Thought I would start a Columbia thread for all of us who were eagerly waiting for that acceptance letter in the mail last week. Guess you can call this the meet-n-greet and maybe wear like a sticker with our screen names so we can recognize each other during the Visiting Day (ok, might look a bit goofy) but hey, what a way to start off our nursing careers together at Columbia.
I was estactic when i opened that letter, seemed like a thin envelope and was prepared for the worst, and then read the first line! I can't wait and indeed it was a life changing letter for both me and my wife, who also got accepted!! I also got into my first choice of specialty, Nurse Anesthesia, and getting into that program without ICU experience (besides being a nursing assistant in the ER and neurosurg unit as an undergrad) is just simply overwhelming. It took the whole weekend to sink in, and now, I'm psyched! I look forward to meeting all of you and enduring the next 12 months of craziness starting in June together.
I'm just as excited as you are to start the career in nursing! I think us guys we will do just fine... As for finding an apartment on Craigslist, definitely try to find one that is listed under for rent (of course no broker's fee would be ideal) and not the share with roommate postings, but for the most part the apartments listed ususally allow a walk-through. My wife ad I are in the apartment that we found on Craigslist near the Columbia Medical Center, fort washington neighborhood. You can always call and speak to Adel from the off-campus housing if you choose not to live in the dorms. I have friends who are living in Bard Halls and I haven't heard any complaints about them sharing bathrooms, etc. Then again, they're usually at classes and clinics for the most part of their day, and at the library in the evenings. Congrats, and I'll see you at Orientation!
Hi everyone, another soon to be ETP student here :)
I just wanted to warn everyone, beware of bitter old nurses in your CPR classes! I just got back from the first night of my AHA BLS course and there was this seriously angry peds nurse in the class. She systematically sought out all of us yet to start nursing school (there were 3 of us direct entry types there) to tell us what a terrible career choice we were making and demanded to know why in the world we chose nursing. She went on about how we would forever be disrespected and underappreciated blah blah blah. Now I respect that fact that she is a nurse and I'm not, and I respect that she is truly frustrated by her experiences and situation, but that does not mean she needs to drag everyone down with her! She seriously needed to simmer down.
It was kind of funny though, when I told her I wanted to be an NP and that I'd talked at length about it to my own NP who LOVES her job, she got all flustered and was like, "Oh yeah, well NP's are still have to work with doctors, they usually only end up prescribing Advil and Mylanta!" Ummm, okay, and your point is what? I'm not looking forward to seeing her again tomorrow night, blech.
For those of you already in NYC - are there a lot of healthcare provider BLS refresher courses offered?
My card will expire in June 2006, but I do also have the community CPR that is good until 2008. I cannot find a course in the area that corresponds with my schedule over the next 2 months so if it easy to find one near Columbia, I will just wait.
Yogagal - sorry to hear about the nasty nurse in your class. I hate when people are so negative!! If she hates it so much maybe she should find a new career??
ITA Krystellmarie about that nurse needing to change careers, if she keeps carrying on tonight I'm going to suggest just that! Negativity only breeds more negativity, if you can no longer see the positive in a situation, you need to move on.
I'd recommend doing the AHA if you can get it - their cert lasts 2 years, as opposed to ARC's one. And supposedly (this is from my cousin, who is an EMT and AHA instructor) the info is more up to date. I know they just had a huge ol' meeting to update the protocols. I did the ARC, so I don't have any first-hand comparison.
Hey all, I just received my acceptance letter to the ETP program around 3/15. I am really excited. I do however have to finish my pre-reqs, A&P and MicroBio, so I am a bit uptight.
Is anyone going for the Pediatric NP program?
I missed the open house since I was accepted AFTER the date. Provided that I pass my classes, I look forward to meeting all of you in May.
Congrats on your acceptance :balloons: and welcome to the forum. Hopefully, any questions you might have about the ETP program, living accomodations, etc about Columbia have been answered somewhere here, but if not, feel free to post your questions.
Again, Congrats and looking forward to meeting you at orientation!
Does anyone know of any students living in couples housing that have pets - particularly cats?? Just wanted to hear if there are students living in the couples housing towers with pets.
I actually live in NYC so housing won't be a problem.
I just have a 5mo old, so that may make school a little difficult, by my daughter is a sweetie.
When I went to the open house last year, they did say something about not being fully prepared, even after taking the NCLEX.
Also, has anyone looked into tuition/work fellowships to help defray the cost of CU SON? I have not received a financial aid package, but if it was like my Social Work package from CU, funds from elsewhere will be necessary.
Anyway, I look forward to meeting you all & working hard for the next year.
They do say that about not being prepared - but I've come to realize during my Integration that NO one is fully prepared - no matter what school you go to. My preceptor told me that nursing school teaches you how to learn to be a nurse. You won't actually learn to BE a nurse until you do it. I think it's the same for all professional schools - my dad said when he graduated from law school he no more knew how to write a brief than he did a, um, I don't have a good metaphor because it's really early. But you know what I mean.
In terms of working, they will not offer you anything at least for the first year. In fact, they tell you that you can't work at all. And with a child...I think it would be really hard. I know a couple of people who picked up jobs at Starbucks, babysitting, or tutoring, but not until Winter term when things slow down a little in classes.
And on another note: Charlie, gimme a couple weeks to settle into my new schedule (sooooooo tired!) and I'll pm ya in re the books and stuff.
& working hard for the next year.
I tried to PM ya, but your inbox is full...I'll try back later. Go get some rest now!
nycacoustic
31 Posts
Hi Fluffhead,
I'm just as excited as you are to start the career in nursing! I think us guys we will do just fine...
As for finding an apartment on Craigslist, definitely try to find one that is listed under for rent (of course no broker's fee would be ideal) and not the share with roommate postings, but for the most part the apartments listed ususally allow a walk-through. My wife ad I are in the apartment that we found on Craigslist near the Columbia Medical Center, fort washington neighborhood. You can always call and speak to Adel from the off-campus housing if you choose not to live in the dorms. I have friends who are living in Bard Halls and I haven't heard any complaints about them sharing bathrooms, etc. Then again, they're usually at classes and clinics for the most part of their day, and at the library in the evenings. Congrats, and I'll see you at Orientation!