It's pretty disappointing (I'm not a girl that gets rejected often!), but I figure it will give me time to really prepare to apply again next year. Applying for this fall was a last minute decision, that left me feeling rushed and only able to apply to one school before their deadline (though, really, I only wanted to apply to one school, as it was the only one I could afford).
I didn't anticipate getting rejected so I didn't worry about only applying to one school, but next year I will make sure to apply EVERYWHERE.
I'm also not entirely sure why I was rejected. Of course they give you no explanation. I'm hearing from a lot of people that NP school is incredibly competitive, so the only thing I can surmise is that they were going to pick a nurse that had more experience over me. I've got everything I needed - the grades, the recommendations, (some) floor experience as well as office experience, volunteer work, (what I thought was) a bangin' good essay re: why I wanted this...but going into the school year I will have only had one year's experience as an RN (seven months at the time I applied). I figured in a large pool of applicants where they are trying to pare down best they can, cutting me would be easy from that perspective.
How else can I prepare for next year?
I'm wondering about the essay - I guess knowing how competitive it is, I need to REALLY make sure my essay stands out (I whipped that bad boy out in about three minutes). What kind of things do I need to write about, besides why I want to be an NP? What do you think they're looking for?
There are no schools in my area, I have to either do it only or move out of state. I am looking at FNP programs but I have no critical care experience and no jobs in my area to gain it. I am so frustrated, I thought with my GPA and BSN degree it would not be this dificult. No school mentions critical care experience as a requirement but it seems to be a big issue.
That does seem odd to cite you for not having critical care experience when it is not listed as a requirement. What type of nursing experience do you have?
The schools you applied to may no longer have a MSN program but there will continue to be MSN programs at other schools after 2015 until the states and certifying bodies change their requirements. There is a local FNP program in my area that has no plans to convert to a DNP because they don't have approval from the state. The prof told me they would have to shut down their program if the DNP became a requirement. Why don't you PM me with the 6 schools you applied to so we can come up with other schools for you to apply to?
There are several online NP programs that others have suggested on here. Don't despair, there is a program out there for you.
Also, I was told by one school , which is highly competitive, to take a couple of graduate level classes like Pathophysiology, Nursing research or Nursing theory in order to have an edge over other applicants. I decided not to apply to the school, but the advice he gave to me may be helpful to you as you get ready to apply to more schools. Once you're accepted, the classes can be transferred in, depending on the school.
I know Indiana Wesleyan University and South University offer online graduate nursing courses that are only 5-7 weeks long with rolling admission dates, you don't have to apply to their MSN programs. Their NP programs are not online.
I would prefer an online FNP program that I only have to go to the campus two or three times. I worked in a nursing home for a year and I have been in dialysis for the last five. I applied to Clarkston University in Omaha Nebraska (online program, have to go there twice) also Georgetown University in Washington (also online, have to go there twice.) Graceland University in Missiour (online, have to go there twice). University of Northern Colorado (ground campus) Creighton University in Omaha (ground campus) University of Phoenix (ground campus.) I looked into Duke University but you have to go there once a semester and it is in North Carolina. Any help would be appreciated.
What type of dialysis nursing are you doing? For instance, the HD RNs that come to our hospital to provide HD do not assess patients, they strictly run the HD machines, while most HD in the outpatient clinics is run by techs with a RN in the building to supervise. The programs may be questioning the level of your assessment skills. As I said before, it is very competitive out here now. I would suggest broadening your nursing experience. Your current level of experience is quite specialized. That may be the deciding factor between you and another canidate when applying to a FNP program. FNP is the most popular advanced nursing practice specialty. Since FNP is a broad, they are probably looking for someone with a broad level of experience. Are you able to get a part-time job on a telemetry unit to beef up your experience prior to reapplying?
I would also suggest contacting admission directors and ask how they would view your level of experience. The school I was accepted to requires 2000 hrs of acute care experience and CCRN certification prior to starting clinicals in the ACNP program. I'm pretty sure that my having 7yrs ICU experience and CCRN certification prior to applying was what separated me from the pack. Every program is different; quite a few of the other schools that I applied to emphasized GRE scores, GPA and state of residence vs extent of experience and certifications. Maybe you can look at schools that don't require acute care experience. You would then have a leg up against those applying who don't have experience.
I hope this helps. Please don't give up!
P.S. If you're willing to relocate, check out Loyola University Chicago. They have a FNP program and they require 2000 hrs of clinical nursing experience prior to applying but they don't specify what type of clinical experience is required. Their admissions counselor is very nice and helpful. She would be more than willing to evaluate your experience and stats to see if you would be a strong candidate for their program. They are on the pricey side but it's worth a shot.
I will check into all of these schools. When I search online so many schools show up but when I request info from them they offer a masters in nursing but not a nurse practitioner degree. Thank you all for your help:)
I work in a small chronic hemo dialysis unit, we have no techs, the nurses do everything. I do not think that schools understand what it is that I do, some let me explain but many do not.
Hmmm...the DNP is causing a huge influx of apps to beat the 2015 deadline as mentioned earlier. Coulda, shoulda, woulda...now what to do. Thanks for all the great posts on here...interest is in Psych/Mental Health...
I will check into all of these schools. When I search online so many schools show up but when I request info from them they offer a masters in nursing but not a nurse practitioner degree. Thank you all for your help:)
I work in a small chronic hemo dialysis unit, we have no techs, the nurses do everything. I do not think that schools understand what it is that I do, some let me explain but many do not.
In that case, I think it would be a good idea to make personal contact with the admissions office when applying. That will give you an opportunity to explain your work experience and how you function without techs. This will enable them to feel you out and you can find out what experience they are looking for. I bet they are assuming that you strictly run the HD machines and don't assess patients. I would also incorporate what you do in your application essay if they require one. It may help if they actually know and understand what you do, the skills acquired and how it will help you in advanced practice studies. For instance, if you function with a high level of autonomy, emphasize that. Do you provide a lot of teaching? Then describe that in detail. FNP is all about teaching, health promotion, etc. so tie your current experience into that.
Also, you may consider applying to adult NP programs unless you have your heart set on doing peds. The competition may not be as thick and they may be more accepting of your nursing experience.
kemcderm
8 Posts
There are no schools in my area, I have to either do it only or move out of state. I am looking at FNP programs but I have no critical care experience and no jobs in my area to gain it. I am so frustrated, I thought with my GPA and BSN degree it would not be this dificult. No school mentions critical care experience as a requirement but it seems to be a big issue.