Is anyone applying to the Fall 2012 program ? I have a few questions and I think it would be good to share our concerns regarding the application process here.
I am a preschool teacher and I am applying for 2012. Have very little healthcare volunteer experience and wondering if that really maters. I have some experience looking after a family member who had a stomach surgery and chemo.
hey guys, just got my letter from ucla. i'm also on the waiting list in 30s. i heard from three other schools and i need to respond to them asap. do you think i got any chance to get it? this is so frustrating!
@jungdt i have no idea! it all depends if you want to chance it or not. I know it is probably hard to make a decision because UCLA is such a great school but it is better to have a secure spot for sure! congratulations on all your other acceptances!
Hi everyone! If there are any current or former UCLA MECN students reading this, I would love to have feedback on the program. Likes/dislikes? Is the program organized? Sufficient clinical time? Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated! I am currently trying to make a decision between UCLA MECN and CSUN ABSN. Thanks so much!
I'm a first year MECN now, congrats to everyone who got in! And to those who got waitlisted, there's still hope! I was waitlisted (8th) and got in. I know that this year they have 90 spots compared to last year's 60, and I also know that they took around 25 people (don't know the exact number) off the waitlist. Given that your cohort is larger, I would keep hope alive if you're 30 or below, but of course that's just a ballpark figure. And if you didn't get in, just keep your head up, keep working hard to enhance your application, and keep reapplying; I know a few people who had to reapply several times and sure enough, they're finally here.
The program is awesome as I'm sure others have told you. You're going to be working HARD the whole time, so use summer to relax and spend time with your family and friends because they're going to be seeing very little of you. Be prepared for a huge emphasis on the CNL role. Everyone in the program is awesome, and we all have the "no MECN left behind" mentality -- we're always there to help one another so that we can perform our best. To anyone who's on the fence with UCLA, I highly recommend it.
Good luck, hope to see some of you in the fall! Feel free to PM me with questions
Incudal.....I have two questions. First, do you feel that you have a sufficient amount of time dedicated to learning clinical nursing skills or do you ever find yourself wanting to focus more on this aspect of the program? Second, do you know any job placement stats for graduates of the program? Thank you SO much - it helps so much to talk to someone with firsthand experience!
I am a first year MECN and to go along with Incudal (who are you??) I agree. I love the program. It is really time consuming but worth it. I am glad that we don't have clinicals right away so that we can learn assessment and the basics before we start practicing. We start clinicals in April and do them for a year straight then do an immersion into our selected field for the last quarter. We have alot of clinical time, actually more than most programs out there, so you shouldn't worry about that.
As far as I know, most of the MECNs that graduated last year are working as of now. I am not sure about numbers but it sounds like everyone finds jobs. All of the 2nd years area applying now so we will see how they do.
I think UCLA prepares you well for working in the field from what I've heard. I also know that some hospitals prefer UCLA students and love to hire them. Additionally, you have to remember that you are receiving a MASTER's degree in this program. It is more intense than the accelerated bachelor programs out there but totally worth it if you are looking to may more money, move up in the administrative field, teach, go on for an APN, etc. Weigh your options. I didn't apply to any A-BSN programs because I wanted my MSN as I know magnet hospitals tend to lean towards hiring more and more MSNs.
I second everything that Lisa said (Lisa -- this is Niko). Do not worry at all about getting sufficient clinical hours. For example, UCLA's immersion (some schools call it capstone, immersion...whatever) has the most clinical rotation hours in any school in southern California at 360 hours, and I think the second most is MSM with 90 hours (don't quote me on this...), so don't be concerned about not getting clinical rotations in the first quarter. I strongly agree with Lisa in that I actually prefer not having clinicals first because it allows us to really master the didactic part first and THEN integrate it into patient care.
Yes Niko! Haha. I was tryin to find that number. We have more immersion hours than most schools and that is really important because that is when you are really at the end of your schooling and putting everything into practice. They really stress that nurese have to be critical thinkers, and in order to critically think, you need knowledge. The clinical skills all come with practice and you will get plenty of that. But you need to be able to critically think on the floor and for this you really need to understand the science and art behind the nursing practice...not just how to put in IVs and administer meds. You will do plenty of that, but once you know how, you know how. UCLA really evolves your way of looking at nursing through individual and systems levels. I would highly suggest it. And now I am headed to Veteran's Hospital in LA...another place where they LOVE MECNS AND CNLs!!!
I was hoping one of the current MECN students who have participated on this thread might be able to answer a few of my questions :) I've been accepted for Fall 2012 and am trying to choose between UCLA and USD. Thank you in advance!
First, does anyone know the exact number of clinical hours? It sounds like we get more than enough, but I'm just trying to make some comparisons between programs and would really appreciate a number.
Second, what do current students think about the affects of the budget crisis on the UC system? I know there have been tuition increases, which I expect, but do any of you feel like valuable things have been cut from the program?
How are the professors and administration? I'm a former UCSD student and have had some pretty bad experiences with professors who just don't care and administrators who aren't willing to help you. For that reason I'm a little bit wary of public schools.
Finally, is there any time in a simulation lab? I have seen some things on the web site mentioning lab work, but I haven't found anything about MECN use of a simulation lab. Most other schools are pretty eager to advertise their labs, but maybe UCLA is so awesome they don't need to :)
I can tell you that ALL public schools have been heavily affected by the budget cuts. If you don't like the politics behind public schools I would go with the private school. As a student that has been in the public school system since grade school, I would advise a private vs. a public... It's too stressful to deal with the public school system, especially in our contemporary economic times.
Hello everyone! I first want to say I send my heart out to those who have been waitlisted or not accepted. I can only imagine how difficult it is, I admire your strength.
I, too, received my acceptance letter to the program last Saturday. I am just so excited to meet all of you in the Fall!!! I am most likely going to be taking the Nursing 50 (epidemiology) this summer. Anybody else? I know they offer Epidemiology 100 at a different time of day, but they suggest nursing 50...
jungdt
50 Posts
hey guys, just got my letter from ucla. i'm also on the waiting list in 30s. i heard from three other schools and i need to respond to them asap. do you think i got any chance to get it? this is so frustrating!