candasiri

Hi, I hope that comments will be helpful, and keep in mind it's only one person's experience/perceptions. I'm graduating from the MGH IHP nursing program in May. Overall, I feel that my experience at the IHP has been good. But I feel that I should give you some nuts and bolts of the IHP program, that, for all I know, may endemic to all direct-entry programs. 1. It's going to be intense, both emotionally and academically--especially the first year. Nothing really can prepare you for the intensity. Just know that you will get through it. The intensity is d/t the sheer amount of information that you will be learning as well as the clinical situations which you will be facing: medically fragile patients, homeless patients, psychiatric patients. 2. Although the IHP is part of Partners, it is partner of Partners only in name as far as I can tell. It does not mean that the IHP gets priority in terms of clinical locations/preceptors. 3. There are some very good teachers and classes at the IHP and some classes that seem like a sheer waste of time. Which is more the pity because I feel that there was some training that I had to go elsewhere to get such as psychotherapy (I am in the psych track). 4. The clinical placement process for NP training is hit or miss. That is, some people get great NP placement sites while others do not get placed in training sites until 6wks into the semester. And then they may turn out to be terrible. Unfortunately, unlike other professional programs (like getting a doctorate in psychology), there is no standardization of clinical sites. Meaning, preceptors are not paid or trained to be mentors/teachers. They are not even interviewed as far as I can tell until the student is placed at the clinical site. Take me for instance. Poor clinical placement last year during which my preceptor didn't know what I should be learning and didn't have the time of day. Then midway through the semester, I was switched to somewhere else where I had a positive experience. This year I am having a fabulous experience. The lack of oversight for NP clinical experience is the major weakness of the IHP program in my opinion which could be remedied rather easily over time, but it seems that nothing has been done as yet. 4. Simmons requires more clinical experience before taking the RN exam, meaning that as a Simmons student you may have more practical nursing experience (like starting IVs or giving shots). Hope this helpful. It's not meant to talk anyone out of the IHP but give a more balanced perspective. Feel free to ask me any questions!