Vanderbilt MSN 2018

Published

Hi! I'm starting a thread for Vanderbilt MSN Fall 2018. Anyone else applying too? Please comment!

Do they interview for the FNP specialty?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Midwife, OBGYN.
anyone hear anything from direct entry acute care NP

Last year the threads mentioned that a few of the applicants for the acute care speciality did receive interview invitations but I don't know how many in total.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Last year the threads mentioned that a few of the applicants for the acute care speciality did receive interview invitations but I don't know how many in total.

Oh NOOOOO; when will they usually hear back from them?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Midwife, OBGYN.
Oh NOOOOO; when will they usually hear back from them?

If memory serves, there were two groups basically for the acute care specialty. There was a group that interviewed at the beginning of December and then another group that heard nothing back until they were actually sent the acceptance letter into the acute care specialty in February so it can go either way.

So far, it looks like the timelines are in line with what happened last year. Midwifery normally receives the first set of invitations starting in late Nov / early Dec. MidwifeLife received her invitation this morning to interview for the CNM/FNP specialty and it looks like today was the initial release of the first set of invitations and judging by last year's threads, midwifery was still sending out invitations well into the second week of December as Vandy seems to do it on a rolling basis. Based on my observations, Vandy seems to be be more siloed driven then many of the other schools in terms of invitation for interview. Each specialty is quite independent from each other and each sends out invitations according to their own timelines. So for those anxious people waiting for their invites, there really is no rhyme or reason on how they decide when and to whom they release invitations to.

Like I said in my previous post, for the midwifery specialty invites can happen starting from now until the second week of December based on previous threads with the majority of them getting released between Dec 1st and Dec 5th which is why I said wait unit the end of this week and beginning of next week for your invites.

It looks like Psych will start to receive their invitations to interview towards the end of Dec around the 20th based on previous threads.

Vanderbilt like many nursing schools does not interview for FNP due to the sheer volume of applications for that specialty. Vanderbilt always interviews two groups of applicants, those that applied to either midwifery or psych. But critical care / acute care and emergency care also have had interviews in the past but to a lesser degree and not guaranteed that you will receive an interview invite but I guess due to the nature of the role there have still been a number of applicants that received interview invites. Historically, the other specialties do not receive invites for interview (but they might still do a few interviews here and there if they want to clarify something with you) and you won't know if you have gotten into the program until they release admittance letters in February.

Hopefully, this provides a good summary for all the individuals on this thread. Feel free to add additional information or correct me if I have said anything that is incorrect.

Happy interviewing!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Truly appreciate this breakdown! Very happy for MidwifeLife! But seeing the post and hadn't heard for interview, so was feeling very disappointed, but have hope still now! Long-time lurker, hopeful CNM/FNP. Thank you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
If memory serves, there were two groups basically for the acute care specialty. There was a group that interviewed at the beginning of December and then another group that heard nothing back until they were actually sent the acceptance letter into the acute care specialty in February so it can go either way.

So far, it looks like the timelines are in line with what happened last year. Midwifery normally receives the first set of invitations starting in late Nov / early Dec. MidwifeLife received her invitation this morning to interview for the CNM/FNP specialty and it looks like today was the initial release of the first set of invitations and judging by last year's threads, midwifery was still sending out invitations well into the second week of December as Vandy seems to do it on a rolling basis. Based on my observations, Vandy seems to be be more siloed driven then many of the other schools in terms of invitation for interview. Each specialty is quite independent from each other and each sends out invitations according to their own timelines. So for those anxious people waiting for their invites, there really is no rhyme or reason on how they decide when and to whom they release invitations to.

Like I said in my previous post, for the midwifery specialty invites can happen starting from now until the second week of December based on previous threads with the majority of them getting released between Dec 1st and Dec 5th which is why I said wait unit the end of this week and beginning of next week for your invites.

It looks like Psych will start to receive their invitations to interview towards the end of Dec around the 20th based on previous threads.

Vanderbilt like many nursing schools does not interview for FNP due to the sheer volume of applications for that specialty. Vanderbilt always interviews two groups of applicants, those that applied to either midwifery or psych. But critical care / acute care and emergency care also have had interviews in the past but to a lesser degree and not guaranteed that you will receive an interview invite but I guess due to the nature of the role there have still been a number of applicants that received interview invites. Historically, the other specialties do not receive invites for interview (but they might still do a few interviews here and there if they want to clarify something with you) and you won't know if you have gotten into the program until they release admittance letters in February.

Hopefully, this provides a good summary for all the individuals on this thread. Feel free to add additional information or correct me if I have said anything that is incorrect.

Happy interviewing!

so basically you might get interviews or you might not if you are applying their acute care program! Do you know if acute care is more competitive to get in or if it is FNP program?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Midwife, OBGYN.
so basically you might get interviews or you might not if you are applying their acute care program! Do you know if acute care is more competitive to get in or if it is FNP program?

The most competitive specialty for most nursing schools is normally the FNP specialty. They are usually the largest specialty within a cohort and receive the most applications thus making them the most competitive to get into. I actually haven't heard of a school currently where FNP isn't the largest and most competitive cohort to get into. Obviously, I haven't looked into all the nursing schools across the US but from the 30 or so programs I looked at before I applied to nursing school, generally FNP is the most competitive.

I don't remember which acute care specialty that you are applying for but with Vandy Neonatal, Peds Acute Care, Emergency Care NP all require previous nursing experience before you can apply making the number of people who can apply smaller but the number of individuals they accept into the acute care program is also smaller so I guess you can also argue that the acute care specialties are also competitive as well. But at Vandy, AG Acute Care doesn't require previous nursing experience while at other schools I have looked at pre-specialty students are not allowed to apply to any acute care specialty unless they have at least 1 year of experience in a PICU, NICU, PACU. Some programs even specify the type of PICU, NICU, PACU with many requiring experience within a Level 3 or Level 4 unit in order to be considered for the acute care specialty. I don't know if there is a adult acute care acronym as most of my knowledge revolves around newborns, children, and women's health so feel free to correct me if there is an adult acute care designation that I don't know about.

Then the next most competitive is Psych at the moment since there is currently a national shortage of Psych NPs and the salary outlook for them is very good right now. Therefore, there has been a surge of applications for the PMHNP specialty at many schools. I read that there have been some schools that are having a hard time finding clinical placements for the psych specialty due to the high demand especially in metropolitan areas with multiple teaching schools in close proximity to one another.

Hope this helps.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
The most competitive specialty for most nursing schools is normally the FNP specialty. They are usually the largest specialty within a cohort and receive the most applications thus making them the most competitive to get into. I actually haven't heard of a school currently where FNP isn't the largest and most competitive cohort to get into. Obviously, I haven't looked into all the nursing schools across the US but from the 30 or so programs I looked at before I applied to nursing school, generally FNP is the most competitive.

I don't remember which acute care specialty that you are applying for but with Vandy Neonatal, Peds Acute Care, Emergency Care NP all require previous nursing experience before you can apply making the number of people who can apply smaller but the number of individuals they accept into the acute care program is also smaller so I guess you can also argue that the acute care specialties are also competitive as well. But at Vandy, AG Acute Care doesn't require previous nursing experience while at other schools I have looked at pre-specialty students are not allowed to apply to any acute care specialty unless they have at least 1 year of experience in a PICU, NICU, PACU. Some programs even specify the type of PICU, NICU, PACU with many requiring experience within a Level 3 or Level 4 unit in order to be considered for the acute care specialty. I don't know if there is a adult acute care acronym as most of my knowledge revolves around newborns, children, and women's health so feel free to correct me if there is an adult acute care designation that I don't know about.

Then the next most competitive is Psych at the moment since there is currently a national shortage of Psych NPs and the salary outlook for them is very good right now. Therefore, there has been a surge of applications for the PMHNP specialty at many schools. I read that there have been some schools that are having a hard time finding clinical placements for the psych specialty due to the high demand especially in metropolitan areas with multiple teaching schools in close proximity to one another.

Hope this helps.

that helps a lot thank you so much! You are so good at this thing! Which program did you apply?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi all! Longtime lurker, first time commenter. Has anyone not in the FNP/CNM dual specialty received an email? I applied only for CNM pre specialty and was wondering if someone in the same position has received an interview email yet?

Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Midwife, OBGYN.
Hi all! Longtime lurker, first time commenter. Has anyone not in the FNP/CNM dual specialty received an email? I applied only for CNM pre specialty and was wondering if someone in the same position has received an interview email yet?

Thanks!

Hi @hbergren11!

Whether you are direct entry or pre-specialty you should get the e-mail around this time as well if you are invited to interview. According to previous threads, both psych and midwifery have historically been interviewed by the faculty. See my previous posts. The e-mails to interview for those that applied to CNM or the CNM dual specialty should come out this week or next week based on previous threads.

MidwifeLife also very kindly told us she received her invite yesterday so they are sending out interview invites so we just have to patiently wait and see if we will get interviewed for admission.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

For anyone curious, I was sent a poll to fill out for my 3 most preferential times. The dates and times started on Monday (December 4th) and went through Thursday of next week.

I still have not heard back about what date and time I actually got- so they're definitely still working on it!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

@TangoDeux Yep- already read all of those and I understand the general framework/timeline. That's why I asked such a specific question. Thanks though!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion