PMG42177

Hi philzcoffeel0ver, I very excited that you have chosen nursing as a profession. It's a great career, not for everyone, but for those that like the challenge and stimulation the medical field brings, it can be very rewarding. I am a graduate of the University of San Francisco's (USF) MSN-CNL program. I must say it was a great program! I got the much needed one on one attention from my professors, my classmates were helpful and supportive and it was only 2 years. All this and many other features helped me through school. I also looked into Samuel Merritt (SMU), but choose USF for the simple reason that they had a program that I felt more compelled towards in the end. I feel both schools would be great, but in hind-sight I would not suggest either of them to be better than any of the state schools in the Bay Area. I have a couple reasons for making this statement. Both USF and SMU have high price tags and in my opinion, neither are worth the price you pay. That does not mean they are not good schools, it just means the price of education to attend these schools is extremely over valued. I work with people who graduated from SFSU, Sonoma State, CSU and various other state colleges and neither of my colleagues are less intelligent or less capable than I. Furthermore, I attended SFSU for my undergraduate degree and had an excellent education and experience, but the key there was it was completely free, thanks to grant money I applied for. My colleagues who graduated from state colleges to attain nursing degrees paid 3 times less than I did. My point being think price and look at this your decision to choose the right school for you as a business decision, because these schools that charge an arm and a leg look at it as a business decision, make no mistake about it. The other thing I'd like to say is, your eduction is what you make it. I say this because whether you attend USF, SMU, SFSU, Sonoma State, you will have your share of great professors and your share of not so great professors. I've experienced both at both the private university and state university. At the end of the day it's up to you to make it happen and learn what you need to learn to feel successful. The bottom line is you're going to learn the same stuff, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology the list goes on, but the material does not change. I can have a conversation about the pathophysiology of Hepatic Encephelopathy with a colleague who went to SFSU and be on the same page. At the end of the day I am happy I went to USF, I have no arguments with the education I received other than the price I paid. The point I'd like to impress upon you is to think of your education as a business decision, because that is what it is. These schools are thinking of it that way and so should you. Don't be awestruck by the fancy headlines bragging that their school is Number 1, or that they have the best reputation in the bay area, because when it's all said and done, it's the reputation, habits and good connections that you make during your education that will make the difference. Best to you

Hi all, Thanks to everyone who has to given past feed back...you are all appreciated! I have a dilema. I was accepted into 2 nursing programs. One is a 2 year MSN-CNL at the University of San Francisco costing $69,000; the other is a 3 MEPN - NP program at the University of Hawaii costing $160,000 (they will not allow you to get residency after your first year, that why it costs so much). I originally chose USF because it was a generalist degree and I thought that it gave me the best oportunity to choose directions after I got my feet wet in the field. First question - is the 160K to much to pay for a NP degree? Second - Can you go from a MSN-CNL to NP later down the road. I've heard that you can only get a certificate and not a degree as an NP - is that sufficient?

bullpups, I would like to talk to you about the program. I am from the bay area california and got accepted to the MEPN program at Manoa for fall 2010. It's a big price tag and I want to make a good choice. I see that we cannot post emails addresses on this site, so how can we get in contact? Look forward to hearing from you. Thanks

Congrats to all who have been accepted. I'll be joining you at USF's MSN-CNL for the summer cohort...I finally got accepted! My big question goes out to the people currently in the program, is there time to have a job? I want to resign from my job soon but don't want to shoot myself in the foot. I hear most people start off working but gradually stop when the clinical rotations begin... Help

To the Squire - I totally agree, not sure if I'd totally stomp on my classmates going into a ADN program, but I feel as if it may be taking a step back. I've always wanted to get a M.S. so here is my chance. It can't hurt, but only help in the long run.

Ivanna Nurse - great to here that there is another ESFJ in the field. I too am organized. I like my work environment to be neat and clean, it helps me to concentrate better. And I like talking to people as well...I'm sure this skill will come in handy in nursing.

I'll be starting a nursing program in the fall. I'm an ESFJ personality type according to the Myers Briggs test and was wondering if there were any other ESFJ's out there. I'm curious to know what specialty your in, how you feel nursing fits with your personality, and anything else you feel like saying. Thanks

Females are always welcome to respond! Thanks for your info. Yeah I have looked into BSN programs, but many of the state schools in my area are not accepting 2nd degree bachelor students because of the ecomony. Most of the ADN programs are wait listed. There is one Accelerated program that I will be applying for in the fall.

Word! Thanks for the advice. I think our thinking is along the same track. I feel that the CNL is also a place to start and get spit out with a MSN and RN until one figures out the specialty direction they want to go in. Thanks again.

What up! I have a couple interviews for nursing schools around the corner. Wooohooooo! I have a good shot at getting into either program. One is a MEPN with advanced nursing degrees the other is a Direct entry Masters - CNL program. My dilema is that I don't know what specialty to specialize in because I don't know enough of whats out there in the nursing field or what I particullary like yet. I do know that I don't want to be a bedside nurse my entire career, but understand that being a besdie nurse will provide a solid clinical foundation, which is important to me. Getting an advanced degree is important to me down the line. My fear is that I will get an advanced degree that I don't particularly care for. The other thing is I've heard that a CNL holds no wait in the real world...yet. Any advice would help! Go Men!