Nursing Graduate Students "Back to College" Guide

The University of Massachusetts HRSA grant program “DNPs Caring for the Underserved after Health Reform” provided funding to develop this guide. Now we use it to provide support for all graduate students in the Solomont School of Nursing at UMass Lowell.

We call this the PATH to success. Each of the four modules will provide links to websites, books and other documents. What does PATH mean?

P = Preparation. A module designed to help the new entering graduate student with applications and skills necessary to navigate the first few months of school.

• Communication tools, tutorials on Email access, ISIS, Blackboard
• Financial aid, graduate school grants and scholarships
• Parking and other campus information
• Health and Professional documentation needed for clinical coursework

A= Academics. A module with many components that addresses the resources needed to succeed academically

• Library Services, Research guides, EndNote and other bibliographic resources
• Links to Databases that will assist with coursework and other projects
• Self Tutorials for MS office applications ( WORD, EXCEL, ACCESS)
• Producing and sharing your final project, thesis, or dissertation.

T=Transitions. A module that will have links to university and other resources to assist you in your transition to graduate school

• Healthy living, Recreational resources at UML, Health and Mental health services
• Time management,
• Social media resources, Graduate Student Organization ( GSO)

H= Helpful Resources. A module that will contain various resources not listed above.

• Statistics overview, books and internet resources to help understand statistics
• Cultural competency resources
• Professional organizations and conferences
• How to create professional posters for presentations and dissemination of research/project