Columbia University ETP 2008

Tanguera, BSN, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 10, 2008

Thanks Cozzy for the postings about ETP. Yes, I think I've been looking at schools primarily based on their NIH ranking and overall reputation of the school, but I guess I should be doing more research. It is just harder to get the inside scoop on programs because I feel like I'm easily swayed by the NIH rankings right now.

After reading your posts, it seems to me like I might not be happy at Columbia as I am looking for a program that really takes students step by step. Somehow I get the impression that Yale and UPenn are like that, and although they will cost around the same amount, I am not worried about paying top dollar for an education as long as i thnk it is worth it in the end. For undergrad, I did the same, and I don't regret it one bit!

In Columbia, do they allow students to change specialties? I am thinking I'd like to apply to the FNP track, but then again, I hardly know anything about being an RN, how am I supposed to make a decision applying for a specialty now?

Asherah, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2008

I am thinking I'd like to apply to the FNP track, but then again, I hardly know anything about being an RN, how am I supposed to make a decision applying for a specialty now?

Many folks would suggest one step in determining if a specialty is for you is if you have the chance to shadow an NP closely. You can at least get a feel for their specific role, the patient demographic they work with and what a typical day may be.

Tanguera, BSN, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 10, 2008

Hi Asherash,

Thanks! Yeah I am hoping that I can shadow sometime this coming year. I am goign to start doing research in a hospital for their dept of emergency medicine. I was assinged to the neonatal ICU so I hope that after this research project is over, I can find a way to shadow some FNP's in the hospital.

I am considering applying to Hopkins. Are you doing the BSN/MSN program? Would you recommend the program? I'm looking at that program because I assume that being affiliated with a hospital like Hopkins, I'd get to learn a lot. But it seems from other posts in this forum, just b/c a school is affiliated with a certain teaching hospital, that doesn't mean that all of the clinicals are in that specific hospital.

What is the situation for clinicals in Hopkins? how abot the faculty? Are the students happy there?

Thanks!

cozzy66 · Jul 10, 2008

Yes you can switch specialties in Columbia. If you are in the FNP track and decide Pediatrics is right for you, it's not a problem. You can not switch into CRNA or midwifery track if you are not accepted to it. There are so many specialties for the masters track, it's easy to switch around.

I think if you are looking at a program that will take you step by step, an accelerated program will not be right for you.

LovetoTravel2001 · Jul 17, 2008

I am in the ETP program right now and would like to just put some thoughts out there for people who are considering applying to/attending Columbia for the ETP program... Making the decision of where to go to nursing school is so different for so many people. I know that a whole lot more than 'which school offers the "best" (a difficult to define term) education' when into my decision and I think that if that is the case for you too, don't rule out Columbia because some people have negative opinions of the program. First off, I want to start by saying so far I have really liked the clinical experiences and classes I have had and have found the summer to be challenging but manageable - and I have learned A LOT. But also I want to acknowledge that many other factors go into where to attend that may or may not make Columbia right for you - my husband and I wanted to live in a big city (that eliminated a lot of 'top' programs), we wanted to stay in Northern CA (not many programs there) or move to the east coast, I wanted to be done and working as an RN ASAP (FYI: Columbia was the FASTEST program I found) and did not want to have to apply/relocate to go on to a Masters program, I wanted a guaranteed spot in my chosen specialty but also wanted the flexibility to change specialties if by chance something during my first year changed my direction, and, quite frankly, if I was going to move across the country, I wanted to be going to a school that the people eventually hiring me in CA will had heard of. Lastly, as far as the financial part of it, if you evaluate it based on the concept of the "time value of money" (think back to high school econ...) the fact that you are done and working faster in this program than any others means you have more money (that can gain interest) faster, and less money (loans) that are collecting interest while you are in school, not to mention 'lost wages' of even a few extra months of being in school. Anyways, that's just what was going through my mind when making my decisions and I don't think anyone should feel ashamed to be weighting all these factors, which after all, may make Columbia the right or wrong place for you...

SFChef · Jul 17, 2008

Thank your for your feedback. Columbia is top on my list, and it's great to hear when people have a good experience. Often times we only hear from those who are unhappy.

Just out of curiosity, what is your ETP specialty?

LovetoTravel2001 · Jul 19, 2008

My specialty is Acute Care. So far we haven't done anything specialty specific (classes or clinical wise) but in the spring we will be somewhat placed within out specialty for integration - I think everyone has to be in a hospital so if you were FNP, I think you go on a med/surg floor but being acute care I will be in an ICU or ER. The clinical coordinator seems very willing to work with us on where we would like to be department-wise (ER verses ICU, etc). I will post more as the year goes on! Good luck with you application process - it will all work out in the end.

poppete75 · Aug 20, 2008

OMG ... What the h*ll is going on!

I completed ETP this year and promptly tried to get an ER job in the city. Since my GPA was 3.9 and I went to Columbia, I assumed I would be a shoe-in candidate. Not so, I was flatly told by a recruiter at Columbia Presbyterian that the ER director (or whatever their title is) does not like to hire ETP grads, because "Columbia's clinicals don't provide adequate experience" Several other hospitals in the city (St. Vincents, NYU, etc) didn't even respond to my app. I called NYU, and whoever I spoke to told me to stop calling because they wouldn't offer me a job, because there were other more qualified applicants.

I ended up moving back to the 'burbs, and got an ER job there. But what the h*ll happened to me?

Tanguera, BSN, MSN, RN, NP · Aug 20, 2008

poppete75,

Thanks for your message. That's tough times. Although I've been wavering about applying to Columbia ETP I've decided to keep it on my list as I am originally from NY. i don't want location to be the sole factor in my school choices, but I'd like to stay around the NY area if possible.

Do you know if any othe ETPers have applied to the same hospitals? I wonder if it's only the ER at Columbia Presbyterian? The ER is def a place where I could see it might be hard for new nurses. Where arre the other ETPers working?

dg05, RN · Aug 20, 2008

Poppete, This sounds really frustrating and I'm sorry you couldn't find a position in the city.

However, I want to caution potential applications to not take one story as the experience everyone is having. I know a few people who can't find a position for whatever reason but I know far more of us who have jobs that were found either through connections from school, from the floor we were giving during integration, or from cold calling and going to interview fairs. I also know new grads who started in the ER at NYP both at the main campus and at the Allen Pavilion.

dg

poppete75 · Aug 20, 2008

Dg05:

yeah, a lot of people who went through etp got the jobs they wanted. BUT in comparison to other nursing schools Columbia is much more focused on making politically active NPs then training RNs and we really don't get that much clinical time in comparison to other schools (what other nursing school gives you a bach. degree in 1 year?) . I think a lot of managers are getting fed up with etp grads that cost money to orient and then leave 1 year later when they are qualified to be an NP. I think Columbia is going to start experiencing some blowback from their never ending focus on making NPs. Eventually they are going to have to force people to stay in until the master's full time. (Didn't Yale do that?)

Tanguera, BSN, MSN, RN, NP · Aug 20, 2008

Oh, is that why Yale doesn't allow students to take a year off between 1st and 2nd years? You bring up some interesting points. How about ETPers who do the master's part time and get jobs as RN's part time? Is that common of ETPers and what does their outlook on jobs look like?