reglet

Last fall I applied to the UCSF Masters Entry Program in Nursing (MEPN--for non-nursing bachelors degree holders), but did not get in. That particular program--one year to get you ready to sit for NCLEX, and two to get the masters degree--is extremely competitive. The you-did-not-get-selected letter noted that "only 150 of approximately 600 applicants were selected to interview for 90 finalist spots" in MEPN. However, I was told at the information evening for the UCSF nursing programs that it is often easier to get into their two-year straight masters program--that is, if you already have an RN and are striving for an MSN with an NP area of specialization (such as ANP). Check out their website for further information: http://nurseweb.ucsf.edu/www/ps-ms.htm, and also see the link for "masters specialty areas". One of my alternative plans is to attend a local two-year associate nursing program and then reapply to UCSF for the MSN with an FNP area of specialization. I strongly suggest that you try to attend one of the UCSF evening information sessions: both nursing administrative folks and academic staff were on hand to answer questions, and they were a very impressive bunch! It would be a great program to be in. There are none currently scheduled, but you could call the nursing office to find out when they next plan to hold one. Good luck!

I concur with llg's and Protongirl's comments. I was a technical writer and editor for years before diverting down the path to nursing. Keep it short, to the point, and make them want more! Good luck!

I hope to be in your position, SoundofMusic, early next year--preparing for a NP program interview. BCgradnurse is spot-on: This IS a job interview. You should certainly dress professionally, and be prepared to answer questions about why you're hoping to become a NP. From my years in high-tech and as a hiring manager, I would have to assume that anything you submitted in support of your application is fair game for questioning by the person or people who will interview you. If you've made your way to the interviewing stage there's obviously something the program found attractive about your background. (Having been briefly in journalism myself, and a long-time technical writer, I'm sure it's your writing background!) Those who have gone through the process of interviewing for a NP program will obviously have more pertinent, specific advice than I. The best of luck to you! Reglet

I would also suggest looking into direct-entry MSN programs. I already have a BA (in linguistics), so when I started out looking into nursing, I was quickly pointed away from BSN programs because I already had a bachelor's degree (and all the breadth requirement stuff that went along with it). The direction I was given was to pursue a MSN. My ultimate goal is to become a FNP. I'm also mindful of the need to be flexible: If I don't get into the entry-level MSN/FNP program here in the San Francisco Bay Area, I will take a swing at a generic MSN, with more coursework thereafter to get to FNP. Third choice is applying to local ADN programs, then trying to get into a master's program later. Of course, much of this application process is going to be in parallel, as there's no telling whether or when I'll get into my first- and second-choice schools! I wish you the best of luck!

Hi, misplaced1-- In a nutshell, I have switched careers because I was burnt out from 18 years in the Silicon Valley, high-tech pressure-cooker. (Perhaps I'm only switching one pressure-cooker for another, but I feel I can offer more to society in medicine than I ever did writing computer software documentation.) I always felt like a fish swimming upstream: generally, there is a lot of lip service towards having complete, accurate user documentation. But there was rarely any commitment--whether in appropriate levels of staffing, editing, review time allocated by technical reviewers, or in an understanding of our process and what value writers and editors bring to the product--that would make the job anything but a case of sub-clinical frustration and aggravation. Bear in mind that I worked in an industry of very smart, highly talented engineers who wrote software code to design and test very complex electronic circuits--the kind of chips used in cellphones, laptops, and other consumer electronics. That kind of documentation is extremely complex, and requires extraordinary attention to detail. This isn't off-the-shelf software! I worked in three major companies in Silicon Valley and all adopted the insidious idea that you could offshore technical writing and editing just as easily as the code development. Anyway, I realize that this is far from the usual fare for this website and forum. I certainly don't mean to discourage you from approaching technical writing. As a matter of fact, I fully hope to bring my excellent writing and editing skills with me into my nursing career. That's one of the things that attracts me so to the field: There are seemingly endless possibilities for "implementing" (as we'd say in the electronic design automation software industry) the skills and talents I have and will learn. Good luck! reglet

Hi, BCgradnurse-- Thanks very much for your thoughtful response to my posting. The overall picture you provided meshes generally with what I'm expecting to do--so your thoughts were very helpful. I appreciate you taking the time to respond. Regards, reglet

I am currently taking prerequisite courses to enter RN school, with an ultimate goal of becoming a family nurse practitioner. I'm a "mature" student, having left high-tech to start a new career. (My previous work was as a technical writer and editor in semiconductor-design software companies--I love, and am good at, explaining complex concepts in a straightforward and simple fashion.) My "vision" of what I'd ultimately like to do is provide one-on-one care and education for all ages of patients in a clinic setting. I would value some opinions from FNPs about their day-to-day tasks; what they like about the path they're on; and what they would want to improve. I've made a good-faith effort to ferret out threads on this topic. If there's a pre-existing thread, I would appreciate it if someone could point me to it. Thanks for your suggestions and feedback!