CreateHealing

"..Med error"

Your advice here is pretty wonderful. I'm going to do all that. Thank you!

Hi Max, Thanks for all your information so far. It's been really helpful. Do you think working per diem at the hospital is worth missing out on studying time if it's working with nurses and getting experience, or have you talked with/experienced that taking time to study was a better use of time? Thanks and good luck with your classes/work! Lydia

Hello all! Congrats to all the people who posted their acceptance!! Great work you all! Stephanie, I was wondering about working too. I was hoping I could switch to per diem or something and I am wondering if people in the class ahead of us work as well? Thanks a lot for your information, thebigfreeze!

Hi all, So cool to have an idea about people in the program already. I live local too (hence the almost comically long description of the area), so I will probably be commuting too. This morning I was talking to some nurses about what brought them through the rough parts of nursing school. One woman (she's a great nurse and she was resource today), leaned back and said "My study group, definitely. They kept me accountable when I didn't show up." I'm not saying we'll all be best friends or anything (not saying we won't either), but there's strength in numbers and all that Just passing on what I heard today. That said, is anyone around to grab a coffee in the coming months and swap ideas? I work and I'm in school so my schedule is weird to work with, but no harm in asking. Lydia

Hi Jake, Congratulations!! I just found out I'll be in the acute care track. Good idea starting this thread. So, Worcester county can be pretty good spot. First things first, lots of grocery stores near UMass and it's much cheaper than Boston and most other cities. Craigslist has a good lot on there and the announcement boards in the hospital and the school side are always full of postings for places to rent. Also, short 15 minutes trips get you into rural areas that are a great relaxing spots (orchards, family owned restaurants on farms, etc) and there are plenty of coffee/tea shops and lots of gyms. The Worcester Art Museum is also a gem most people don't realize. There's a cool old train station that is hosts a short train ride from Boston and buses that will take you to NYC. Public transit around the city- I don't know it well, but it shuttles a lot of patients into the hospital so I'm sure it's fine. Definitely not as cool as Boston, but I think you'll like it. Best of luck getting everything together. Welcome to Worcester (soon), Lydia

Hi Vitiana! Just wanted to let you know I was accepted into the program and I start in August! I'm so thrilled and thankful.. divine providence I think!

Thank you Catamonts! Would you recommend more volunteer experience in different types of units in hospitals or do you think working in cardiac and psych is enough experience? Thanks in advance! Do you mind my asking what your nursing school experience was like? Do you have any advice?

I definitely will! and thanks! --Good luck!!

This is one of my favorite responses to this! I see you work in a CV-ICU, do you have any book recommendations for someone working in a cardiac ICU med/surg floor to help prepare? I'm an nurse assistant/tech/secretary and I love my work and I learn all I can, but I always want to learn more. I just finished applying for a bachelor's to AC-DNP program). Thanks for any help, and if you're too busy, thanks for what you do!

"Nursing is part of the nursing model of care provision, not the medical model. Therefore, putting the DNP degree up against the MD would be like comparing apples to banana loaf bread." Fantastic comparison. It's very funny and probably far more realistic than I even imagine.

Hello nursing students and professionals, Reading many of these comments and threads has been both encouraging and enlightening. I figured I'd join the ranks at last and get some needed advice.. I'm applying to the acute care GEP DNP program at UMass Worcester with: Grades: 3.3 GPA undergrad BA 3.0 GPA science post-bacc classes at decent schools GRE: (not great :/ ) 303 + essays hopefully did well since I worked as an editor's assistant and late correspondent for newspapers 2012-14. Current work: cardiac ICU as a PCA mental health counselor on adult psychiatric unit (moonlight job) freelance artist/photographer/writer (per commission) Volunteer experience in: ER in NH, 2014 Psych in MA, 2013 Kid's church camp in MA, 2012 Port-au-Prince, clinic, Haiti, 2010 I applied last week. Is it generally in January people hear back? If I don't get in, my boss suggested accelerated BSN at UMass Amherst, good local choice? If I do get in, how can I maximize success here? Thank you all in advance!