2014 UCSF MEPN Applicants

nursetobe18 · Oct 24, 2013

If I don't get into UCSF this year, it's God's way of saying I should just stick with my current nursing program. You guys do make me a little nervous when you say that people are hiring only those who hold a BSN but would not hire a MSN. I don't mind putting in my time to pay the dues, I just can't see myself cleaning people's butts every day for the rest of my life.
At this point, I kind have stopped looking at the gdapply website. UCSF at this point is just no longer a priority, hah.

@stephenandrews Don't get discouraged, no one is saying that people aren't hiring those with an MSN. Nurse Practitioners are in demand, especially with the changing healthcare system. Someone was merely pointing out that if you are looking for part time or per diem work as an RN after the first year of the program (once you have passed the NCLEX and you are an RN) that it is competitive and that traditional 4 year BSN RNs may be in greater demand. However, this is a huge generalization and of course does not say that it's impossible to get an RN job. Once you have finished the program and have a masters degree, you will certainly have a greater chance of getting a job than a BSN RN.

samdaman · Oct 25, 2013

Thanks for your input all! All your points are extremely valid. Let me address some things...

1. Spanish is NOT a requirement for the FNP. I was ready to dust off my high school Spanish for my interview, but wasn't even questioned about my ability to speak Spanish. I have heard of other years where a portion of the interview was done in Spanish but that definitely wasn't the case this year. Having a working knowledge is good...fluency is even better, but I think as long as you have a heart to serve the underprivilidged, I think that speaks more than just your Spanish speaking ability. I definitely want to try to take some classes to improve my Spanish, but I'll also have many opportunities to practice it once I start working in 3 years. So my point, don't be turned away from applying if you don't speak Spanish.

2. Cost is important...at least the new UC president (Janet Napolitano) is aware of the skyrocketing costs of UC education and I know that everything is being done to make sure tuition fees do not increase! The costs for us has increased over 40% in the last 2 years and that has definitely scared a lot of my class. But you know there's a lot of financial aid available and there are loan forgiveness programs for those who decide to work in underprivileged populations after grad.

3. Don't worry about the whole DNP thing....we're all grandfathered into it for now. An FNP will still be an FNP. I know of people who work as NPs and also pick up per diem shifts. What's really most important is who you know and networking with everyone you come in contact with. Get involved, work hard, and when working your clinicals....people and nurses will remember you and it'll make it easier down the line when you need to apply for jobs. In 3-4 years, there should be a lot more jobs available (as long as RNs from other states don't keep flooding into California to take our jobs!!!). The way the job market is right now just for RNs is still pretty rough. But for NPs...the world is our oyster! Heck, there are even MEPNS who've graduated and decided that the whole NP thing wasn't for them and they just got jobs working as RNs at the bedside!

I was kinda concerned about not really getting a BSN, but again....read my point above. An MSN trumps a BSN...and it's MUCH MUCH easier to get a job as an NP than an RN right now! So don't let the naysayer dissuade you.

Alright folks. I've got another 13 hour shift tomorrow at 6:30am so I'm out!

fishe23a · Oct 26, 2013

I have spoken to a few midwives (applying for MEPN CNM/WHNP specialty) and the general hiring consensus at hospitals have been that having an MSN trumps not having a BSN. It is true that Magnet hospitals pretty much only hire RNs with BSNs and not associate's degrees, but if you are looking for per diem work as an RN during the Master's portion of the program, there is less of a problem if you are a competitive applicant looking to be hired at a non-Magnet hospital.

That being said, UCSF Medical Center has achieved Magnet status as of 2012, so it's possible (though I think we'd have to talk to faculty and current students about this!) that actually getting a job as an RN at UCSF during the Master's years could be complicated. I don't know if they make exceptions due to the fact that you are a student in their own program which does not offer a BSN - but when I interviewed at other schools last year and specifically asked about lack of BSN, most faculty members did admit to me (albeit begrudgingly) that it can be difficult for non-BSN RNs to obtain part time work during the two Master's years of these similar MEPN-type programs due to lack of BSN status. Many things to weigh and consider, especially given the price of the program. I'd be willing to bet that applications to MEPN-type programs have decreased in number over the last couple of years especially due to issues like this. No one wants to pay $60K for an education that cannot be used to get them a job while they pursue graduate level education...

Kuriin, BSN, RN · Oct 27, 2013

I'm actually shocked that UCSF does not award MEPN students with a BSN. This is all disheartening and is making me rethink UCSF altogether and just sticking with my current BSN program. I would finish in the same amount of time (I get my BSN next year) but it would take me an additional 3 years to get my Masters if I don't do an accelerated program. Arghhh....

fishe23a · Oct 27, 2013

Many of the programs don't. Yale, for example, which has one of the top five midwifery programs in the country, considers their nursing school to be a graduate school only, and also does not offer a BSN. It's something I think programs will have to change, though...

hscPNP · Oct 30, 2013

hi guys, congrats on applying to UCSF! i applied last year and got in, but ultimately chose another school because of the BSN issue. UCSF is a fantastic program with passionate faculty and great clinical sites, however not having that BSN is tricky. most hospitals major hospitals are either magnet hospitals, or applying for magnet status. to get magnet status, the majority of your RNs have to have a BSN. this is why they are phasing out hiring associate's degree RNs. for MEPN graduates, the MSN does ultimately trump the lack of a BSN, but your first few years out of the program are *likely* to be more of a struggle in terms of finding work. that is not an absolute, just something to consider. and unfortunately, UCSF shows no preference towards its MEPN graduates, and doesn't have a trend of hiring its own graduates. again, this does not mean it's impossible to find a nursing job, just that it will be more difficult for you. not having a BSN can potentially continue to affect your job opportunities as an NP because older nurses (e.g. hiring managers) tend to have a strong bias regarding the need for a BSN. not that that bias is generally justified, but it just is what it is.

as to the concern over the cost of the program, i would not let that be a deterrent from applying to UCSF. the MSN portion of the program is still very, very cheap, and i think at the end of the 3 years you still come out owing less than those that go to private schools. also, as a MEPN program you have access to graduate funding from day one, so it is MUCH easier to get federal loans. cost of living is very high, but if you ultimately want to be in the Bay Area, getting to do your clinical rotations locally is worth it in my opinion. expect to take out in the ballpark of $80-95k in loans for the MEPN year depending on your living costs.

finally, i would advise that having a strong working knowledge of WHY you want to go into your chosen specialty is critical for ultimately getting accepted into the program. if you really want to be an acute care NP, UCSF's MEPN program is not the place for you. go get your BSN somewhere else, then come back to UCSF for the MSN in an acute care specialty if you really want to go to UCSF. settling for a primary care specialty such as FNP or AGNP or PNP will not be worth it if that's not what you really want to do. you will not have the opportunity to switch your MSN specialty either, so if you are undecided about that then the MEPN program again isn't the best place for you. it seems a lot of people end up applying to the FNP program because they don't really know what they want to do, or because it is the next best thing to the acute care specialty that they really want, or because it gives you the widest options. that's why it's very competitive. however, if you do know that you want to go into primary care, and especially if you are passionate about working in low-income communities, UCSF would be a great place for you.

anyhow, back to prepping for my clinical shift tomorrow but good luck to all of you! you won't hear back until december so try yourself to just put it to the side until then and not worry. :)

myelin · Oct 30, 2013

Do not stress about finding an NP job after MEPN. Every single member of the psych NP class that just graduated in June 2013 had an NP job prior to graduation. Granted, psych is an extremely in demand specialty, but MEPN grads do not appear to have problems finding jobs as a NPs.

If you're very interested in working as a floor nurse, I wouldn't recommend MEPN. If you want to become an NP ASAP and go to an excellent university with top clinical placements, opportunities to involve yourself in research and leadership, etc., then go to UCSF. Best of luck getting in!

nursetobe18 · Oct 31, 2013

Myelin- I was just about to ask how not having a BSN influences a Psych NP's chance of getting a job, so thank you for reassuring me about the NP jobs after graduation. Did you, or any of the other students in the psych specialty, work as an RN during the 2 year master portion of the program? I would plan to get per diem work as a psych RN, still remaining in my specialty. Did you or any of your friends find that not having the BSN effected the chance of being a psych RN during that time period?

Do not stress about finding an NP job after MEPN. Every single member of the psych NP class that just graduated in June 2013 had an NP job prior to graduation. Granted, psych is an extremely in demand specialty, but MEPN grads do not appear to have problems finding jobs as a NPs.
If you're very interested in working as a floor nurse, I wouldn't recommend MEPN. If you want to become an NP ASAP and go to an excellent university with top clinical placements, opportunities to involve yourself in research and leadership, etc., then go to UCSF. Best of luck getting in!

myelin · Oct 31, 2013

RN jobs are extremely hard to find right now. The only people who are working as RNs in inpatient units are those who came into the masters program already working as RNs or MEPNs who stepped out and are willing to relocate. Some people who stepped out have yet to find a job. Even the RNs who moved to SF to attend UCSF, and have experience working in acute settings as RNs, are having a hard time finding jobs. A few MEPNs who are not stepping out have found RN jobs, mostly working in public health or outpatient clinics. I think if you really want to work as an RN during the masters portion you can, but do not expect it to be inpatient traditional floor nursing, and it make take several quarters of volunteering/networking to scrounge up a job. You have to be very motivated. My motivation has waned since I am doing nurse corps and am working as an RA in a field related to psych. Plus, I'm far more interested in the psych NP role than the RN role (I knew this coming in to school, which is why the lack of BSN doesn't bother me), so I'm not very motivated to find an RN job. I'll probably start looking for something per diem next quarter. Maybe.

nursetobe18 · Nov 1, 2013

I just hoped to work as an RN during the 2 years of the masters program in order to make money so that my student loans wouldn't be as overwhelming... I do not plan to work as an RN upon graduation, I will fully pursue my license to practice as a PMHNP. I am currently a Program Director in the mental health, non profit sector, so I am very familiar with public health and outpatient clinics. Good to know there are at least options for per diem employment during the program. Thanks for all the feedback!

RN jobs are extremely hard to find right now. The only people who are working as RNs in inpatient units are those who came into the masters program already working as RNs or MEPNs who stepped out and are willing to relocate. Some people who stepped out have yet to find a job. Even the RNs who moved to SF to attend UCSF, and have experience working in acute settings as RNs, are having a hard time finding jobs. A few MEPNs who are not stepping out have found RN jobs, mostly working in public health or outpatient clinics. I think if you really want to work as an RN during the masters portion you can, but do not expect it to be inpatient traditional floor nursing, and it make take several quarters of volunteering/networking to scrounge up a job. You have to be very motivated. My motivation has waned since I am doing nurse corps and am working as an RA in a field related to psych. Plus, I'm far more interested in the psych NP role than the RN role (I knew this coming in to school, which is why the lack of BSN doesn't bother me), so I'm not very motivated to find an RN job. I'll probably start looking for something per diem next quarter. Maybe.

Kuriin, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2013

Few more weeks to find out if we get an interview. Ohhh boy.

kdiem · Dec 1, 2013

Good luck on interview invites! I received my notification via snail mail around the first-second week of December. UCSF usually sends out few interview invites, meaning your chances of getting in are high (around 50% I think).