Vanderbilt BSN - NP Program Applicants Fall 2010

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Hi guys!

I would love to connect with anyone who has applied to Vandy for Fall 2010. I applied to get my BSN and then for FNP. Let me know about you! They say we won't hear back until the end of Feb!

ginillel

Specializes in Critical Care.

I got my letter earlier this week. I was accepted to the ACNP program for fall 2010. Guess we are moving to Nashville...YAY!!! Congrats to you all!

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ginillel

I was unable to respond to your message by PM on this site (says you have blocked receiving them) so I'm going to try and address some general concerns here.

I started the Vandy program for Adult NP back in August last year so I'm 1/2 way through the pre-specialty year. This year is totally focused on preparation as a generalist nurse who can provide safe care and do well on NCLEX, so that's where I am right now in the process. It's been a very FAST 6 months, so be prepared to jump on the treadmill at a full-on sprint!

As for how prepared one may or may not feel once the 2nd year (specialty) is complete, I really can't speak to that...yet. I know a few graduates who felt as ready as they could be -- as ready as anyone is to take on a huge responsibility such as practicing as an NP who is freshly done with training. One is an FNP who never had held any sort of job in her LIFE until she completed school! She was very young and went straight into the Bridge program after completing undergrad. Needless-to-say, there was a bit of shock involved for her but she is (many years) down the road very successful and good at what she does. Still loves her choice of profession. The other is a CNM who originally thought of med school but then realized she did not want to be a surgeon who sometimes delivers babies, she wanted to be someone who really accompanied women on the journey through pregnancy, labor, delivery, and beyond. So she went through the Bridge program as well and had no prior nursing experience. She also loves what she's doing.

Personally, I've had many years of outpatient experience as a Certified Med Assistant prior to coming to Vandy so I think I have a pretty realistic idea of what to expect and I think I'll feel very ready to take on the responsibility and build a practice. Looking forward to it!

There is such a great variety of students in the prespecialty year that, no matter your background you're sure to find people with whom you identify, people who seem like complete aliens to you, and those whose perspectives you've never considered but are intrigued to learn about. We have everything from "3-2" students who completed their 3 years of undergrad at Vanderbilt and now are doing the 2 years to get the MSN (so many of these are very young) all the way up to those in their 50's who are making major career changes.

Please let me know if you have any questions I might be able to answer. Remember I don't work for Vandy and my knowledge is not exhaustive...but I've been where you're going and would love to be helpful in any possible way.

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Thank you so much for your very detailed response, mammac5! This was definitely helpful!

I have another question that I hope you can answer...

After my Pre-Specialty year am I able to do the distance program to get my MSN? Or do they not allow this?

Thank you again so much!

ginillel

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Distance programs are available for most of the areas of concentration, but not all. There is no distance option (unless something is changing for next year) for Acute Care NP and Neonatal NP. To the best of my knowledge there are distance programs available for all others and, in many cases, distance is the ONLY option. For instance, one of my friends is in the Peds NP program and she accepted entrance based on the fact that she will "go away" to do her 2nd year. In a town the size of Nashville with several nursing programs in the area, there are not enough good clinical preceptorships to be had so students must go away.

For me, the distance option was very attractive because I'm ready to get back home! Didactive courses are delivered as live lectures online OR via DVD that can be mailed to the student's home. I like that option because I can then watch lecture when it's convenient for me and stop, back it up, relisten all as necessary. There are also intensive blocks held on campus, usually twice per semester. These last from 4-6 days and ARE intense with classes being held from 8-5 most days. Some area hotels offer specials to nursing students for these blocks. During some of these blocks students will work with surrogate patients who have been trained to "have" a disorder; this is when we will also have surrogates on which to perform female pelvic & breast exams, prostate & testicular exams on males, etc. In addition, clinical conference will be held online. So, it's a BIG year!

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Omg this is so good to hear! How do you notify them you want to do it? Will Vandy help set up your preceptorships? I am interested in doing my MSN year for my FNP in Dallas, TX.

Again, I appreciate all of your help!

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As far as setting up clinical sites for distance programs, it really depends on where you're going and the coordinator of your program. Your coordinator likely has contacts in some cities -- people they've worked with in the past -- but not ALL cities by any means. It may depend upon a student making his/her own contacts and then VUSN following up to making sure the clinician meets their qualifications.

You can contact the coordinator of your program via email through the VUSN website with specific questions.

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Mammac5!

I read something on a Vandy pamphlet today that says FNP students entering as non-RNs must complete the entire program in Nashville. Do you know if this is correct or if there have been changes/updates to it??

Thank you!

Ginillel

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I heard that the FNP program was changing this year to move to block format for next year's entering class, but the VUSN website does not show that change in the curriculum plan. Either I heard wrong OR the site has not been updated. So...I would say the best thing to do if you need to know about that now would be to contact the school and just ask.

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I am a BSN RN and have applied for the FNP program, admission Fall 2010. I did meet the December 1 deadline. Has anyone else gotten a letter that is already an RN? I have not received anything yet, not even a rejection letter! I have seen several that have posted on here that they have been admitted, but they are not RN's yet or not in my specialty (BTW, Congrats to all of those folks!). I am just absolutely sick at this point and would like to know something either way. Someone please help me with any information you can provide, even if it is rumor, because I am desperate! :o Thanks so much.

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Mamma I emailed and found out that I will have to be on campus the whoe time :(

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Specializes in Critical Care.

NurseKim,

I am an RN and received my acceptance letter last week for the ACNP program. I hope you hear something soon.

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ginillel

Sorry its taken me so long to respond! I enjoyed the open house! I'm local so it was easy to get away. I thought it could serve as a mini orientation. The presentations from the current students were very candid thus extremely beneficial. They said to anticipate studying 12 hrs a wk outside of class. Not too bad :-). The financial aid presentation was also helpful. I was worried about getting funds but I don't think it will be an issue at all.

I look forward to meeting you soon!~

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