Vanderbilt MSN

Hi-

I am in the acute care program. The intensivists take most of their classes as a part of the bigger acute care group with the exception of their clinical coursework.

I don't think you will find the application process very difficult. Its mostly online and you just basically assemble the documents and submit them. The cycle opens in September and continues through the close date in December. They send out decisions in April or so. Its also basically rolling admissions. I didn't even start my application until late December and I am not the only person I know who applied late and was accepted.

The program seems very competitive for their bridging program where Non-RNs bridge from their bachelors in something else to their masters in nursing.

Quite frankly, this program is really run on their behalf. They constitute roughly 50% of the class and are the ones that attend class every day so that's where the focus lies. The intensivists are led by a professor who came to nursing via this program and thus, I would think would be hard pressed to hold your lack of ICU experience against you.

Hope that helps.

The best advice I received when I was applying: APPLY EARLY!

Apply before the December 1 priority deadline and take the GRE as soon as you can!

Thank you so much for the responses! VICEDRN - that really cheered me up. Thanks for the encouragement. What made you choose the non Intensivist route? Do any of your cohorts wish they had chosen one over the other instead? What is your average week in class like?

I've never heard anybody say that they wish they had chosen a different route. I think this is particularly true since the only real difference is who your advisor is and a slight variation in the variety of clinicals you are in. I don't want to provide too many details about why I choose this particular course since I fear that would give away my identity and Vanderbilt is said to heavily monitor its "online presence,"

As you probably know, you don't have to go to class if you already have experience as an RN. Class is required for non experienced students. All of the courses are recorded and put online. There's about 12 hours a week of lecture and a METRIC TON of work. I strongly advise against working while you do this program (and its one of the many reasons I don't necessarily recommend this particular program to experienced RNs). In fact, everyone I know quit their job in the fall or failed out or went PRN with the understanding they would work over break especially if you already have a family.

Sorry to be a bit of a downer but if there is one thing I wish I understood before I enrolled, its that working wouldn't be feasible and I know my peers who didn't have info about the program think the same way.

I don't plan to work during the program, thankfully being prior military I'll have the support of my GI Bill which will help pay for part of my tuition and moderate living expenses. I was not aware that experienced RNs did not have to go to class. I tend to prefer in class lecture to watching it online. I like the option of interacting with professors, peers and such during class. Are you given the option to go?

You can absolutely choose to go to class. In fact, I think they prefer it.

Thank you so much for your insight! I appreciate the response. When you say a "metric ton", is it mostly research and studying to prepare for lectures? Or lots of assignments/reports...etc?

Its a combination of both. Each semester the combination changes a little bit. The first semester, there aren't very many clinical hours but there are a lot of written assignments, discussion boards and certainly a lot of studying (and a very tedious assessment skills checkoff). The following semester has more clinical hours, fewer written assignments and discussion boards but they are still there. Does that make sense to you?

I have honestly not met a single person who doesn't treat this program like a full time job and then some so again, if you're thinking PRN or something, I would forget that.

Yes, thank you that does make sense. I wasn't planning on working at all. I always assumed it would be a full time commitment. I really appreciate all the help you have been. Thanks so much!