calinp

Hi! I'm not sure if anyone is still reading this, but I wanted to drop this note here. I started posting on this site, at least partly, because I couldn't find much info on the web about the nursing PhD process. What I really wanted was a blog or something to read. Everyone here was really helpful and very supportive, and I'd like to expand on that sense of community. I've started a blog, fairly anonymously, and I'm hoping to write about the process of getting a nursing PhD. I can't predict if I'll be able to keep posting throughout the whole program (I'm not really sure anyone would be that interested!) but I'm going to give it a shot. Maybe it will help the next nurse who is thinking about applying and wants more info.... Here's the link: PhD Nurse-to-be or how I learned to be Dr. Nurse If you're interested stop by and make a comment or ask a question. Maybe we can start another little community! Thanks and have a great day!

I've now been seriously apartment hunting for around 3 weeks. I think that I initially started too early. It's only now that apartments available in mid-August or September are being posted on Craig's. I have taken llg's advise and I am looking for apartments that would allow me an office "space" of some sort. My last week of work is next week. After that it is all packing, getting rid of stuff that isn't moving with us and cleaning out the house. Thankfully my mom is coming for a week to help with the packing, etc. I hope that everyone else is doing well!

I haven't updated anything on here in forever. I thought that it might be nice to say hi to everyone. Hello! I was lucky enough to meet BayArea2010 at a meeting for incoming students at UCSF. BayArea2010 is wonderful and the experience of meeting other students was great. The time between now and when school starts is both moving much too slowly and at the same time much too quickly. I can't think of another way to describe it. I wish that more information would arrive from the school about orientation or really, anything, because sometimes it seems almost unreal. But since classes don't start until late September, I have a long time to go still. I've told my boss that my last day at work will be the 30th of July. My mom is coming out to SD to help me figure out what goes with me to SF and what gets sent to Goodwill on the 31st. Our hunt for apartments continues. So far, we're looking at less space for more money. It will be a good excuse to clean out our lives and closets. I like the idea of starting school as an organized student! And then we'll move out at the end of August or start of September... Maybe it isn't that far off after all... I hope that everyone is doing really well...post an update!

So, I'm approaching the next step towards being a student again! Today, the first moving company representative came to give us an estimate. I've never used a moving company before, and I'm hoping that it goes well. I'm not planning on having a car in SF, but I am going to rent one to drive up there with my cat. I started really thinking about the packing today, even though it is still 2-3 months off. My husband and I looked around our house, and we both realized that we have accumulated a LOT of stuff that we don't/won't need. Last week I also contacted my academic adviser and spoke with her for an hour. She is very, very nice and I'm looking forward to working with her. So far, this is going about as smoothly as major change can! I really need to think about when my last day of work is going to be and when to tell my manager... I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Hi Scoyola, It's great to hear from you! Also, I'm glad to know that our posts have helped you some. I can't speak to everyone's experience with the GRE, but I'll tell you what I did. I work full-time (though not nights anymore) and what I found worked best was to take a weekly course. It was through Kaplan and it lasted about 9 weeks. It had been my original plan to use books at home, but I wasn't getting the practice test scores that I wanted. I really think the course helped. BUT, the reason it helped is that I used it rigorously; I did every practice problem and review that was assigned in the class. Letters of rec. were really tricky. I sent e-mails and talked with previous profs. and co-workers early to give them plenty of notice. I also gave them/e-mailed them copies of my CV, goal statement, etc. so that they understood what I was interested in doing. Even then, it was still a struggle for all of the recommenders to get their letters in on time. I did however get really positive letters and I think that giving them info. was helpful to them. Having written letters of rec. for people looking for jobs or to go back to school, I know that it is difficult to write a good letter. I really think that you've already done one of the most important things, which is to reach out to researchers at the university...so good luck!!

Thanks llg! It's nice to hear that other people have been interested and supportive! I hadbeen considering the idea of starting a blog about the PhD nursing experience for a while before I found allnurses.com. When I started the application process, I wished that there was a blog to read on the web, and I really didn't find one. This has met that need to communicate and reach out to other people. BayArea2010, I think that your working with the professor that you want to study under now is a great, great idea! You're brilliant! Also, the experience you'll be building will be so great. I can't wait to meet you and hear what you've already learned about the campus and nursing school when I get there. I registered for the funding information session when I got the e-mail. Did you get any confirmation? I didn't and I'm not sure if I need to call the graduate coordinator to check... I can't wait to see you there!

My husband and I made the decision last night. I accepted at UCSF! I also contacted my assigned adviser. It was a relief and after I had finished writing out the declinations, I felt really relaxed. And I also realized how ready I'm getting to start the program. Now the planning, moving, looking for someplace to live starts. Have a great weekend everybody!

NPtoPhD, that is GREAT! While I'm sorry that we won't be meeting at UCSF, I am thrilled for you and for your decision! It must feel nice to be able to move into the planning phase. Congratulations! I hope to be joining you in the decided group soon. :)

Yay BayArea2010! That is great! I'm so glad that everything is working out and that you'll be able to continue to your PhD :) If I go to UCSF I would love to meet you too! It could work out that you and I and NPtoPhD could be there...that would be actually pretty amazing. Good luck with Kaplan, I've used them with good results. Congratulations again!

Just posting a quick update: no decision on which school yet. My husband's job is holding us up. We originally thought that he would be able to transfer to either city, or at least very nearby, but that isn't the case after all. So we will definitely know by the end of the week, but a lot of this decision will be outside of our hands. I hope everyone is doing well and has a great weekend.

Oh BayArea2010, I am so sorry to hear that you are declining both of those offers. BUT, through that entire post, what I kept hearing is that you are a wonderful mother and wife FIRST, and that will, of course, make you a wonderful nurse. I have always respected any person who can make a difficult decision using logic and heart equally. Burn out is very real. When I started my master's program, I had every intention of going straight through to a PhD. After I finished my Master's program, I was just broken. I actually think that I had a type of depression... or something. I had worked throughout undergrad and grad school and I was just not okay. I graduated in 2005 and it has taken me until now (almost 5 full years) to be able to even think about going back to school. You probably need rest, time to study for boards and regular, engaging work for a while. In fact, I think it is absolutely essential. The peace that you felt after you chose to decline is the most important thing. Passing boards will be next. You're absolutely correct about the economics and where my husband will work. When we started this process his job seemed able to move. And now, it doesn't. If I have to go some place without him at first, it will be a completely different monetary and mental health decision. This choice is incredibly difficult. Every single point you noted in your post is important. I think that you've been incredibly smart about all of this, from the start. You have made a logical, well thought out decision. A decision that meets those standards is ALWAYS a good decision. My thoughts are with you today.

I hope that everyone is doing well with their decision making! Both my husband and I are off today, so we're sitting down to make a pros and cons list and to start finalizing a decision. He had really thought that this would be an easy decision until last night when we started talking about it, and he realized that it wasn't nearly as cut and dried as he had previously believed. The problem is that both schools are good, both schools have very good research fits, both schools are offering some funding and both cities are lovely. Of course the real difficulty is that both are great choices, but when I choose, it means that I also give something up... So, hopefully, I will have a decision soon. How about you guys? BayArea2010 and NPtoPhD, are you guys any closer to a decision? If you're taking a weekend off to spend quality time with your family, study for boards, or just NOT think about any of it, then I think that you're smarter than me! Have a great weekend everybody! :)

Hi NPtoPhD, Congratulations on your acceptance at Yale! I was wondering if you had heard! That is so awesome! When you described the decision-making process as "laboring," I laughed out loud. That is exactly what it seems like. And as an old L&D nurse, I should know. I'm in the exact same position, still struggling with the decision between UW and UCSF. As the input from previous instructors/profs., people on this board and *most* of my family is strongly in favor of UCSF, and I really think that my research fit is better with UCSF, I'm leaning in that direction. However, I started this whole process with the dream of going to UW. I have actually been amazed at how my view of the schools was molded by talking with the profs at the schools, and with the application process itself. A year ago when I started to prepare for apps. I never would have thought that I might turn down UW. But now... I wasn't actually expecting the decision-making process to be quite so difficult! As BayArea2010 is visiting her other school this weekend (I think...I may have lost a weekend as work is busy lately...) maybe she will have a decision soon. NPtoPhD, is the decision now strictly between UCSF and Yale? Which program do you think you have the best research fit with? I've looked at the curriculum for the two programs I'm considering and they are different...have you noticed any significant differences between the programs, and if you have, does it make a difference to you? Good luck and congrats again!

Yay ctbtrini! Congratulations! Yay! I also wanted to thank you BayArea2010. You're correct and I'm going to contact them and ask nicely. I hope your visit to UMICH goes well this weekend!

Hi Everybody, I thought that I would post an update: I'm still working on my decision. I know, that's not really news... but with just my husband (biased strongly towards UCSF) and my mother (biased strongly towards UW) for sympathetic ears, I've felt a bit pulled in two directions. I still need financial aid info/funding info from UW to make the decision. And while I've received the enrollment form and the official letter, I have not yet received the financial aid info. I have a feeling that means there isn't any funding, but before I make the final decision, I need confirmation. I'm not really sure how long to wait before asking about it. My husband and I talked and I'm going to wait for another week. At that point it will have been three weeks since the admission e-mail and I *think* a reasonable time to send an e-mail and ask... If anyone has any thoughts, jump in here :) How is everybody else? I hope that you're all well!