Does YSN offer a BSN or other undergraduate degree in nursing?
No. YSN does not offer a BSN or other undergraduate degree in nursing because we are strictly a graduate school.
Does YSN offer a bridge RN-to-BSN program?
No. However, you are eligible to apply directly to the MSN program if you already hold a bachelor’s level degree in some other area.
Does YSN offer a PhD in Nursing?
Yes. Information on the PhD program can be found in our PhD Program section.
Does YSN offer a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) program?
Not yet. We hope to have a post-MSN DNP program available for 2011.
What are the application deadlines?
GEPN = November 1
MSN for RNs & Post-MSN = November 1 – March 1 (rolling admissions)
PhD = January 2
All material (including the GRE) must be post-marked by these dates. Applicants are encouraged to submit all materials well before these deadlines.
How long is the master's program?
The GEPN program is a 3 year, full-time program. The MSN for RNs can be done on a full-time (2 years) or part-time basis (3-4 years depending on the specialty area).
Does YSN offer joint degree programs with other professional schools at Yale?
Yes, two separate joint degree programs are offered:
Nursing and Divinity School (MAR or M.DIV)
Nursing and School of Public Health (MPH)
Students must apply separately to, and be admitted by, both the Schools during the same application cycle.
What is the GEPN program?
The Graduate Entry Prespecialty in Nursing (GEPN) is a three-year full-time course of study designed for students with a “non-nursing” bachelor’s degree. It combines basic nursing preparation with training in an advanced practice nursing clinical specialty area. Students become Registered Nurses halfway through the program and NPs/CNMs upon graduation. The first year of the program provides a solid foundation in basic nursing theory/processes and clinical experiences in medical-surgical, pediatric, psychiatric-mental health, maternal-newborn, and community health nursing settings. During the 2nd & 3rd years, students move into a clinical specialty area and continue with the study of relevant nursing theory, practice, and research.
Do I have to choose a clinical specialty when I apply to the GEPN program?
Yes, all students must select a specialty area at the time of application. All students are admitted into this specialty when accepted into the GEPN program. Specialty area changes can be difficult so we encourage all prospective applicants to carefully consider their options.
What are the course prerequisites for the GEPN program?
Officially, there are no prerequisites required to enter the GEPN program, however applicants are highly encouraged to take human anatomy/physiology and a basic statistics course prior to entering the program.
As a Registered Nurse, do I need to have professional nursing experience before I apply?
Although nursing experience not required for admission, we highly encourage RNs to complete one year of professional work prior to entering graduate school.
Do I need to send transcripts from every college I've attended?
Yes, we require an official transcript of your grades from EVERY college, university, or professional school that you attended.
When is the last day I can take the GRE?
GEPN = October 31
RNs = February 28/29
PhD = encourage to take the GRE no later than mid-December.
What is considered a competitive GRE score?
We consider a score of 500 on the verbal and quantitative sections and 4.0 on the Analytical Writing to be competitive, although applicants are neither accepted nor denied solely based on GRE scores.
Can I waive the GREs?
Students who already hold an advanced degree with a thesis or scholarly published articles can request a GRE waiver. The request must be sent in writing to the YSN Admissions Committee, along with the majority of your application file (minus letters of recommendation), and are considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants seeking a waiver are encouraged to submit their materials well before the application deadline to allow a review of the request.
How many references are required?
Three letters of reference are required. Applicants are advised to seek references from individuals who are or have been in a position to objectively evaluate academic or work performance. The following guidelines can be used in asking for references:
If you have been out of school two years or less, submit two academic references and one work reference.
If you have been out of school longer than two years, submit one academic reference and two work references. It is important to submit an academic reference, if at all possible.
Can a placement file be used in place of references?
A placement file (letters kept on-file at your college or university) can be used in lieu of only one reference, even if the file contains more than one reference.
Can my letters of recommendation be sent in before submitting my application?
Yes, letters of recommendation, as well as GRE scores and transcripts, can arrive prior to the application. Your application will not be considered complete, however, until all components of the application are received by the Admissions Office. You can contact Admissions at (203) 737-1793 to check on the status of your application.
What should I do if English is not my first language?
Applicants whose first language is other than English, and have not received a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the U.S., must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language System (IELTS) as one of the admission requirements. For additional information, please consult: www.toefl.org or www.ielts.org.
If I am the graduate of a foreign nursing school, what steps must I take prior to application?
Prior to enrolling in the School, graduates of foreign schools of nursing must pass the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) examination as well as the NCLEX-RN examination in order to become a registered nurse (RN) in the United States. Information on the CGFNS examination can be obtained from www.cgfns.org, the United States Embassy, or the nurses' association in the foreign country of residence. Please note: this process could take up to three months to complete.
If I am not accepted to the Master's Program, can I reapply?
Yes, but applicants to the School of Nursing who have applied three times to the same program without an offer of admission will not be allowed to apply to that program again.
If I am not accepted to the Master's Program, can I reapply?
Yes, but applicants to the School of Nursing who have applied three times to the same program without an offer of admission will not be allowed to apply to that program again.
What does the acronym APN represent?
APN stands for advanced practice nurse, an umbrella term given to a registered nurse (RN) who has met advanced educational and clinical practice requirements beyond the 2 to 4 years of basic nursing education. Under this umbrella fall four principal types of APNs:
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Nurse Practitioners work in clinics, nursing homes, hospitals, or their own offices and are qualified to handle a wide range of basic health problems. NPs conduct physical exams, take medical histories, diagnose and treat common acute minor illnesses or injuries, order and interpret lab tests and X-rays, and counsel and educate clients.
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) are licensed health care practitioners educated in the two disciplines of nursing and midwifery. They provide primary health care to women of childbearing age including: prenatal care, labor and delivery care, care after birth, gynecological exams, newborn care, assistance with family planning decisions, preconception care, menopausal management and counseling in health maintenance and disease prevention.
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) are educated in the disciplines of nursing and a clinical practice specialty of primary or acute care. Health care provided by CNSs includes complex problem evaluation, health assessment, health promotion and counseling, psychotherapy, patient advocacy, and expert consulting services. CNSs practice in a variety of settings, including outpatient clinics, private practice offices, hospitals, specialty practice offices, schools, nursing homes, community health centers, mental health facilities, and homeless shelters. CNSs practice in a collaborative and interdisciplinary manner in the management of client care.
YSN no longer offers the Acute/Critical Care CNS or Oncology CNS program.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) administer more than 65 percent of all anesthetics given to patients each year, and are the sole providers of anesthetics in 85 percent of rural hospitals. These nurse specialists work in almost every setting in which anesthesia is given, including operating rooms, dentist's offices, and ambulatory surgical settings.
YSN does not offer a CRNA program.
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