justkeepswimming2

Crux-Thanks so much for the comment. One issue I didn't raise is that most of the NP programs in Chicago (where I live) are moving to DNP. This is the last change to do a masters based NP at UIC, Rush has eliminated them, and many of the other programs won't take transfers without BSNs. If I can really find a research nursing position that I like next year, I think I'll take that as a sign to move to an easier program and just get it all done with.

I'm in a direct entry NP program right now, about to sit for my NCLEX in May. I have a bachelors degrees in business administration. This program will not give me a BSN, but rather a MS once I'm done with the masters courses. I'm starting to wonder if the NP program is worth it, but without it I won't have a degree in nursing. The big issue with a NP program is the clinical requirements. I just found out that I will have three semesters of clinical that will each require between 14 and 25 hours per week. I work in clinical research, and I could see myself working long term as a research RN. I love the field and the work. The only issue is that I doubt I will find a research position that will allow me to take 2 or even 3 days off each week. I know that I could potentially make this work with a floor job, but that really isn't the sort of nursing I'm interested in doing. Anyone have any experience with working in research or another non-floor nursing job while in NP school? I'm starting to wonder if I should just go apply to an RN-MSN program. I'd really appreciate any advice or opinions!

I was clear about the fact that I would not receive a BSN before enrolling in the program. That is not always the case with new students, though, so I wanted to point that out to everyone looking into it. It use to not matter much in the short run if you had a RN or BSN. In the past year of so this has changed drastically, especially in Chicago. GEP students use to get jobs at hospitals that will no longer even take their resumes. I do not blame UIC for the change in job market, of course. I do, however, blame them for presenting this as a program where you can work full time as an RN after 15 months (if you want), and then later say that getting RN experience is not necessary and not the main focus of the program. The students in the program ahead of me are having a very difficult time getting hospitals to even LOOK at their resumes. I would also like to point out the difference between a generalist masters in nursing and the specialized masters that students in the GEP program work toward. Depaul and Rush offer generalist MSN degrees for students in graduate entry programs. These programs are about 2 years and send you on your way with a MSN. You can then go on to take more classes and become a NP if you wish. At UIC, you skip the generalist MSN and go straight for the MS in a specific concentration. Going full time, this will take approximately 3.5-4 years. I can speak pretty well to the struggles of the class above me, as I heard them first hand in a college of nursing town hall meeting just last week. Going through full time without ever working as a nurse, in my opinion, is a risky move. Sure, you will be doing clinical rotations. However, you never really know what it is like to work as a nurse, master skills, and manage a case load, until you practice. That being said, I'm not sure how many hospitals will be willing to take on someone as a pediatric NP who has never worked in a hospital outside of clinical rotations. The nursing school at UIC seems to disagree, but that is the general consensus that students have been getting when they call recruiters. On a positive note, there are some really great instructors and professors. I also couldn't ask for better classmates. Everyone is extremely supportive and collaborative. I now a student in a generalist MSN program who is having the opposite experience with her peers. No one has told me this, so don't take my word on it, but I know UIC is changing their future curriculum. Rumor has it that they are phasing out masters programs for NPs and moving toward doctorates (DNP). It makes me wonder if they will alter the GEP program to get a generalist MSN at time of licensure and then go straight to DNP for most tracks. DNP (doctor of nursing practice) for Nurse Practitioners is the way the nursing world is moving right now, so that would be a progressive move for UIC.

I know you all are probably deep into the application process, but I wanted to make sure that some prospective students see this. I really think that people should think twice before entering UIC's GEP program. As a current student, I feel that I can really speak to that . I posted a thread that I hope you all take a look at while you are applying to nursing programs. https://allnurses.com/pre-nursing-student/uic-gep-prospective-817169.html#post7186765

Normally, I wouldn't post a thread like this. However, I believe that I need to put this information out there so that future students know what I did not before entering a graduate entry program, such as the one at University of Illinois- Chicago. Despite the high ranking both in Illinois and the U.S. overall, this program does not offer any advantages. Currently, students spend 15 months in an intense pre-licensure portion of the program. You are encouraged to not work, despite having to spend ~$50K on this portion alone. When you are done, you can sit for the NCLEX and earn an RN. This is not, however, a BSN or a MSN. Despite having an existing BS or BA, students are considered to be in the exact same pool as associates program graduates. The only real difference is that you spent 3 times a much as the students from your local community college. The nursing world is moving toward BSN or higher. This is simply a fact. To have magnet status, a hospital has to employ at least 80% bachelors or masters prepared students. As a result, many urban hospitals are only looking at candidates with BSNs or MSNs. It should also be noted that in a city such as Chicago, it is currently taking at least 6 months to find an entry level nursing job. This includes BSN students. Thus, it is even harder for mere RNs. You may be told that students are encouraged to finish the first 15 months of this program and then work full time while completing the degree part time. Once you are in the program this will change. The dean and other administrators will deny ever pushing working as an RN. They believe that the nursing world is working toward APN/NP/CNS going straight through school without obtaining significant RN experience. They will ignore anyone who mentions that no one can get hired in hospital as an acute care NP without any acute care experience, or how anyone is suppose to finance 4 years of full time schooling without any promise of a well paying job as an outcome. Aside from all of this, the staff is extremely unorganized. The lab portion of the program is a complete mess. Students are made to feel stupid on a weekly basis as well. Outcomes of testing depends almost entirely on who you are assigned to that week. If I hadn't already dumped thousands of dollars (in 2 months) into this program, and if I had already taken the pre-requisites, I would be dropping out immediately and applying to an accelerated BSN or generalist MSN program. The class if full of amazing individuals, and not every professor is a complete ass, but this hardly makes up for the rest of the program. Struggling through would be a lot more tolerable if there was a promise of a job at the end of the tunnel. No one had ever presented it to me like this before I applied, so I hope that this will be helpful to others in making their decisions. This program may still work for some of you, which is fine. If anyone who reads this has any questions, please feel free to let me know and I will do my best to answer them.