs nursing program. Congrats to everyone accepted. I hope you all appreciate how lucky you are and do very well in the program.

Congrats. I checked earlier today, but still a green circle. I am pretty positive I may not get accepted. But like I said before, I'll just have to roll with it.

It seems far away but today is November 1st and the weeks are going to fly by...we'll know the decisions before we know it! Very exciting! If I don't get in though that will be okay as well; as we all know, ABSN programs have become very competitive especially in Maine these days. But no worries, we got this!!! It is really great to connect with others who have applied ?

My first choice, too! Yup, December seems to be the month we'll hear. Fingers crossed for us both!

Hi. I was unable to find a discussion thread for applicants for USM's ABSN class of 2020. Anyone else out there patiently waiting to hear back from USM?

I live in Maine. Maine RNs make below the national average for nurses and yes the cost of living is high, mainly due to taxes and inflated rents (in the Portland area). Nearly all professional jobs in Maine are underpaid relevant to cost of living. The nurses I work with make okay money (40-50k) but those who have gone out of state from where I work leave for significantly higher pay. If you need to pay off debt I wouldn't work in Maine. FULL DISCLOSURE: I am not a nurse. But no matter your profession, you will make less in Maine, it is a huge source of bitterness for most residents. I am also in my thirties and have BA to pay off. Maine makes it rough. Also, yes, USM is an adequate school (my alma mater), and they are very affordable. If you choose to live here, though, you'll sacrifice money for a nice view in the long run. P.S. my first year of undergrad was at UVM and it was awesome. Expensive school but Burlington will rock your world. I miss it, but they have no ocean :-(

Do it. In Maine, we take a 3 month course and I have been working as a CNA on an oncology floor for over a year now and I have learned A TON from nurses and other CNA's about basic nursing care that was not covered in an entire 3 month CNA course. I also ask RNs a ton of questions about stuff I learn in my nursing classes (my night RNs have been a huge help with my pharmacology studying). CNA experience will allow you to focus more on meds, charting and many other areas that will need attention during your first RN job. If you're still wearing training wheels while trying to change a soiled bed as a busy new grad RN you'll wish you had that CNA experience, not just the 5 weeks training you got in school. Also, working as a CNA gives you a feel of what's it's like to have a scope of practice and how to stay within it, advocate for your patients, and also how to set boundaries with patients, families, and coworkers; these skills will be huge to have before you get your first nursing job. They don't really teach any of that in nursing school, you get it through working experience. Be a CNA, just find per diem or part time and you'll be fine with time management. Also, I work at a teaching hospital and when we get nursing students or new grad RNs on their first day...it's real easy to tell if they have had CNA experience or not. Get the CNA, work as a CNA--it only helps, it never hurts.

"Nursing school is all about playing the game. Adjust your study habits to the professor. Does the prof test exclusively off the slides? Then study off the slides. Are the slides really sporifice? Then use them to guide your reading." ^^^^This. Best advice for studying any course with dense material, not just nursing.

Mjc, are you from Maine?

It seems in the past, mid-December is the magic response time. But, admissions does what it does so it could be any time really. USM is my alma mater and I am finishing pre-reqs with them right now...even with sniffing around campus, I have not been able to find out much about how the Option admissions committee functions. I guess it's just wait and see!

Being a CNA at a hospital is hard work (as is any CNA work) and usually (in many hospitals) you would work 36 hours weekly, in 12 hour shifts, 3 days per week. As a hospital CNA on oncology, I bathe patients, toilet patients, empty foley and ostomy bags, take vitals, order meals, feed patients who can't feed themselves, take various samples for the lab (sputum, stool, urine), walk patients who need walks, sit with patients who need sitters, assist nurses with dressing changes, and take blood sugars (many, many blood sugars). Hospitals can be very dangerous places as most have an open door policy, we have had many incidents that have put staff and patient safety at risk. For this reason it seems many hospitals might not take on the liability of hiring an underage CNA. A nursing home might hire you or an assisted living facility. Just stick it out wherever you can get hired and then do hospital work when you turn 18. Good luck! Being a CNA is wonderfully rewarding work.

Should I apply for an internal position within my hospital if management just gave me a recommendation for nursing school? I am a CNA at a big tertiary hospital and I currently work on the adult oncology unit. I want to gain experience with children and infants and two positions (both part time and both night shift, perfect for me) have opened up at my hospital. I am apprehensive about telling my manager I want to apply as they just gave me a recommendation for nursing school. It isn't as though I don't like my floor (I have learned a lot from them and appreciate everything they have done for me and taught me) but it has been over a year there and I would really like to gain some experience caring for kids and interacting with their parents. I plan to keep my part time CNA job throughout nursing school, BTW, so if the new job took me on they would have me for quite a while. What does everyone think they would do? Should I just stay on my floor and wait it out until I get a decision on nursing school? If I don't get into school, I also feel I would be happier long term in the NICU or the children's hospital. Thanks in advance for any insight!

I find it poor logic to conclude that the OP's situation is the common outcome of most direct entry MSN graduates. I think whatever experience preceded the direct entry admission is what really counts in terms of how one performs later on. Also, which program the person graduated from could have made all the difference. And sometimes, in fact a lot of times, people graduate from programs (nursing or other) and go into careers they have trained for and find they will just not thrive in that position because that's life--sometimes things just don't pan out. I understand RNs find it frustrating the direct entry exists, but NP work is very different from being a bedside RN and the OP mentioned she is in peds; maybe she is just not a great practitioner for children. Peds is a whole different world from adult care--not to mention you deal with parents and guardians more directly which can be a massive challenge. Also, if you're all so worried about these programs and their existence, then maybe some more of you BSNs should step up to bat and get your master's, because these programs exist mostly because not enough of you will advance your nursing degrees or your scopes of practice. The OP asked a question looking for advice not for an open forum to bash direct entry programs.

Hello, Has anyone out there applied to this program for May 2018 start or already in the program currently? If so, does anyone have any information about when they send out acceptance/rejection letters? If you currently study in this program, how is it going so far? What locations have you done clinical at (MMC, Sweetser, etc)? I am excited for this program and hope to get accepted, I just have not found many people who are applying or are already in the program. Thanks for your insights!

Hi Falco, Congrats on being accepted! I am not only applying to this program next fall but I received my undergrad and all my pre-reqs at USM. They are a great school with a very strong nursing program for both BSN and MSN. I found their curriculum, compared to others, to be pretty strong especially in touching upon treating patients during all stages of life. As an accepted student to this program do you mind providing me any details about your stats as an applicant (the pre-reqs you had, undergrad gpa, medical experience, etc)? I am just curious to see how my own portfolio might be viewed when I apply (like you said, there is not a lot out there on applicants or this program). Congrats again! I hope you enjoy the program. And if you're not from Maine, you're gonna love living here!!!