klama78

Hhhmmmm ... That's what I keep hearing. I am considering doing the 3yr Bsn here, then Opt if possible, then do a Masters. I've got the opportunity to go to a very good school here and get some fabulous training and education. Given the scary state of the NHS currently I need to make sure I'll be an acceptable and desirable candidate for positions in the UK. Luckily as a UK citizen I won't have visa issues. I just need to make sure my qualifications are accepted! Thanks for your advice so far. I really appreciate you taking the time to help! :)

Hi I'm a UK citizen in the US hoping to do a Direct Entry Masters (3yr course) in Pediatric nursing. The likelihood is, given the visa situation/retrogression that I will have to come home once I have done my OPT and get a job back in the UK. Will the DEMSN be acceptable as a NP qualification, or even an RN (I will do NCLEX and get my RN status halfway through the MSN). My aim is to work in the NICU, whether here in the US or back home in the UK. I'd really appreciate any advice! Thanks :)

Hi, I am a pre-nursing student aiming to do a DEMSN at IHP next Fall 2009. I was wondering if anyone had any contacts either at Children's, BWH or MGH for the NICU/Newborn Nursery? I am trying to find a volunteering opportunity in the NICU or Newborn Nursery at any of the big teaching hospitals here in Boston. I would love to hear from anyone who works in these areas! Thanks :)

Thanks Steve :) I was wondering about the kangaroo care in the NICU. Would you recommend I ask for volunteer experience in a newbie nursery first then, if I want to do more hands on care? Or is it out of the question that a volunteer can do hands on care? Obviously I am happy to do anything that would increase my experience, from bed changes to isolette cleaning etc. I guess I really need to talk to the NM or HR people at my nearest hospitals to try and find out what, if anything, is available. By the way I have done some reading on this forum and have to say you sound like a wonderful nurse, and it's really refreshing to hear from a male nurse who is so passionate and knowledgeable. Where I'm from (UK) I did not really have any exposure to male nurses whenever I was in a hospital environment. I like how the profession is seen more "equal" here. Anyway, thanks so much for your reply :)

Anyone? I'd really appreciate any advice from anyone on how to get the ball rolling on becoming a NICU nurse.

I am at the start of the road to becoming a NNP. I'll be doing an accelerated BSN first, hopefully starting next summer, then gaining a couple of years experience as an RN, then on to do my Masters after that. But before I get onto the accelerated BSN I would dearly love to do some volunteering or shadowing of an RN/NNP in the NICU. Do those of you working in the NICU think that this would be possible, and if so who do I talk to at my local hospitals? I'm originally from the UK, so have Visa restrictions as to what work I can do, thus the fact I just want to volunteer at this point. I have 10 years experience as a professional nanny, so am pretty confident and knowledgeable when it comes to the general care and development of normal/well term babies. Would it be possible to volunteer in a NICU, to help with general care of the babies? I would really, really love to help in kangaroo care, and any other tasks I could do taking into account I'm not an RN yet, but am so keen to get learning and experiencing life in the NICU. I'd love to hear from any NICU nurses as to how they got their foot in the door, so to speak. And if anyone works in any Boston NICU's and could offer me even a day of shadowing, or the name of someone I could talk to, I would be so grateful!

Hi Angie :) Thanks for replying! I would like to know more about the quality of teaching, the NP job prospects (as I've heard Boston is a NIGHTMARE to try and get a new grad position) and also whether IHP offer a decent financial package to help with costs. I am an international student, so not eligible for any state or federal loans, only private loans. I really want to be a PNP and eventually specialize in neonates. It's an expensive dream but one that will be achievable I hope!!! Thanks so much for any advice! :)

I know exactly how you feel PBD :) Hard work certainly does pay off and I keep staring at my A in shock LOL :)

So I got my Chemical Science grade: B- And my A and P 1 grade: A If I add on last Semester's Biology grade (A) my GPA so far is 3.66! I hope that I can continue to do well, I know I'll never have a 4.0 but hopefully my grades so far will help get me into a direct entry MSN in Fall 2009!!!!!!

So far I have: French A Nutrition A am waiting for my Chemical Science grade, and I have my A & P final tonight (AAAGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I hear you about internet usage LOL :) Here I am on allnurses when I should be writing up a paper....

Hi D it's K!!! Finally got around to posting on here!!! So have you heard from our Lovely Prof yet? I emailed him on Wednesday to ask about my grades etc. No reply yet. Grrrrrrr. Am getting pretty annoyed. Anyway, let's hope he has our results on Tuesday. :)

I'd be really interested to hear answers too as I am planning on applying for the DEMSN Fall 09 entry this fall.

I'm planning on applying for the DEMSN this fall for entry in Fall 09. I would really love to talk to anyone who is on the course already, so if you are please could you help :)

Thanks for your advice so far Suzanne and Ironclad :) I realise I cannot do the OPT and study full time, they are seperate entities albeit still attached to the student visa. What the school has told me is I can do the BSN, take the NCLEX and then do 12 months OPT. Once that OPT is finished, it will be the start of the academic year again and the MSN studies will start. I won't work at all during that time. Once I have finished the MSN I will be able to do 12 months OPT again, this time attached to the MSN. My OPT and my studies will always be done at seperate times. The school has explained that this is acceptable to immigration officials, and that this will be the likely way for me to gain much needed experience. It has been explained to me that once I have done orientation and my first OPT I will be able to work during the MSN up to 20 hours per week, to keep my foot in the door so to speak, as PCT. Whether or not this will actually be possible given the courseload is another matter! Of course all of this depends on whether or not I want to stay and work in the States, or even get offered a job that fulfils the visa requirements. I just feel very lucky to be able to study here, it's a great opportunity and benefit to my career whether or not I stay here afterwards. My hope in posting on this forum would be to find other nurses from the UK or elsewhere who have actually gone the MSN/ EB2 route to get their view on how it works etc. Most of the posts here are for the EB3 and that isn't really relevant to my situation.