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I can at least attest to the fact that we have several current hospital workers in our program... a lawyer, a person with a masters, and a BUNCH of others. Honestly don't know how I fit into the mix... but they're really not kidding!

I know. I'm hoping against hope that I'll be able to pull off a miracle and somehow get a job! I'm cautiously optimistic! :)

Good luck!

Yeah, the other universities in the Boston area are running at LEAST that if not more. Northeastern's program runs almost $100K. BC's isn't cheap, either. That's why I figured I'd go back for a 2nd degree, and then do my master's part time so that I can work while I go to school. The only problem with UMass Boston is that the specific program I am in is the pilot program - so there are a lot of kinks that they need to work out. Hopefully it will be better for years following me. But the professors are dedicated, and invested. I liked it there a lot the first time around, and that's why I went back!

The entire accelerated program is running about $20k. But keep in mind, that doesn't include books, and the "distance learning fee" for the online courses is KILLER (about a grand a course!). The university is doing a great job of offering plenty of scholarships, though - which is NOT usually the case for a second degree program... I think UMass is definitely the way to go, financially. Other programs are upwards of $50k!

The only thing I did was to call . I emailed her a bunch, too. I was a UMB alum, too - maybe that helped! Who knows - I can give you all a little update on what I've heard about the program for the next cohort: First, they're using our input for you guys, so hopefully you don't have to deal with some of the same garbage we did. For example, they've already got clinical sites and times set in stone for you. Secondly, they have about double the number of applicants this time around. That's all I can think of right now. Good luck to all of you! :)

I am. At least in my program. However, the catch is that the program must be able to be completed in a year ( I didn't file for unemployment until 5 mos in) and it needs to be "approved" by the unemployment office. I'm so lucky I managed to fight my way into approval. This is seriously one of the best opportunities of my life.

That's really exciting! Thanks so much for the info. Pedi psych is something I really enjoyed during my mental health clinical. I had the opportunity to work on the CAU at Cambridge Hospital and the experience was incredible. Oh boy, oh boy - now I'm all amped up!

I apologize for coming off like I'm rubbing it in. The thank you was sincere. I got my benefits extension from the Federal government which allows me to continue to attend school and not have to work. Up until I got laid off, I was working 7 days a week, well over 70 hours to make ends meet. The only reason I get to go to school at all is because of the "training" program offered by the state of MA. It's an incredible opportunity... at least I'm using it for what it's meant for! I've worked forever and paid my taxes - We live in a land of so much opportunity and so many people don't know about. Again, sorry if my post comes off "ostentatious" or like I'm "rubbing it in". The fact of the matter is - I'm insanely grateful... and it was like Christmas when they extended my benefits. You can only take out so many personal loans before they start telling you no: add that to the loans I already have from my FIRST degree - heh... I'll be paying back Sallie Mae until I'm 90. Everyone is so quick to assume the worst of others... my intention was genuine even if my words were kind of twisted.

It's all about being broke, married and a mommy... then they HAVE to give you money.

Yes, you are reading my post wrong. I'm collecting unemployment as I finish my 2nd degree BSN program. It's excellent. Not only does the federal government provide me with scholarships to pay for school, the state government pays me unemployment to NOT work as I continue my education. It rules.

...for funding my education. This is wonderful. I call a number every week (yes, yes, no) and money appears in my account. We can complain about our government all we want to, but when you get laid off and go back to school... I LOVE UNEMPLOYMENT!!!!! That being said - I get the opportunity to get paid for doing something that I love and that I'm good at. Isn't that living the dream?!? To get the chance to work 3 days a week, spend time with my family... I couldn't be happier. Now all I need to do is find a job when I graduate... Details!

For new grads?

I'll drop my two cents into this one. I'm a 27 year old second degree student with a 3 year old little girl. If you have a LOT of help, and an extremely supportive husband, and you're not planning on bringing junior into the world until after you take and pass your boards... you can probably pull it off. I'd recommend that you wait until after you've finished school and worked for a year. That way, you'd have maternity leave AND (if you pick the right hospital) a daycare subsidy. I both applaud and respect that you're taking the time to think this through rather than just letting your biological clock do your thinking for you. Best of luck in whatever you decide.

One, my previous degree was in psych... I won't mind! It's not a matter of not being able to find the job I WANT, it's a matter of being able to find ANY job at all. Most people are capable of finding SOMETHING - if you live in an area that isn't Boston. It's the most frustrating thing EVER to get high grades, do an insane amount of work, and have the drive and dedication to interview over and over and OVER and at every hospital... they're "hiring internally", meanwhile their nurses are working overtime to the point that they are endangering patient safety. I'd be happy to work general med-surg or psych for a year. I wouldn't mind working for the VA. (Actually, the VA has some crazy benefits!) I would kill! I'm not just complaining because I can't get 12hr days in a major hospital in a specialty right out of school. I'm complaining because I legit canNOT find employment - and I'm still volunteering on floors where the nurses that DO have jobs don't care. This isn't some barely-scraping-by-with-a-c student here. I have a previous degree in biology and psychology. I graguated Magna the first and second times around. I got scholarships, awards, I volunteered. I did everything right... and still I'm getting passed over because nurses that should have retired 10 years ago are still working. They're still working because the economy sucks and they need the money. Their 401k's are worth nothing, and they want to retire. I get it - but..they have no desire to be there, don't care about the patients, and have no respect for each other. What the hell is so wrong?

Hi All: So I'm a second degree student currently living in the Boston, MA area. I'm going to join in the new graduate chorus; "what nursing shortage?!?". I want to add to that, however. I'll cop to a few things before I get started... First and foremost - I have NO experience in the field. I won't pretend to. I don't know everything. Hell, I don't really know anything aside from what they teach you within the scope of a 15 month accelerated program. Here's my gripe: I would KILL (well, not kill - but definitely maim) for a job, any job as an RN. I had my epiphany. I was in the middle of giving a shower to a 400lb black schizophrenic woman who was having a conversation with at least three people (in her head) and me and it struck me... I LOVE THIS!!!! This is what I was meant to do. This is what I love to do. This is what I should have been doing all along. Why are so many nurses still working as RNs if they hate their jobs so much?!! It doesn't make any sense. I don't want any bull about "economic downturn" or any of the other buzzwords that mean crappy economy. If you don't love what you do, and what you do is nursing, you have no business doing it. Think about the golden rule... would YOU want someone taking care of you that would just as soon spit on you as flush your IV line? Do you want to be in an extremely vulnerable position and relying on some grouchy douchebag to make sure you are not in pain, to keep the residents from killing you? No, not all of the "old school" nurses are bad nurses. And not all of the "new school" nurses are good nurses. Everything is not black and white. It just seems that after years of patient care, getting crapped on by MDs, and whatever else... some of the love goes out of the job. And it's okay. But find something else to do with yourself, or at the very least... don't sacrifice patient care because you've fallen out of love with your profession. Some of you may say - I don't get it. Hey, you're probably right. I've never worked as a nurse. I CAN'T GET A JOB! (yeah, I'm bitter too!) Others might say that it's the fault of the doctors, the other nurses on your floor, the patients, the system. But promise me something. Next time you start griping about your job and how much it sucks... just be reminded: there are a LOT of people that would kill to have the opportunity to do what you do, and the only person you can blame for your unhappiness is YOURSELF. Oh, and one more thing... if you don't want your job anymore... can I have it?

Okay - I just finished my Med-Surg final exam... wasn't too bad! This semester was kind of a butt-kicker for me. It's just a full time job to keep up with everything. Upcoming is winter session with maternity and infant. For spring, I will have pediatrics, community health and some filler stuff. Looking back on this semester, I'd say it was the toughest one yet. I should probably preface all of my statements by saying that I'm not the smartest cookie in the jar, and it takes me a lot of work to pull off A's! It doesn't come naturally like it does for some people. I'd put myself solidly in the middle of the pack, academically. That said, unless you're a freaking genius... please don't underestimate the amount of time and support you will need to complete this program. I've got my husband AND my in-laws helping out a LOT and it's still borderline impossible to get everything done on time. You ask how to prepare - and the best advice I can give you is to buy a planner, and use it like it's a new religion. By that, I mean, you've got to be militant about due dates and deadlines. You need to schedule time to study as well as time to spend with your children AND time to clean your house, oh, and sleep doesn't hurt, either. If you're planning on getting a CNA certificate, it probably won't hurt - but the likelihood you'll have time to USE it is slim to none. You're better off flashing back to your first undergrad degree and tending bar or waiting some tables. Fast money - REALLY flexible schedule. As far as having my schedule for spring? HA!!!!! I don't even have my schedule for January yet! They tell you about three days in advance where you need to be and for how long. It's really kind of silly. (Bitter? Me? Nah!) If you get in, you CAN do this - it just takes determination (or a really hard head).

Seriously - your biggest problem with the UMB program won't be getting in. You had my credentials almost exactly, except my minor was in Biology. My GPA was a little bit higher - but they're looking more for a well-rounded student to represent the "diversity" that is UMass. Just be a pain in the ass, make SURE you get an interview... then stun 'em with your amazing personality! You'll be fine!

Okay: So I was considering a direct-entry program before I got accepted into an accelerated 2nd degree program (I'm on the long road to being a CRNA, I hope, I hope). This is what I found out... Salem State University has one, but it's really only for a nurse manager or nurse educator. Regis College has one... but they're really expensive. Northeastern has one...but they're even MORE expensive than Regis. Simmons has one... that was the best one I've found. I would have gone there if not for the accelerated program.BC is another place to look into. They're supposed to be excellent. Also, MCPHS (Mass college of pharmacy and health sciences) has one, and MGH Institute of Health Professions also has one. Those are the ones I had found in the immediate Boston area. Beware, the competition is extremely stiff and they're sticklers for the prerequesite courses. I'd recommend taking ALL of them before you even consider applying. Just remember - there's 100 people applying for the seat you want, and if you don't have your prereq's done, they'll just pass over you! If you wanted to do an accelerated program, it's 15-19 months depending on where you go, and then you can work and get whatever hospital you end up working for to pay for your NP. Just a thought. Good luck! ~K

I absolutely hated the first summer. It was a gawdawful waste of time! But it does get better. I love, love, love this fall's classes. They're hard, but very rewarding. All of my clinicals have been right around Boston. They have some on the South Shore, I think - too. They do have scholarships - and you probably would get one. Just keep in mind, they just started this program in Boston - so they're still working out some kinks. If you can put up with a little red tape, it's a very good program to be in at about half the cost (or less!) than others in the area.

They tell you it's going to be about $20K for the whole thing... I'd recommend you take into consideration the HUGE cost of books, AND the fact that they require to take some classes online... and the cost of online classes is ADDITIONAL. It's probably more like 25K. Take it from someone who is about halfway done with it.

ARGH - I'm just about to finish my accelerated program, and I'm already frustrated by the complete and utter lack of jobs in the state of MA. I'm sincerely hoping that my previous BS in Biology/Psych and now my BSN will help me in the way of finding a job when I'm done. The other thing I'm praying will help me is my stack of letters of rec from all my professors and clinical instructors. Somehow I don't feel like either of those will really matter in the job search.

The class and clinical schedule is rotating, so it's really impossible to work. I'm really lucky to have a helpful husband - and amazing in-laws that pick up and drop off my daughter from preschool for me. For instance, my schedule this semester is that I have Monday and Tuesday off, but clinical Wednesday from 7-1:30, Clinical Thursday from 7AM to 7PM and class all day (from 10AM to 5PM) on Friday. Next semester (Winter session) is all day, every day. Who knows what spring will bring?!?! As far as classes, it's basics for the first summer - you spend all your time in class and in the lab. Don't get comfortable - it's easy for the first semester. Fall is a butt-kicker. You have med-surg, mental health, pathophysiology & pharmacology (online). It's not that the work is all that hard, (it's difficult but not impossible) it's that you're expected to do it simultaneously. With traditional programs, you would have Med-surg by itself with a 3 credit in class course. You'd never have more than one clinical at a time. In the accelerated program - you have nothing but two clinicals at once. So it's a constant barrage: one test after another, one paper after another, one assignment after another - no breaks, no rest, no time between. The other thing that is kind of sucky is that you never find out what your exact schedule will be until about a week before classes are supposed to start. This is because of difficulties with clinical sites, etc. So really - you can't plan for child care. You just have to suck it up and hope you have enough people that will help you out. This program is new, so you'd probably be able to get in without too much effort - but beware, they're still working out the kinks! If you really just want to get licensed and get it over with, and you're willing to deal with a little red tape and miscommunication, then this program is for you. However, if you like to have things be 'just so' or if you have a hard time when things are ambiguous, I'd look elsewhere. I really hope this helped for you! And good luck.

I'm currently in the middle of the pilot program for UMASS boston's accelerated 2nd degree BSN program. If you have any questions about it, I'd be happy to answer them. It wasn't that difficult to get into, but they're really looking for diversity. A little about me, so you know what the "accepted student profile" looks like. My previous degree was in biology and psychology. I graduated undergrad with a 3.68 GPA. I worked for 5 years in biomedical research. I'm married, and I have a 3 year old. The program is really hard. They tell you that it is impossible to work, but I recommend retaining your job until after the summer is over. You'll need the money later. I'm about halfway through now - and it's amazing! Hard, but definitely good. Best of luck!:nuke: