ncami10

Hi everyone! Just came across this thread! I've been accepted into the GEP Program to start this August as well. I currently do research here at UIC and have for the past two years. My family has actually been in the UIC/ Little Italy neighborhood since my grandparents came here from Italy in the 1920's. If anyone has any questions about the neighborhood, feel free to ask! I live here now and have my whole life so I can help. I'm so excited to meet everyone and start this August. Congrats to everyone else getting in, hope the FB group goes up soon!

From what I understand, you can sit on both at the end of the two years. And also the transition to higher level nursing is easier... "GEM students can complete a streamlined application for admission to a doctoral program after completing a year of the GEM program. Upon graduation you can take doctoral level courses while beginning work as a RN or delay your start until a later term.　 As an example, a GEM student who wishes to continue their education in the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program could complete that program of study part-time in a little over 3 years while working full-time as a RN."

@rain - that's what they said?? hmmm I just enrolled in a microbiology class, kinda $$ but probably worth it as an investment in my future so I will be applying to Rush! Luckily I looked at the syllabus and I have already learned everything on there in all my other Biology courses, and even tutored most of the material in college. mumu - hope you get in!

@hi - I really hope you get in, you originally applied FNP correct? I just think we were just put in a really bad position when that happened. I really don't want to wait another year either. Still pretty upset about not getting in. I majored in Physiology and Neurobiology in my undergrad (out of college for 1 year now) but never had to take Microbiology, even though I've taken every other type of bio out there, none of them will cover Rush's Microbio pre-req. So if I wanted to apply to Rush for the spring I would need to take summer school on top of my 2 jobs this summer so I just don't know if that's possible.....really beating myself up for not 100% covering that specific class in college. I have been thinking about sending in my app to Depaul, but I already live walking distance from UIC/Rush and always had my heart set on those, but I guess things are different now. Still debating and trying to figure it all out now.

I got waitlisted for occ health/fnp, had a feeling after the interview when they said only 4-5 out of the 20 or so applicants there would get in. I switched from FNP originally and wasn't too crazy about the extra year of schooling to get the occ health, and am a strong believer that everything happens for a reason. Congrats to everyone who did get in though, you will LOVE UIC! Sorry to everyone else that didn't get in or got waitlisted, just try to remember this year was extremely competitive, usually the class size is over 70, this year was cut to about 50 at the last second. I will probably work in my research lab here at UIC for another year and reapply next year, and possibly also to Rush and Depaul. I know they might be changing up the GEP program a little so I'm hoping it will still suit me when the time comes. Anyone else thinking about waiting another year to apply to UIC or is everyone just going somewhere else?

Yea huge blackhawks fan here, played hockey all my life! I actually work at the United Center (my night job). I don't get to watch the full game bc I'm serving but it's a great atmosphere either way! Game last night was crazy and it's definitely keeping my mind off these acceptances

Yea I was there yesterday morning for the occ health group interview, they combined us with the school nurse / fnp specialty for the info session (the majority of the masters curriculum is the same for both, FNP) . There were 16-18 of us total in the room. They started off by saying they were only going to accept 5 total from both specialties combined?!....and preceded to tell us other options for backup plans if we don't get in because it was very competitive this year....not the best way to start off an interview! But said we should know by the end of next week. Fingers crossed, good luck everyone

Hopefullady - From what I've been told, these extra '5 classes' take another full year to complete for the occ health and school nurse so it is a bigger commitment, which I didn't know when I switched. Either way I'm still excited and focusing on the interview. I think AGPCNP is still a great option if you want to see a wide variety of patients, it was my #2 choice along with occ health. The great thing about nursing is that there is always room to grow and see what you like. Another thing to consider is AGPCNP is still very broad, which is a good thing if you like seeing a variety of patients. If one day (years from now) you discover you love a certain sub-specialty, your background in AGPCNP could make that transition smoother. Say vs picking a very specific specialty off the bat, it might be harder to change into something different. That's ultimately why I wanted FNP in the first place, so I can definitely relate to you!

@elaurance - I originally applied FNP and have my interview for occupational health / FNP on Monday. From what I understand at the end of the Master's portion I'm allowed to sit on the AANP or ANCC to become a certified Family Nurse Practitioner, as well as the Certified Occupational Health Nurse Specialist (COHN-S) exam. The curriculum is the same as FNP with an additional 5 classes in the last semester which is geared to the occ health sub-specialty. The school nurse/FNP specialty has the same set up I believe.

hey mumu! congrats on the interview! Is yours next week too?

Just got done talking to one of my friends who is an NP at a magnet hospital in Chicago, and she answered honestly about a few things if anyone is interested... -When I asked about being about to find a job as an RN (against BSN) while taking classes towards the masters portion "You can find certain hospitals to work in, but if they are Magnet then you probably would not be able to find a position in those. There are hospitals in the city that aren't Magnet.You can probably find a position in a doctors office as well without BSN. you can find a non-Magnet hospital of doctors office to work in....I don't think it will be too hard especially if it is a part-time position" - I asked about once getting APN degree, does the RN/BSN thing really matter. "When you get your NP degree they will accept you -- it's another state board you have to pass and an NP is that no matter what degree you had before. Finally I asked about the job market for nursing when we would be getting out of school... "I think the job market for NP's is going to be great now that Obamacare is coming around. There will be a greater need for NP's because of the amount of people gaining insurance and the lack of PCP's - NP's will be doing a lot more than they have been.) I do not believe we have anything to worry about!

hmmm very interesting, I'm definitely going to be bringing up all those concerns in my info session, but that's not till the 22nd. a little frustrating it's like that though, because you need a bachelors degree to get into GEP! lol why would be go back to get another bachelors degree just because it's not in nursing? When we are doing the nursing part in a separate 15month program! I guess once you are an NP it doesn't really make a difference? For us that's ultimately the goal so try to concentrate on that. Hopefully for those who are making connections and proactive on getting a job while in the master section will find one, and the job market a little better by the time we get there. Because the job you have as an RN/BSN is not going to be the same job you have as an NP, or for the rest of your life. Of course it's important to gain real experience and work but I think in the next couple years there is going to be a greater need for RN's and NP's. I guess my main concern would be is getting a job as an NP if you don't have a lot of work as an RN extremely hard? I'm guessing it would be.....this all still is making me kinda nervous! One of my friends who is an NP sent me this article recently, you guys should check it out. Nurse Practitioners Are In -- and Why You May Be Seeing More of Them - Knowledge@Wharton

@hi - wow thanks for all the info! very helpful for the rest of us. Can't believe this is the last class for GEP. Weird that the coordinators don't make the final decision. Glad to hear your interview went well!

@girlincali - yea I pretty much got the same email right after I sent that message, interview is April 22nd. The first hour includes everyone and is an information session about the specialty. And then we separate into groups of 2-4 for small group interviews. It said the same thing about this specailty taking an extra year, which I didn't know. It's only an extra 5 classes, so I wonder if you are working at the same time? Definitely have some more questions to ask about that part. because I'm surprised that it said it takes another year for only 5 classes, it must be heavy in clinicals or working or something.

so excited for you all that heard about interview dates! i'm still waiting to hear from occupational health/fnp @girlincali - I saw that you got an interview for school nurse/fnp, wondering if you have heard anything yet? ....thinking our depts are very similar and hopefully we will hear around the same time.