Anonymous1369

I'm in an AE MSN program and as one of my professors put it "you've already proven you deserve to be here, at this point we are going to do everything we can to make sure that you succeed." The graduate level course work is definitely challenging but I have always felt a lot of support and respect from the faculty, with 1 or 2 minor exceptions.

I'm in nursing school right now, an Alternate entry psych np program. My experience is in Austin, TX. It can be more of a challenge if you're looking for med-surg or peds, but if psych is your interest you should have no problem finding a job freshly licensed, in my psych rotation I was asked to apply at two different in patient facilities and given reference names. This experience was common among my classmates as well.

Just a heads up to the Psych NP people, there were 4 spots available in this years cohort, we were also told there would be 6-8. They have problems finding psychiatrists and psych NP's to precept, so it's hard to know how many spots will actually be available.

Just wanted to offer an alternate view to this job crises I've read about in this thread, I'm in Austin, TX getting an alternate entry MSN and have been speaking to the students who are just finishing their foundation year and are now considered "graduate nurses" but that havent taken the NCLEX yet. 2/3s of the class are already working as GN-RNs at local hospitals under the supervision of RNs with the understanding that they will have passed their NCLEX sometime in the next 6 weeks. I don't know how typical this is across the country, but where I'm living at least, I feel pretty hopeful about my chances at getting a job shortly after finishing my foundation courses next June.

Hi Kfab, I'm sorry I don't know much about getting through the volunteer brick wall, I hear it can be tough. Some other options to get medical experience by the time you apply are getting your CNA license or shadowing an RN, NP, or PA. I actually shadowed a PA and they were happy with the experience I had. I don't think we're allowed to say names on here, but I recommend getting in contact with someone at the UT graduate school of nursing and seeing if they can help you out with finding either volunteer or shadowing opportunities.

Maurady, I couldn't find the FB group, any way you could add me? Joshua Logan Meza

Congrats to everyone who got their letters! I've started on compliance too,there's a lot left to do though. I haven't seen anything about a fb group, if someone starts one let me know

Congrats! you're as good as in. See you in June

How was the interview Jordan?

Hi soxgirl, From their website http://www.utexas.edu/nursing/academics/gr_degree.html: "The Foundation Year: The AE program is designed to satisfy RN licensure requirements and train students in advanced practice and specialty nursing roles. The first year of the program is an intensive, full-time series of foundation courses. The AE-MSN Foundation Year (Pre-Licensure) Courses (PDF) are accelerated, specially designed graduate courses. These courses include content and experiences that are required to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and are required for graduate-level study in nursing. All foundation courses must be completed before students are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. The sequence of AE MSN foundation courses begins in the first summer session of the program, and full-time enrollment during the foundation sequence is required" I suppose I will be a licensed RN? but yeah, won't have and adn or bsn.

Don't stress! It's much more of an informational meeting than an interview. How it went for me was she talked to me about what the program was, why I was being considered for it, and what would happen if I chose to enter my name into consideration. A few days later, I got an email asking if I was interested in being considered for the undeclared pool, 2 days after I responded I got another email saying I was accepted. They do still have a decision to make, the second interview doesn't guarantee admission, but if you read the 2011 and 2012 threads, everyone who was offered the undeclared option and wanted it got in, including the waitlisters. Bottom line is, don't stress, just be cool and congenial and listen to what *****(or whoever interviews you) has to say, if it sounds good to you then go for it. At this point the odds are STRONGLY in your favor that you'll be accepted. Good luck! let us know how it goes!

What's involved with "compliance?" Just curious, read about it a little but I'm curious what exactly y'all had to do.

Hey y'all! I will be starting an alternate entry program in May, 1st year is prep for NCLEX, followed by MSN work. We are strongly encourage to get a PRN position working 1 or 2 days a week during the MSN work,which I will definitely be trying to do to avoid loans. My question is, what is the job market like for an RN without a BSN? or any nursing degree for that matter? I have bachelors in child development, but its just a bachelors of science, not a nursing degree. I'll be job hunting in austin, tx, but any info is appreciated!

Hi Jordan90k, The second interview is a good thing. They are, at least as I understand them, to tell you about the undeclared pool and ask if you are interested in joining it. I described it in earlier posts, if you're interested.

Congrats jt!

Got my letter this morning, accepted! And just an fyi for those who are curious, it looks like the Adult-Gerontology CNS and the Psych NP are the two most competitive programs, so those are the ones they are choosing from for the undeclared pool, guess everyone wants to be fast tracked to advanced practice Good luck to everyone still waiting, can't wait to meet y'all in May

Thanks Sarah, yeah I've had the second interview and got an email asking me if I was interested in being considered for the undeclared pool yesterday. Just waiting now.

Hey Sarah, I’ve read the 2011 and 2012 AEMSN threads and they agree with what (MODERATOR EDIT OF NAME - PLEASE DO NOT POST NAMES OF THOSE IN YOUR PROGRAM PER TOS) told me in the second interview. Basically they take the top 16 people, who they feel are qualified for the AEMSN program, but didn’t make it into their selected programs, give 11 spots and waitlist 5. At the end of November, if no one has dropped out of the program you originally applied for, then you have the option to select from 5 or so of the other MSN options. It’s kind of a sweet deal if you ask me… you get to go through your clinicals before making a choice, gives you a little extra time and experience to decide what you want to focus on. The waiting has me a little on edge, I have an interview at another school on Feb 5th, hoping I can officially hear from UT if I’m in or not before then to avoid an unnecessary road trip…

@Sarah.Gonzaga is that for the undeclared pool? or for your maternity/phn? From what I read last year people on waitlists got in so congrats!

MandaRN94, It's The University of Texas at Austin's alternate entry masters program. I guess I should have mentioned it in the original, but the child health one has an option to apply to the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program upon completion of your masters, only takes a year to get the certificate since there is a great deal of overlap. The PNP isn't offered for alternate entry, only for ppl with a BSN who have a year of experience and people who have completed the AEMSN in child health. That's why I'm torn, because I have been researching the PHN MSN and it sounds like interesting and meaningful work that I could really get behind, but on the other hand I'm strongly driven towards advanced practice nursing and pediatrics.

Just curious, did anyone else get called for second interviews? I applied for the psych NP, was told there were 4 spots available and that I was their #5 choice, but they interviewed me for the "undeclared pool" anybody in this situation?

I will be starting an alternate entry masters program in May, the 1st year is prep for the NCLEX, then I begin my masters work. I have that 1st year to decide which masters I want to pursue, but I'm currently leaning towards a Child Health with Role Specialty in Public Health Nursing program, but they also offer a straight Public Health Nursing program. My question is, what's the difference? obviously the child health one focuses on pediatrics, but I feel like if I'm going to focus on the public health arena, I might as well get a general public health nurse masters and not hamstring myself into only being qualified to work with programs that focus on childhood. I have a BS in childhood development, and I love working with kids. What do y'all think?

Elkpark, I understand what PMHNP's general roles are and their various responsibilities. After several months of being unable to find an available PMHNP to shadow, I was recommended this site to get information from those currently working in various nursing specialties. If you have any information pertaining to my question I appreciate the help, if not, then please find another thread to badger.

Hi y'all, So I have an interview next week for an alternate-entry PNP program (I have a non-nursing bachelors degree) and it sounds like an amazing opportunity, but I haven't been able to get much information on what the typical day-to-day work life is like for a PNP, in a hospital environment for example. How much time are you spending with individual patients? is it a sit-down therapy style of treatment or you going room to room writing prescriptions all day? Any help is appreciated!