AlyshaAdele

I had been accepted into Emory's Fall 2023 cohort but decided to defer as my baby was due only a few months prior to the start of the program. It really made me feel a lot better about deferring to know that someone really ready to start the program would be able to fill my spot in my place. I am now in the Fall 2024 cohort & am starting the program next month!! Any advice and insight would be greatly appreciated, if anyone sees this, please! I'm especially wondering how many hours you spent studying outside of class/clinical requirements. I'm a mom of 2 littles so am trying to prepare myself! ?

Hi, OP ? May I ask for an update as to how you’re feeling in the NICU thus far (assuming you’re still there) please? I just read your original post & all the informative replies and am very curious to know… I am seriously considering applying for an accelerated MN program (Master’s of Nursing) very soon, in order to work as a NICU nurse. I am just feeling extremely nervous of my potential/competency, similarly to what you expressed in post. I had already completed all of the nursing science pre-reqs prior to starting a Master’s program to be a therapist, actually. Then I became pregnant, my baby was born early, and needed 3 open heart surgeries during his first week of life... That aspect of how/why my attention/interests turned back towards nursing, especially the NICU, probably speaks for itself! I also happened to be an open heart surgery kid (x2) myself. Anyways, I would really love to hear from you, if you’ve gained any additional insight, experience, and/or confidence thus far, please? I am especially prone to “Imposter Syndrome” (essentially doubting your abilities despite proving them, if you’re not familiar) so hearing from someone who went into the NICU with reservations but has had time to build experience would be very informative, and possibly encouraging, for me, I think. I’m also open to hearing from anyone else who may be able to chime in. Please & Thank you :)

I've spent hoardes of time reading the boards here but it's time for my first post! I'm a pre-nursing student with a Bachelor's degree in another field. While I could apply to an ABSN or traditional BSN program in order to earn a second degree in nursing; I would then need approx. 3 years of experience working FT as an RN in order to apply for a local MSN program. I am ultimately interested in becoming a Nurse Practitioner, and do not feel I would be personally disappointed not having experience as an RN first. I do highly respect the vital and needed role of an RN, I just feel personally excited about the role of a NP most (scope of practice, day-to-day duties, the msn education, wanting to finish ALL my education NOW rather than later, etc.) I currently live in Atlanta but am hoping to move back to my hometown (San Francisco) with my husband. Thus it will make SO much more sense to complete ALL of my education here & NOW where education & cost of living are significantly comparable to that of CA. Thus, we don't really have "3 yrs" for me to work between an ABSN and MSN program; not to mention having to apply to 2 programs rather than 1 (the D.E. MSN) where I can enroll to earn my RN license after first year, followed by 2-3/4+ years to earn MSN, seamlessly. But instead of proving my reasoning for applying for a "Direct Entry" MSN program, Id like to ask D.E. Trained MSN NP's out there if they felt they were at a severe disadvantage in two specific areas 1. Hirability 2. Experience/Competence having not had experience as an RN prior to working as an NP. The great news is that Id hopefully enroll at a high quality program like EMORY, so Id be interested to hear your opinion, but also the quality of your program so I can take that into consideration. I'd like to know if it's hard to get hired as a new D.E. MSN grad sans RN experience (aside from that offered by your program) as well as if you felt severely incompetent or at a serious disadvantage without RN work experience once hired and working the floor. I insinuate nothing of offensive nature by my post. I am not trying to take the "easy path" and skip anything to become an NP. I am prepared to work very hard to get where Id like to go and I've seen this can be a controversial path. I also mean no disrespect to D.E. MSN grads if they have successfully been hired and feel they are just as competent as those with RN work under their belt. My questions are just assuming the worst of a potential path so as to encourage blunt honesty from readers. I Am a student who needs honest information from you and is asking an honest (possibly uninformed) question. Of great concern is a comment from an NP I met working at a CVS. She advised me to "get experience working as an RN prior to earning your MSN, or you will fail at being an NP". Please agree or disagree with her advice, providing as much support as possible for your opinion. I am sincerely grateful for your taking the time to read my long post as well as for taking the time and care to help advise me. Thank you!!!!