UPenn Direct Entry BSN/MSN 2014

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Specializes in Pediatric CICU.

Hi there,

I was surprised there wasn't already a thread for those applying to UPenn's direct entry program since the threads from previous years were so active, so I thought I would start one where this year's applicants could gather. :)

I'm just hoping to get to know some other applicants so we can support each other through this nerve wracking process! My name is Michelle and I am applying for the Nurse Anesthesia specialty, I'm in the process of working on my personal statement. Any others out there?

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Hello!

Thanks for starting this thread! I've been lurking and waiting for someone to take the intiative.

My name is Glenda, and I will be applying to the Adult-Geron Acute Care specialty. I am not working on the ps at the moment because I am crazy burnt out from the UCSF app. I wanted to tackle the less intimidating parts of the app before jumping in fully again, so I am working on the experiences section at the moment.

Mewei, I am having a lot of trouble understanding the experience portion of the app. Maybe you could shed some light on it? There's an option to upload a resume, but there are also three separate boxes with 7000 character limits for research, healthcare, and travel experiences. Someone in the admissions office told me that I could choose to complete one or the other, but it sounds like applicants from the past year completed both. Also, the directions say to list the experiences and provide brief description, so I am unsure of how in-depth they want our responses. Would you write it in a personal statement type format? Have you decided how you will approach the experiences section?

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Specializes in Pediatric CICU.

Hi Glenda, I haven't quite decided how I am going to tackle that section. As far as the research section goes, what do you think "any and all related research experience" entails? Related to nursing/our chosen specialty? Or just any type of research? For the healthcare experiences section, I am planning on writing a few paragraphs about one particular experience I would like to highlight. I'm not planning on a personal statement format, but rather just an overview of what that experience entailed. I think this section in general is just meant for us to expand on any details that we want them to be aware of that may not fully come across elsewhere in our application.

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Hello again,

The prompts make that section a bit confusing though. For the healthcare experiences section, we are asked to list our experiences. Do you think that means that we are to simply list the experiences out? I spoke to someone who is currently enrolled in the program, and she simply listed her healthcare related experiences without going into detail.

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Specializes in Pediatric CICU.

Hmm okay, well if she is in the program then I am assuming she knows best!

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Hello!

I am applying to UPenn as well for the BSN/MSN program. I am interested in nurse-midwifery. What other schools are you applying to?

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Just fyi for all the people applying...As a current student I would highly advise NOT coming here. UPenn changed there curriculum for the incoming BSN/MSN students, failed to tell us, and it is HORRIBLE. It is so expensive, unorganized, and the clinical experiences thus far are far from great. The faculty is aware that almost everyone is unhappy and disappointed in the program and so far has done nothing to make it better for our cohort. Save your application fee and your money and do not come here!

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Just fyi for all the people applying...As a current student I would highly advise NOT coming here. UPenn changed there curriculum for the incoming BSN/MSN students, failed to tell us, and it is HORRIBLE. It is so expensive, unorganized, and the clinical experiences thus far are far from great. The faculty is aware that almost everyone is unhappy and disappointed in the program and so far has done nothing to make it better for our cohort. Save your application fee and your money and do not come here!

Hi meep05! Can you give more details? I thought they had a lot of funding to make more NPs...so that's odd. They did mention a new curriculum on their nursing website. Maybe it's unorganized because they haven't figured out a better way to implement the new curriculum? Usually it takes time for schools to adjust to changes. Please give us further details. Thanks! =]

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Just fyi for all the people applying...As a current student I would highly advise NOT coming here. UPenn changed there curriculum for the incoming BSN/MSN students, failed to tell us, and it is HORRIBLE. It is so expensive, unorganized, and the clinical experiences thus far are far from great. The faculty is aware that almost everyone is unhappy and disappointed in the program and so far has done nothing to make it better for our cohort. Save your application fee and your money and do not come here!

Does this change have anything to do with UPenn accounting for the AACN 2015 recommendation about nurse practitioners having a doctorate degree as well as a Master's? Or is this just UPenn trying to push forward and better their curriculum?

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taaanyaa: I am not sure where you are getting that information about Penn having more funding to make more NP's? They don't care about producing more Nurse Practitioners, they just want everyone to continue on to get a PhD. Since it is a new curriculum and they will already preparing to change and tweak it for next year I can assure you that the next cohort will have the same issues as ours. As I continue to network and talk to more people who have graduated it seems that the general consensus is that the BSN program was not a good experience but many enjoyed the masters portion. If you are just going here for the BSN and interested in being a great clinician this is not a good program for you. The focus of Penn is research and honestly nothing more. So if you are interested in research and policy and not patient care and the community then Penn is for you.

wonderwad: It has nothing to do with the AACN 2015. It might have to do that they are trying to condense the program from 18 months to a 12-14 month program like many of the other programs. Also, our dean is very against the DNP because she believes everyone should go for a PhD, and only the anesthesia program will be converted to a DNP by 2016 ( at least that is what they are anticipating)

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oh ok thanks meep05! Well I guess I read it wrong, but here's where I got the information from:

Graduate Nurse Education Demonstration

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Specializes in Pediatric CICU.

We're getting close to the deadline! Anyone ready to submit yet?

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