University of Southern Indiana

[travelicu]

Hi,

I am applying to the University of Indiana's ACNP program for Fall 2014. I have been a nurse going on 4 years and in the ICU for a year and a half.

I would greatly appreciate any advice regarding the admission process. Specifically the entrance essay (what to highlight) and the resume. I recently updated my resume and would love some critique on it, if anyone is interested.

Thanks!

[epcathNP]

The 20 semester hours include the Assessment class (4 hrs in the summer) and Acutely Ill I, II, and III (6 hrs, 5 hrs, and 5 hrs in the fall, spring, and summer respectively).

We started a couple of years ago with classes like Theory, Leadership, Stats/Research, Informatics, etc. None of these were easy, but I had a 4.0 until I started Pharmacology last spring.

Since beginning Pharmacology, our instructors have suggested we begin cutting back on our work hours, and I can see why now. Although I still work full time, ALL my free time (I mean ALL) is spent reading, studying, or in clinical rotations. I love to read, but I have never read so much in such a short amount of time.

This program is no picnic, but it IS an advanced practice degree. Although it has been tough, I do recommend the program. The instructors have high standards and I like that.

You may already know that you must get your own preceptors. I have been working in my local market in one capacity or another since 1981 and had no trouble finding good preceptors. Apparently, my classmates have been successful as well...probably depends on how bad you want it!

[adamRn79, BSN, RN]

What are assignments like? Lots of group work? What is your family situation?

[epcathNP]

The only group work I recall was the research project. We collaborated with 3-4 other classmates, dividing up the workload. The remainder of the program has been individual work.

Married, my children are on their own. Other classmates have a variety of family "busy-ness," though. They all are making it work, but it is a big commitment.

[epcathNP]

Ah, the assignments...

Depends on the class. In the beginning, lots of papers. One instructor said it best: "Read, synthesize, write...repeat." They want to make sure you have a good grasp of the nursing theorists, how health care is paid for (and other things about health policy), informatics (not the nuts and bolts of technology, but the concepts/big picture), and leadership. In leadership, in addition to group discussions, we had to pick whether to write a grant or a business plan.

Speaking of group discussions, most of the core classes featured these...depending on the class, you might have one in depth post you begin and also a requirement to "cross-post" on two other classmates' posting per week. There were also some timed online exams. There were prerecorded lectures in most classes, powerpoint presentations, links to current information, and the like.

And...there was the reading; did I mention that? I think we read almost the whole pathology book...in a semester...nearly 1800 pages.

Once we started Pharmacology, and since then, the format drifted away from online group discussion. Since then, there have been all the reading you could ever want, clinical case study assignments, and online timed testing.

[spudbunny]

Hello,

I am also applying for Fall 2014 admission to University of Southern Indiana's PMHNP program. I am wondering how many people are accepted into the program and how competitive it is. I would also appreciate any information on clinicals from those who have gone through them.

Spudbunny

[adamRn79, BSN, RN]

Epcathnurse: are the lectures good or are you pretty much teaching yourself?

thanks for all your valuable info.

[epcathNP]

Adam,

Depends on the class. In a couple of them, I felt that I was teaching myself at the time, and I have heard that complaint from other students. I have found that I have had to have a much different mindset than I did in my BSN courses.

In retrospect, it seems that they are grooming students for independent thinking, independent study, and to put it simply...advanced practice. The instructors want students to be able to find answers, to think on their feet, and to act as if "there will be no one to ask" once we are practicing as an APN.

I recall my wife getting her MSN in a different specialty several years ago. This was prior to all the online schools we have now. She would drive 1.5 hours to the school, sit in class all day, and as she put it: "bring back a box of stuff to work on until the next week's class." This helped reframe my perspective on "self taught" versus independent thinking/learning immensely. In a sense, she was doing the same as I am doing now.

[rajan2]

SpudBunny: I started the PMHNP program 2013-Fall. Graduation summer 2015. Lots of papers to write! I did advanced path' and pharm at CSUDH. I had to send the syllabi and grades to USI-waiting decision. Standard of program is high. We tend to do more independent work but the instructors are pretty awesome (at least mine are).

[spudbunny]

thank you for taking the time to reply rajan2. I would like to take advanced path and pharm before the program starts. I was considering U Mass Boston for these classes but they are $1600 each. I will look into CSUDH. Please let us know if they accept those classes. I wish you the best of luck with your studies.

[rajan2]

I will. Are you trying to start in the fall? CSUDH is $768.00

[Chrissi2424]

I just completed both of the application processes for USI. I hope to be accepted into the Fall 2014 class.

[rajan2]

Ok Great!...So your references are in, letter of intent, transcript, and official application? Deadline is FEB 1st.