Rush- GEM Program

Depaul has a MS in Nursing program too... same price, 2 years - then you are an RN... need about 1 year more for APN...

Hey there Franate!

I just started the GEM program this Winter 2009 - I am part of the 2nd cohort. The first cohort started in June '08 and are in their third quarter. My first quarter ends next week and so far it's been okay!!

I remember looking at DePaul and Loyola too but for me, Rush fit better. It's 18 months of classes (6 quarters) and then another quarter of "residency" where you are in a unit in the hospital full time. And you come out with your MSN and can take the new exam for Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) certification. This is a new certificate program and the generalist entry is a new thing as well - not many schools offer it right now and we will be some of hte first to come out of a program of this type.

This quarter wasn't that bad - we only had class 1.5 days a week, plus one day of clinical, which was fine. 2nd quarter is supposed to be the intense quarter because it is Pharmacology, Pathophysiology and Health Assessment which are all very intense classes. this quarter was more fluffy classes about theory and commnication - foundation stuff. But almost everyone from the 1st cohort made it past the 2nd quarter except for 2, one of whom withdrew for personal reasons.

However, there are likely to be changes made for the cohort beginning in June '09. The faculty wanted to have two cohorts go through the first quarter before making any major changes to the curriculum. My clinical instructor is one of our teachers next quarter and part of the program faculty and she is going to push for her class - Health Assessment - to be first quarter in order to lighten the load of second quarter and reduce the intensity of it. We all think that would be a very effective change.

There are still kinks in the program (ie: the school of nursing is TERRIBLE at communicating!! there is miscommunication b/t instructors and from faculty to students! it's a running joke now..) becaus eit is new, but as I said, after we finish this quarter and next quarter, they will likely make changes for the better and work out those kinks. We are having a cohort forum next week to come and discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of what we've experienced so far. So at least they want to hear from us!

Feel free to ask more questions!

Hi there,

My apologies for taking so long to respond to your post. Thanks very much for all of your useful information.

I had my interview in early March and found out last week that I have been accepted to the GEM program. I am very excited; just have a little nervous anticipation about balancing the workload with 2 young kids. I am sure it will all work out. I do have 1 question that perhaps you might be able to help with- as far as the end of the school day, at what time does that usually fall? I ask because summer through Sept/Oct, I am going to have to pick-up my kids from daycare/school and I need to get them by 6P. I do understand that some clinicals can be scheduled into the evening, but I was told they would give notice for situations like these.

Otherwise, I am just trying to finish up 2 pre-req courses...Organic chemistry is a lot tougher than I thought it would be!

Also, is each quarter 12-weeks?

I will check back soon!

Take care!

hi, do you know if survey of organic chem and bio chem is ok for the organic prereq? I am planning on applying soon, but i dont know if my grades or gre scores are strong enough. how competitive do you think it is to get in?

thanks!

Best thing to do is to call the school. That way they can tell you what you need and don't need..... Good luck!

hi, do you know if survey of organic chem and bio chem is ok for the organic prereq? I am planning on applying soon, but i dont know if my grades or gre scores are strong enough. how competitive do you think it is to get in?

thanks!

I know you were told to call the school but make sure that when you do you right down the name of the person that gives you permisssion to take a course. I took a course per their ok and am now being told that it was the wrong course and I now have to retake another course so therefore I have wasted time and money. I can not remember the young ladies name who gave me the permission to take the course and I had the vm saved but changed home phone service providers and lost the message.

Hey there Franate!

I just started the GEM program this Winter 2009 - I am part of the 2nd cohort. The first cohort started in June '08 and are in their third quarter. My first quarter ends next week and so far it's been okay!!

I remember looking at DePaul and Loyola too but for me, Rush fit better. It's 18 months of classes (6 quarters) and then another quarter of "residency" where you are in a unit in the hospital full time. And you come out with your MSN and can take the new exam for Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) certification. This is a new certificate program and the generalist entry is a new thing as well - not many schools offer it right now and we will be some of hte first to come out of a program of this type.

This quarter wasn't that bad - we only had class 1.5 days a week, plus one day of clinical, which was fine. 2nd quarter is supposed to be the intense quarter because it is Pharmacology, Pathophysiology and Health Assessment which are all very intense classes. this quarter was more fluffy classes about theory and commnication - foundation stuff. But almost everyone from the 1st cohort made it past the 2nd quarter except for 2, one of whom withdrew for personal reasons.

However, there are likely to be changes made for the cohort beginning in June '09. The faculty wanted to have two cohorts go through the first quarter before making any major changes to the curriculum. My clinical instructor is one of our teachers next quarter and part of the program faculty and she is going to push for her class - Health Assessment - to be first quarter in order to lighten the load of second quarter and reduce the intensity of it. We all think that would be a very effective change.

There are still kinks in the program (ie: the school of nursing is TERRIBLE at communicating!! there is miscommunication b/t instructors and from faculty to students! it's a running joke now..) becaus eit is new, but as I said, after we finish this quarter and next quarter, they will likely make changes for the better and work out those kinks. We are having a cohort forum next week to come and discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of what we've experienced so far. So at least they want to hear from us!

Feel free to ask more questions!

Hello,

I am applying to this program as well but I am now about to tackle my last pre-req (organic chem) which is totally terrifying!

I wanted to know was the program really hard to get in I keep hearing these horror stories at least with UIC of being waitlisted and such.

I was wondering with this program if there was a strong support systems such as tutoring available and or open door policies of beeing able to go and talk to an instructor as help is needed.

I know you may not be able to answer these questions as of yet because it sounds like you have had a great 1st qtr but classes like that Pharmacology terrify me. I have three kids and am trying to do whatever necessary to improve our quality of life and with the amount of money I will have to come out of pocket and apply for in loans this is a program that I am intent on exceling in.

Congratulation on a great accomplishment and I look forward to hearing from you.

Tiffany

Hello,

I have an interview with Rush this friday for GEM program, I wondering if you can help me out since you had yours in March. I am very nervous about this interview and hoping to get any help possible. Just wanted to know what are some questions they ask and if you have an advice for me. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Ally

Tiffany,

I am in he last BSN class at Rush and will graduate in June. My experience has been that if you need help, there is always someone available to help tutor. We were assigned mentors at the beginning of the program and mine was great about keeping in touch and making herself available. The instructors do have an open door policy and are very receptive to giving advice. They really want you to succeed but you have to take the lead and ask for help if you need it. Someone posted that there is a communication problem and I have found that to be true, but I attributed that to the fact that we are the last BSN program at Rush and they were too preoccupied with the new GEM program. Good luck to you...Rush really is a good and respected program.

Wow,

Thank you so much for the response, words can not express how grateful I am.

Congratulations on your inpending graduation I am so jealous :-}

I wondered about Rush because last year I was told to take one particular nutrition I took it and now they are telling me that it is not the right nutrition to take another one. So at some point they were having a problem with communication and I got kind of upset because I pay for classes out of pocket and I am sure we both know how difficult that can be especially in this economy.

But as far as asking for help I don't mind doing that especially when you are going to school on your own dime/loans you definitely are not trying to waste anyones time.

Hi out there!

I was wondering if anyone knew what exactly Rush was looking for in the essay that you are expected to write when applying? I ask this because some schools want technical essays while others want your writing to be mostly from the heart.

I also wondered if anyone could give me some pointers on the interview?

Hi,

The essay I wrote was from the heart and wasn't technical by any means. I did not have an interview for admission, but I do know that some of my fellow classmates did. I'm not sure why some did and some didn't. Our class was very diverse; all ages, genders and orientation. I do know that they look at the whole person and not just grades like some schools (UIC).

Good Luck!!