ACNPstudent

For starters, congratulations on getting into the program. It is very competitive. As I mentioned the program will mix traditional masters students with graduate entry pathway students (GEP) in their second year. The first year they take classes full time to get their RN. I have five years experience in ICU and maternity. I think that RN experience is important as I mentioned in order to get a placement for clinicals in an ICU you have to have ICU experience as an RN. However as I mentioned there are GEP students in the acute care program. It is feasible to work and go to school full time during the first year. Classes are primarily one day a week from 9 am to 8 pm. There is also a community practicum that is throughout both semesters the first year and is at least 45 hours. There is a heavy empasis on research both qualitative and quantitative. The second semester the classes are one full day plus an additional day that ranges from 3-5 hours. There are a lot of group projects as you do a lot of collaboration in the health care field. It is a little difficult arranging everyones schedules. My class consists of about 75 students. There are about 40 GEP and 35 traditional. There are 17 students in the acute care/critical care track. I think a great part of the program is that there are a lot of excellent guest speakers. I enjoy it thoroughly so far and look forward to clinicals. The second year it is feasible to work part time or per diem. Full time is discouraged as you will have at least 17 hours of clinical per week on top of classes.

Hi, I am finishing up my first year at UMass Medical Graduate School of Nursing in the acute/critical care nurse practitioner program. I am enjoying it very much. We don't start clinicals until August. I am looking forward to getting into the units. I will say there is a strong emphasis on research. I also have had the luxury of working on a community service project with the critical care committee at UMass Memorial on improving family satisfaction in the ICUs. I think the program is great and really feel that I am being trained for the role.

I think I replied to one of your other posts. UMass's acute care NP program is two years long. It is now broken up into two semesters a year. The program does not start clinicals until the fall of the second year. Based on your nursing background they will try to place you in clinical sites that you are interested in. Usually if you are interested in the icu your first semester will be in a med/surg based unit and your second year will be in an icu. However some students are placed straight into ICUs. If you do not have experience in an icu then you probably won't be placed in the icu for your clinicals. Other sites are based on the students interest such as emergency (however you can only see patients over 12 years old).Sites for clinicals are all over the state, Connecticut and RI. Students give preferences of where they wish to have their clinicals.

Hello, I am finishing my first year in the acute care NP program. It is great that you are thinking of taking an elective now. You will have the opportunity to subspecialize in oncology if you want. The program is great. I am thoroughly enjoying it. I am a traditional masters student however our class also consists of second year graduate entry pathway students (GEP) so our class size is about 75 students. The professor are terrific. The workload is heavy but I feel the content has been important. Please let me know any specifics you are interested to know.