Job Search visionary Carmen Kosicek?

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Has anyone used to career program by Carmen Kosicek? She is an advanced practice nurse who is giving advice to nurses on how to find jobs and improve job search and career outcomes. She offers an online program with all sorts of valuable advice but it costs a whole lot of $$$. About $4000 for 8 modules and access to a weekly webchat with her for 2 years. I have felt stuck and burnt out in my med surg position and I have only been here 2 years. I feel like all the info would be helpful but that just seems like a ridiculous amount of money. I'm just so desperate to get out of med surg and I've been applying to other positions for so long with no turn out. She reasons that a college class for a Bachelor's degree costs about the same amount. Has anyone used her program? Do you think it's worth it?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

OMG - what an entrepreneur. I'm bit torn. On the one hand, I applaud her great business sense, but on the other, I can't help but feel that she is really taking advantage of a very vulnerable and desperate group of people.... sort of like the payday loans industry.

Does she provide any references or can you validate the effectiveness of her services?

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You tried EVERYTHING you could think of to get out of the Med Surg? Well then, isn't it time to try something else? And if you're tired of doing the same thing over and not see any changes, then its time for a change. You get 2 years of support to grow and move on to better things, or would you rather do 2 more years in med surg and ask yourself if you should still want to do the same thing over and over?

I understand buyer-beware, that's a smart way to check things out. And that is A LOT OF money! But wasn't nursing school the same thing, a lot of money for investment? The internet has information and references and she's a BIG deal! I mean, are there others at her level, I heard one that'll give you advice for 30 minutes for $500; what in the world can you hear in 30 minutes!? That would leave me with more questions that I started with! There's always a choice, you made an investment for your profession, why not more for a bigger growth than med-surg?

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Specializes in Oncology, Rehab, Public Health, Med Surg.

Waving--hi Carmen or Carmen's staff, lol.

First time poster --joined today --looks like to only answer this post.

*eye roll*

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VirtuosaRN-

I am one who took the leap and decided to invest in Carmen Kosicek's career program and I can truly say is that it is the best decision I could have made! Like you, I have been working on a med/surg floor (med/oncology) in a hospital for the last 2 years and have become so burnt out that I was seriously considering leaving the nursing profession all together. In fact, I even considered applying for position of barista with Starbucks just to get out and away from the hospital and nursing. Anyway, I had found a posting by Carmen regarding burnout and nursing careers and emailed her. I really wasn't expecting to hear anything back as I have tried contacting other nurse advisors in the past and never received a reply when, lo and behold, she contacted me back and gave me some quick ideas on how to deal with career burn out and approach searching for jobs-all within a day of emailing her. This really impressed me as no one, up until then, had really reached out to me before and offered me ideas and encouragement. This was before she launched her career program.

When I found out that she was launching her program, I decided to call her and see exactly what she was offering. After talking for over an hour and discovering what would be offered and all the support and resources that would be available, I decided that, since what I had been doing had not been working, to take the leap and invest in her program. I will honestly admit that when I was told of the initial cost, I almost walked away as it is more than just a couple of $ investment. However, when I looked at my current situation and state of mind, how unhappy I was, and the monies I had invested to become an RN, I figured the cost was minimal compared to the expense of a nursing degree that I was willing to walk away from. So, I made the commitment and invested in her program. And I am so glad that I did!

As you mentioned, when you decide to take the leap and invest into her program, you not only have access to modules that she has prepared along with weekly chats but you receive much more. From not only the modules but from continuous contact with Carmen (sometimes many times a day as she makes herself available to talk with you directly...), I learned how to prepare my resume, to 'think outside of the box' when researching job opportunities and to find those jobs within the nursing field that would not only utilize the skills and knowledge I have gained through school and work but would actually be valued by employers even though I was considered a 'new graduate nurse'. Within a month of committing to her program, I have had interviews with a company which will increase my salary by $35,000/year, allow me to have holidays off (and paid too), have weekends off, 2 weeks paid vacation, plus additional paid personal days all to start off and I am not having to break my back working 12 hour shifts, working holidays and weekends, and regretting my decision to have even gone to nursing school. In addition, I have met several people, not only within the program but within the nursing field as a whole, that have not only encouraged me but have shared insights, advice, contact information, and friendship which I consider invaluable. Instead of hating my job and questioning the wisdom of going into the nursing field, I am actually excited to discover the vast opportunities within the nursing field. And, Carmen knows what she teaches as she has actually held several positions within the nursing field and knows what works, what doesn't and what the companies are looking for when looking to employ nurses. That, in itself, says a lot for she is not one who is just 'repeating advice' but has actually found what works through actual experience. Anyhow, for me to actually decide not to walk away from my nursing career and all the expenses I paid just to obtain my nursing degree, the investment in this program has been well worth the price.

It is human nature to want something for nothing; heck, I'm the same way :yes:. But, let's be realistic. We paid to gain knowledge to enter the field of nursing and because we expended monies to do so (thus we had 'skin in the game'), we valued the education, took it seriously, and applied it all in an effort to be successful. Our professors and the universities/colleges gained from our investment yet we generally feel that the monies were well spent. It is no different here. When you invest in something, you will generally make the effort to ensure your success instead of taking it for granted. This program is not something that you sit and watch modules, fill out a few applications and hope you will find a job-this program is one that you must be engaged in, actively participate in if you want to gain the full value of the knowledge and skills you will obtain. In my interactions with Carmen through this program, she truly believes that you should fully reap the benefits of what she has to offer you and she goes out of her way to ensure that you do but you must be willing to do the work too. It is a partnership.

Anyway, this has been my experience. Whether you decide to invest in her program or not is a decision that only you can make. Yes, you have to invest some $ but look at where you are now-you state you are burnt out and unhappy. It would be a shame if, like I was close to doing, you become burnt out and walk away altogether. If you are able to find a position that not only increases your pay but allows you to find that life work balance which brings the excitement of having a nursing career back into your life, I would say that the investment would indeed be worth the money.

I can appreciate those who wonder if this program is about 'taking advantage of the desperate and vulnerable' just because of cost. The same thing could be said then about the universities and colleges that advertise how great the nursing field is and yet fail to give one the skills and knowledge to go out and obtain employment. Don't they prey on the 'vulnerable and desperate' who look at entering the nursing field in order to support families and have a career? How many students were taught how to do a market analysis, prepare a successful resume, interview, and negotiate a salary? How many new graduate nurses are there who still can't find employment 6 mos., 12 mos., or even 18 mos. after graduation? From this program, I have learned how to do all this-knowledge and skills that I never received from my university and their program that I spent $$$ at. Just my honest thought....

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anyone else have any input on her service? Just looking for some more people's advice or experiences.

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I have not taken her program, however, I am the opportunity to have her as a Maternity professor and not only is she a fantastic teacher, she will insert conversations and talks about Medical insurance, trying to find a job, how to spruce up your resume. She is a very wonderful teacher in any situation, I think. She has a web site and I looked up videos on her and she said to send her questions on her website somewhere, if you have any. She loves helping students. In fact, she is so excited for us to take the maternity HESI (because she thinks we are actually learning), that she wants us to pass it the first time so the last week, we can talk about getting jobs, doing resumes, and what she thinks if we should go on to pursue higher education.

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