ACCELERATED BACHELOR of SCIENCE to MASTERS PROGRAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Program
of Study
What is the ABM program?
Our Accelerated Bachelor's to Master’s degree program (ABM) is
a program for people who have or will have a bachelor's degree in a
non-nursing field prior to matriculation but have a particular interest
in Psychiatric Mental Health or Nurse Midwifery. These prospective students
are wishing to earn their B.S. with a major in nursing quickly so that
they are able to move straight on to a master's specialty program in
either our Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Midwifery
graduate programs. Applicants with an accredited bachelor’s degree
in a field other than nursing or those anticipating the degree prior
to starting the nursing program must complete eight additional
prerequisite courses, which must be taken with a grade
of “B-” or better. Once admitted, students will
start the program in the summer and complete a generalist
nursing curriculum that is comprised of five (5) intensive,
consecutive quarters of full-time nursing coursework required
to achieve a B.S. with a major in Nursing. The B.S. degree is awarded
at the successful completion of the undergraduate coursework, and graduates
are eligible to take the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX).
Following the accelerated portion of the program, students complete
a 2 year master’s degree program to earn either the M.S. or M.N.
The ABM program considers among other qualifications the applicant’s
cumulative GPA, which must be above a 3.0.
The deadline for applications for this program is typically December
1.
What is the structure of the ABM program?
The ABM program is structured so that students complete our intensive 5-term, 15 month ABS program and earn their B.S. with a major in nursing. Students sit for the NCLEX to receive their RNs, and then immediately continue on to their graduate program of interest, either CNM or PMHNP. The program of study consists of the 15 month ABS curriculum, followed by 2 years of the nursing graduate curriculum in PMHNP or CNM.
Can I do this program part time?
For the ABS portion of the program, you must attend full time, as this is the accelerated, intensive portion. For the graduate portion of the program, you may attend either full time (to complete the MS or MN in 2 years) or part time (to complete the MS or MN in 3-4 years).
Why doesn’t this program link to your other graduate programs?
The ABM program only links to Nurse Midwifery and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner master's programs at this point. Our other graduate programs such as our Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Anesthesia programs are not linked to this program, as these programs require a certain amount of experience as a nurse to apply. FNPs must cover a large range of the population (across the lifespan) and a broad scope of health care in their master's specialty study. The FNP program strongly recommends that you have at least one year of experience as an RN before entering the program. CRNAs must have at least one year of full time, adult, critical care ICU experience as an RN prior to matriculation, and thus the Nurse Anesthesia program cannot be linked to the ABM program. Faculty for these programs do not feel that students can go straight from earning their nursing bachelor’s to these master's specialties, with no clinical experience outside of school, and be successful.
Students interested in other
nursing graduate specialties should consider the Accelerated Bachelor
of Science program, which is a 15 month program to earn the B.S. with
a major in nursing and is not linked to a master’s program.
Where does OHSU rank with other nursing schools?
U.S. News and World Report ranks
the OHSU School of Nursing among the top ten schools of nursing in the
nation. The school’s midwifery program is ranked number one in
the nation.
Prerequisites
What if I don’t have my bachelor’s degree now, but
I’ll graduate in the spring?
If you will graduate with a bachelor’s degree from a regionally
accredited institution prior to the beginning of the accelerated nursing
program in the summer, you can be eligible for this program. Applicants
must earn the non-nursing bachelor’s degree prior to matriculation
into the nursing program.
Can I take my prerequisites at OHSU?
No, OHSU does not offer any prerequisite courses. Applicants may take
these courses at any accredited institution where the course is college
level and the grade meets the minimum program requirement of “B-“
or higher.
Does it matter where I take my prerequisites?
No. The Admissions Committee does not focus on the institution where
applicants take their prerequisites. You should choose an accredited
institution that fits your needs as an individual student.
How does it affect me if my courses are taken at a semester
institution?
OHSU determines cumulative GPAs based upon all college level coursework
ever taken, including the prerequisite coursework. OHSU uses the calculation
that 1 semester credit hour equals 1.5 quarter credit hours. A 3 semester
credit hour course would be equivalent to a 4.5 quarter credit hour
course. Credit hours are all translated into quarter credit hours with
GPAs weighted accordingly in the cumulative GPA calculation.
If I’m applying to the ABM program and I received just one “C”
in a prerequisite course, will my application be considered?
No. The requirement that prerequisite courses be taken with a grade
of “B-” or better is a firm requirement. Your application
will not be reviewed by the Admissions Committee if you do not meet
this requirement.
Can I retake prerequisite courses?
If you received a “C” or lower in a prerequisite course
for the ABM program, you must take the course again prior to application
to have your application be considered. Your most recent grade in the
course will be used to determine if you meet the minimum grade requirement,
but both grades will be used in calculating the cumulative GPA.
Can I apply to this program if I don’t have all of my
prerequisites complete?
In terms of prerequisites, it is fine to have classes still in progress
while applying to the ABM program. Applicants must show that they have
or will have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
AND that they are able to have all prerequisite courses completed prior
to matriculation in the summer term. Applicants must have at least one
term of Anatomy and Physiology complete at the time of application.
It looks better to the Admissions Committee to have more prerequisites
completed than not, but you will still be considered as long as you
are able to finish all the prerequisites by the time classes begin in
the summer. You must show a feasible plan in your application prerequisite
coursework form regarding how you plan to complete the required prerequisites.
If you fail to fill out this section, we will assume that you do not
have such a plan, and your application will not be considered.
Campus Information
Is the ABM program offered at the regional OHSU campuses?
No, the accelerated programs are only offered at the Portland campus.
Applying
Can I apply to the ABM program in addition to the standard B.S.
and/or ABS programs?
Yes, you may apply to 2 or all 3 of these programs. For each program
you apply to, you would need to fill out a separate application,
submit different Prerequisite Coursework Forms, submit
copies of your supplemental materials (we can carry
over your official transcripts if you tell us to do so), and pay
separate application fees. You would be considered separately
for each program.
How do I get an application for the ABM program and when do
I apply?
Applications are only available online.
Please check the Application Deadlines
page and the Steps to Apply page for
more information. The applications must be postmarked by the deadline
and are to be mailed to the Admissions Office at OHSU SON SN-ADM, 3455
SW US Veterans Hospital Rd., Portland, OR 97239-2941. Our admissions
process is not rolling, so applications will be considered as a group
after these deadlines.
Do I need to submit letters of recommendation or my résumé
with my application?
Yes, the ABM program requires 3 letters of reference and your updated
résumé as part of the application.
Who should be my references? What if I don’t keep in touch with
an instructor any longer?
The Admissions Committee requests 3 references from applicants. These
references should include one instructor, one employer, and one colleague
who can speak to your academic and educational abilities. If you no
longer are in touch with an instructor, you may use 2 supervisors/employers.
What GRE test do I need to take?
Applicants are required to submit official Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
scores from the general test from ETS. The OHSU School
of Nursing GRE code is 4900. OHSU recommends a minimum score of 1000 (combined Verbal and Quantitative) to be competitive.
Are there other special requirements or skills I will need for
the programs?
Yes. OHSU School of Nursing has some technical
and computer skills that are required. Students will be involved
in direct patient care and need critical and analytical thinking skills
as well as some physical and interpersonal skills. Having EMT or CNA
certification is not required.
How do I get accepted to the OHSU School of Nursing ABM program?
Applications
are reviewed based on your cumulative GPA, your grades in your prerequisite
courses, your previous bachelor’s degree, your GRE scores, your
references, your résumé and experience, and your overall
fit for the program (based upon your application essays).
What qualifications does the average accepted ABM student have?
What are the ABM program class statistics?
In 2007, we received over 50 applications for our ABM program
and admitted approximately 16 students. This program is very competitive
and intensive. The average accepted student cumulative GPA was a 3.6.
About a third of our admitted students had a previous graduate degree
in a non-nursing field.
• For the ABM-CNM program, the average GRE score was about 1200.
• For the ABM-PMHNP program, the average GRE score was about 1080.
In 2008, we received over 60 applications for our ABM program
and admitted approximately 18 students. This program is very competitive
and intensive. The average accepted student cumulative GPA was a 3.62.
About a third of our admitted students had a previous graduate degree
in a non-nursing field.
• For the ABM-CNM program, the average GRE score was about 1213.
• For the ABM-PMHNP program, the average GRE score was about 1246.
For more information, please check out our Academic Profile.
When will I know my admission status?
For the ABM program, admission letters are mailed out in February or
March. Applicants receive letters notifying them of their status either
way.
What's my alternate status?
Each year we receive many more qualified applicants to our programs
than we are able to admit. Some students are notified that they have
been put on an alternate list where they can be admitted as spaces become
available in the cohort. Many students anxiously await information regarding
their status on the alternate list. Unfortunately, it is difficult for
us to know how many students will be admitted from the alternate list
each year, although we do expect some offers of admission to be made.
It is possible that an offer may be made as late as the week before
classes start! We understand that not knowing is frustrating, but we
encourage alternates to continue with their plans of completing prerequisite
coursework so that if a space does become available, alternates are
ready to accept their offer and begin the program.
What if I received a refusal letter?
If you received a refusal letter, you were not admitted to the program
or placed on the alternate list for this year. Unfortunately, we received
many more qualified applicants than we had open spaces for and consequently
had to send many refusal letters. Many of the applicants who were refused
meet the minimum admissions criteria. However, due to the large and
highly qualified application pool, we had to refuse many qualified applicants.
If you have questions about how to strengthen your application for next
year, please email proginfo@ohsu.edu or call 503 494-7725 to set up an appointment to speak with an Admissions
Counselor.
With all this talk about a nursing shortage, why don’t
you offer more applicants admission?
Currently we are also in a nursing faculty shortage and clinical placement
shortage. As a member of the Oregon Nursing Leadership Council and the
Nursing Consortium, OHSU is experiencing ways to explore its programs
to educate more nurses. Our policy is to admit students based upon our
funding and resources.
Tuition and Fees Information
How much will the program cost?
Tuition
and fee costs are available on our website. Students pay the ABS
tuition and fee rate for the ABS portion of the program and the ABM
rate for the graduate portion of the program. Tuition and fees are subject
to change each July.
How do I get information about financial aid?
Please see the Financial Aid Web
page or contact the Financial Aid Office for more information at
503-494-7800 or 1-800-775-5460.
How do I know if I am considered a resident?
This information is on our Tuition
and Fees page. If you have further questions about your residency
status, please contact the Registrar’s office at 503-494-7800
or 1-800-775-5460.
Can I work when I am enrolled in the program?
The ABS portion of the program is intensive with both classes and clinical
placements. Students may find working even part time difficult. For
many students, employment while attending school is necessary. Jobs
with flexible schedules are desirable in these circumstances. Students
must adjust work hours to accommodate their school schedule. Students
are strongly encouraged not to work while in the ABS portion of the
program.
For the master’s portion of the program, students are able to
attend either part or full time. The classes and clinical placements
are demanding, but students can work if they set their schedules around
their school schedule.
Does OHSU offer a “payback” program?
Unfortunately, no. OHSU offers an immediate tuition reduction benefit
to employees/students on the Portland campus, only. If you are employed
by OHSU in any capacity (research assistant, clerical, certified nursing
assistant, food service, etc.) and maintain at least a part-time (20
hours a week) schedule, there are tuition benefits. If you are a nurse
and employed by OHSU, information on the tuition benefits is available
at http://ozone.ohsu.edu/hr/docs/ona_tuitionbenefit-stafffee_programdescription.pdf.
Speak with your employing supervisor for details.
New Student Questions
How do I know where to start as a new OHSU student?
New students will receive information from their program coordinators
by May for the ABM program. This information will give you specific
information about getting started as an OHSU student, including orientation
and registration information.
How do I know what to register for?
The course schedules for the entire year have been posted to the SoN
website. They can be accessed by clicking on the Registration link from
the main School of Nursing page, or going to the link http://www.ohsu.edu/son/student/registration.shtml.
New students can follow the links to their specific campus schedules.
How does registration work?
Registering requires a student ID and PIN number, both of which were
sent to all new students as automatic emails after their Admission Agreements
and deposits were received by OHSU. If you did not receive this automatic
email, the Registrar's Office can aid you in getting a new email sent
(503-494-7800 or 1-800-775-5460).
Students can register through the ISIS system by entering the four digit
CRN number for the appropriate classes in the program of study. For
your nursing classes, each new student is guaranteed a slot in each
nursing course you are required to take. OHSU is not like many other
institutions at which you need to register as soon as registration opens
in order to ensure you get into the courses that you need. Registering
as soon as you are able to do is what we strongly recommend.
How will OHSU communicate with me?
Email is the primary mode of communication from the OHSU institution
as well as many of your professors and staff. GroupWise is the email
system that OHSU uses. As soon as you are assigned your GroupWise account,
all email correspondence will be sent to that email address. Be sure
to check this account regularly to stay in the loop.
Do I have to attend orientation?
The OHSU Orientation event is required. The accelerated programs Orientation
is typically in mid-late June; the proposed date was noted in your admission
letter. You will receive a packet of information from the Office of
Admissions with details regarding the event including parking, food,
orientation schedules, etc. closer to the actual Orientation date.