Cooper Hospital?

Hi coincidentally i have the same dilemma.. I dont know if i should go to University of Penn's Hospital for their gateway program to O.R which starts October 23 or wait for Cooper's orientation to CCU/ICU which starts in January. I may go to Cooper. I heard though that new grads and entry level nurses have to work the night shift for a year before doing days. I think orientation for GN's are only twice a year..The next one isn't until January.

I just visted the NICU in cooper for a paper that I had to write. They have 3 new nurses that just graduated from widener. I talked to the all the nurses on the floor about how they liked thier job a cooper and the new nurses as well. Every one of them were happy working at Cooper and they were all very friendly.

I know this was not what you are asking about but thought I would put in a good word for Cooper after seeing and talking to the nurses on the floor.


Goog Luck

It all depends which unit you work for at Cooper. Some are great - like the NICU - others are a nightmare and most people quit after one year. As far as working nights for a year - that is not true. The ICU and CCU hires tons of new grads - half for nights and half for days.

-S

That's great!! Thanks so much for that. I've been hearing so many negative things about how the nurses there are cold and unwelcoming. So this was the the NICU? I think i'll keep that in mind when i apply. Thanks again!!

Hi! So just out of curiosity.. what are the "nightmarish" floors? I heard they were med-surg, telemetry, and icu? I would just love to work there but I'm scared that I'll be stuck working with nurses who are cold and don't like to be bothered. Being a new grad I'll have questions and will want to learn plus I don't want to quit after a few months due to coworkers. Thanks so much! This site is so much help I love it!

Hi again, lpjmmb!

I work at Cooper and LOVE the hospital. I'm not a nurse yet, though (student), so I can't speak to pay rates, but I've been thoroughly impressed with everyone I've met there so far. And I know that what I make as a unit secretary is the highest in the area.

I also don't know a lot about the various units and floors (I'm kind of new there, too), but I'm a board secretary (sort of like a unit secretary) for the OR and get lots of calls from other floors...everyone has always been SO nice. I think you'll find that there are cranky and nasty people everywhere...you just have to learn to avoid them as much as possible.

Cooper also has an awesome trauma department...we're the only Level I in south Jersey, I'm told...we have a heliport and everything. I've heard the trauma staff are awesome at their jobs, but also good, and really fun, people.

Plus, if you worked at Cooper, you wouldn't have to deal with that nasty commute over the Walt Whitman bridge! There are also tons and tons of expansion plans going on on the campus, and you don't have to worry about it being in Camden...the security is excellent!