UVM MEPN 2011

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I'm currently in the process of applying to UVM's MEPN program for 2011, and am particularly interested in the psychiatric mental health nursing track. Any other applicants out there? Any current students or alumni with advice, etc?

Thanks!

Specializes in Transplant & HPB Surgery, Heme/Onc, LTC.

We're doing a little of both - dinner at a friend's on Thursday, family dinner at home on Friday (my daughter works on Thursday), and then dinner at another friend's house on Sunday. I will be in a turkey coma come Monday!

How about you?

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Sounds like you've got a busy weekend! Turkey is delicious, so I wouldn't complain! I'll be eating leftovers the whole weekend so count me in for a turkey coma as well!

This will be the first year that I can remember that my mom won't be making the turkey. She's a nurse and offered to work the holiday this year, so my brother and his wife will be hosting the big dinner. I'll be spending the day over there helping with the meal so it's all ready when my mom arrives after work. I enjoy cooking, so I'm really looking forward to it!

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Hope you had a great holiday weekend!

Finally got my last recommendation back... She really was leaving it to the last minute! So relieved that everything is finally done and in... But now the waiting really begins. Nothing left to do!

I really hope they're true to their January promise. The suspense is killing me already!

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Specializes in Transplant & HPB Surgery, Heme/Onc, LTC.

Anyone else out there in the application process for UVM's MEPN program for Fall 2011?

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Anyone else out there in the application process for UVM's MEPN program for Fall 2011?

Yep, I applied in late October but NursingCAS took a long time to process everything so my application wasn't complete until late November. I chose the FNP track; FYI for anyone reading this, I also created a new UVM MEPN '11 thread in the VT Nursing Programs forum (UVM MEPN 2011 - Nursing for Nurses).

I was under the impression UVM would actually get less applications this year given it is their first year using NursingCAS and that service is notorious for being very slow in processing application material. But, I also understand it is a cash cow for UVM because anyone who already has all their material on nursingCAS will probably apply to every single school they can, so UVM will get lots of random applicants who normally wouldn't apply there.

I wasn't able to go to any of the open houses but I also heard they will not be doing interviews this year; this also sounds really strange to me given they've done it every other year.

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Specializes in Transplant & HPB Surgery, Heme/Onc, LTC.

My application went pretty quickly through the NursingCAS. I was still waiting on my transcripts and one reference after I submitted my app in late October, but as soon as they received those two pieces I got notification from them and from UVM within a couple of days. I applied for the FNP track as well. Have you applied to other programs?

I just discovered that a former classmate just finished her last semester of the program - we're going to connect after the holidays so I can pick her brain just in case I get an interview. She said she got in from the waitlist. I would be interested to know if the common app generates a flood of candidates or not. Even though it makes it easy to apply to a lot of programs, you still have to pay for each app. I'm hoping the $$ is a deterrent to less serious applicants.

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I also had little problems with the NursingCAS application. Only thing that held my application up a bit was one of my references. Litterally waited until the deadline to submit the online form.

I applied to the Psych track. Trying not to worry too much about the number of applicants. I feel that there are only a limited number of MEPN programs on the NursingCAS website, and that those applying to a different type of program will probably not also apply to this one. Just a thought...

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NursingCAS was very slow for me, but I am guessing one factor in this might be that I applied later than most applicants.

One very interesting point I wanted to raise is that this might be the last year UVM has the MEPN program as we know it. Consider this:

- Beginning in 2015, all new NP's must have a doctoral level degree, the DNP. Everyone with an MSN who is already an NP at that point will be grandfathered in.

- There are very few direct entry dnp programs; most require a BSN or MSN first.

So the answer begs the question, what will this program look like for entering students over the next few years? If we all get in, we would be the class of 2014; the class after us would be the class of 2015, thus they would need DNP degrees to even be eligible for NP licensure. As far as I can see, our class would be the last to enter as MSN candidates for NP licensure. My guess/bet is that after this year, UVM will change the MEPN program to either a direct entry DNP program (doubtful, because of the length of time required to go directly to a DNP without any nursing experience, BUT this is being done by a few schools already), or, more likely, they will go the route of many other schools already and change the direct entry MSN program from NP to CNL track, so the entering classes after ours will be working towards a lower license than us (this is not criticism of CNL's, just a fact that they are not advanced practice nurses in the same sense as NP's).

What I've seen so far is that many schools have already transitioned from direct entry NP to direct entry CNL since Clinical Nurse Leaders (CNL's) are essentially RN's and do not have the authority to prescribe, treat, practice autonomously, etc., that NP's have. CNL programs do not have the 2015 doctoral transition deadline that NP programs have, mainly because of the fact that CNL is a lower level of nursing practice. So, many schools are either eliminating their direct entry MSN program completely since anyone receiving an MSN beginning in 2015 will not be able to be a Nurse Practitioner without a DNP degree, OR they are replacing their direct entry nurse practitioner MSN with a direct entry clinical nurse leader MSN. My money is on UVM either eliminating their MEPN program completely after this year, or transitioning to the CNL focus.

Either way, there will be major changes after this year and the class of 2014 will be the last UVM MEPN class to get their MSN's and still be able to get licensed as NP's. Everyone after this will either have to go CNL or have to get a DNP degree.

What does this mean for us? Well, it means that if everyone realizes this, we could be facing increased competition regardless of the transition to NursingCAS because everyone wants to get on the train before it leaves the station - this is your last chance to go NP before you need a doctorate. Our entering class this fall will be the last one to graduate before that 2015 deadline, and thus the last MSN class to get grandfathered into NP licensure before the DNP degree is required. It also means that if you do get in this year, thank your lucky stars because you'll be part of the legacy class that marks the end of master's level educated NP's and everyone coming in after us is going to have to have more time in as an RN and a higher degree.

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Specializes in Transplant & HPB Surgery, Heme/Onc, LTC.

The faculty at the info session I attended said there were still a lot of things up in the air about the transition to the DNP, so it will be interesting to watch over the next few years. I wonder which way they are leaning? The did say that grandfathered NP's shouldn't worry about DNP's having a competitive edge as they will essentially be qualified and licensed to do the same thing.

Are you guys impacted by the blizzard at all? I am visiting family in MA and we're right smack in the middle of it.

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Hey all, I'm from the 2010 class, just checking in. I thought I'd offer the advice that best helped me when I was applying.

1. No, don't sweat the waitlist. In our class ~2/3rds of the original offers were declined somewhere along from spring to summer. Most people decided to go to a different school, and that I believe was largely due to the fact that UVM takes so long to release their financial aid awards. Other people got better job offers, or had personal reasons.

2. Keep improving your resume, and let the nursing department know. Write a nice letter with a quick description of that class you just finished, the certification you just got. Anything documentable that you take pride in and applies to your skill set or teachability. Remind them how excited you would be to join the class. And send it to the nursing department admissions, not the grad school admissions (they really just process the choices that the nursing dept. makes.)

Keep the faith, guys. You are part of a long history of nail biting before being accepted into nursing school. We are all excited to welcome you as sisters and brothers in this program. And if for some reason you don't get in, you can apply next year and maybe go straight for your doctorate :)

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Thanks for the great advice! Right now I'd be very happy with just getting on the waitlist.

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Specializes in Transplant & HPB Surgery, Heme/Onc, LTC.

Manyapples, thanks for the advice!

Can you shed any light on the background of people in your class? I'm curious about academics (do you know if people had primarily science degrees ?), prior medical experience (EMT's, hospital volunteers, none?), non-medical careers, and age range.

Of course there's no way to say whether a specific set of stats makes you more or less likely to get accepted, but I would take some comfort in knowing there are a couple of middle-aged career changers in the bunch.

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