This is brand new:Johns Hopkins University Accelerated BS-MSN CNS with residency

[akkinzo]

Hey guys,

I was just wondering if I was the only one that knew about the recently launched BS-MSN CNS with paid clinical residency as in patient nurse at Johns Hopkins University. The program starts Jan 2011 with about 12-15 students. Does anyone else from this forum applied for this program? Imho, thought the program worth considering as the school has promised automatic employment after the completion of the program,also there will be another two year residency with any of the Johns Hopkins affiliated hospitals. Although, I know the tuition is ridiculously high, I guess the offer of employment right away as an APN will be hard to resist. Again, one might be lucky to see an organization in the future that might want to write off some of those huge loans. I would welcome opinions from anyone that has something to say about this new program and issues that surround it . Thanks for the anticipated reply.

[ambermulan]

It's a really well thought out program from what I know of it. Some of the problems with BSN-MSN programs is the lack of experience, but this program really integrates the experience component into the program so that once you graduate, you not only have an MSN, but the experience to go with it. The hospitals where you will be placed have some form of tuition reimbursement in exchange for a work commitment, although I'm not quite sure how much they cover. I really like the program because it is pretty much a stable job at some stellar hospitals, work experience and an MSN to go with. Its always reassuring to know that you'll have a way of paying off the student loans, although they will be hefty for the first year. My interactions with the admissions committee has been nothing but positive and they work really hard to make sure that this program will be a good fit for you. I would say one of the most important things to think about is whether you can commit to the role of a CNS and whether that's a good fit for you. You don't have to commit to a specialty yet, which is kind of nice and your preceptors will work with you to help you discern what that may be. The other nice part about this is that your BSN classes count towards your masters as well so instead of taking pharmacology and graduate pharmacology, you would just take the graduate pharmacology class. One of the pre-reqs that have been giving people trouble though is the graduate biostatistics class. They will accept an undergraduate stats class for that this time around though. However, in the future, I think it will be required. If you want to take the graduate biostats class, look into local graduate schools and the process for taking the class as a non-matriculating or non-degree student. This will allow you to take the class without having to be accepted to graduate school. I hope that helps.

[akkinzo]

Hey ambermulan,

Thanks a million for taking time to explain comprehensively about the new program at Hopkins,that was very kind of you. Seriously, someone can easily mistaken you for one of the people that established the program because you are so spot on about your analysis of the program. In fact, I thought I was listening all over again to the woman (joAnne) that interviewed me couple of days ago reading your post because what she told me was pretty much the same thing you explained here.

As per committing to function as a CNS, I've researched well about that line of career and think it fits pretty well with what I hope and wish to do in the future. Meanwhile, I've read from different literature and sources including ancc, abns, ana etc that CNS is one of the four APNs, but I've heard people saying some states including Maryland doesn't recognize CNS as APN - is that true? One other concern I have is about the issue of DNP. I was made to believe that by the year 2015 the minimum entry to practice as an advanced nurse will be DNP, so does that include CNS too? I know CRNAs and NPs progrms in some universities have adjusted to this new reality, but am just wondering if the maximum qualification a CNS can have is master, and am like if it is not masters, then why is hopkins embarking on a masters when most schools are phasing out the masters programs for the ANP.

Anyway, I am more than excited right now of hoping to go to Hopkins for my MSN, and will consider myself super lucky and fortunate if am admitted. Btw, as per the graduate biostatistics, I took a statistics class(it called statistical analysis) with the U of Minnesota as non-degree seeking student, although it appeared on my transcripts as undergraduate, the course was actually designed for the graduate students that are writing or about to write research papers (it was even stated on the syllabus as such), so, I don't know how Hopkins will treat this.

Finally, I wish to thank you again for replying to my post, I really appreciate it.