Online BSN - NP

2blueyes · Sep 28, 2008

Hasn't anyone heard anything about this program?

ThisOneGotLucky · Oct 4, 2008

Hey there!

I live in the Cincinnati area and have heard quite a few people talking about the online CNM program (not specifically what you asked). I have not heard any bad things about it. The only thing that I have heard was that it was slightly competitive because they have alot of applicant from other states applying (because of the online convenience). I know some people were wondering if UC was like a rinky dink, online type thing, but I will tell you that UC is a wonderful school...a REAL school at that. It carries alot of credibility throughout this area. The campus is nice and the facilities are modern and up-to-date. It has a really good reputation. UC is affiliated with University Hospital which is Cincinnati's only Level 1 trauma hospital. Go for it! I graduate in December and am already looking into it from the future. I definitely wouldn't mind giving UC my money (or my employer's $ rather). I don't know anything about how the clinical arrangements are made. I'm sure I can find out for you though!

I hope I helped a little!

2blueyes · Oct 4, 2008

Thanks so much for your input! I have spoken with a couple people who attended the online program (WHNP) and they had great things to say about it. My hometown university played UC in a football game last night, so I know it exists! Please let me know if you find anything else out about the online portion.

smiles&prayers · Oct 7, 2008

This message is for Britt03445. I received a private message from you,but since I have not upgraded my membership, I will not be able to reply back to private messages until I have made at least 15 public post first, so I thought I would just try and reply to you this way (hope you don't mind!) First off, thank you so much for your insight, I really appreciate it! Secondly, Many of the hospitals in the DFW area are currently hiring new grades in a variety of areas (including L&D, and NNICU). The specific one I was referring to is Parkland Memorial Hospital (this is an amazing teaching hospital!). Some of the others that I know of that are hiring new grades in those areas right now are Baylor University Medical Center, and Baylor All Saints, Children's hospital in Dallas, almost all of the Texas Health Resources hospitals, John Peter Smith hospital, Cooks Childrens hospital (although it is very hard to get into this hospital as a new grad, they do have some new grad positions), and Presbyterian in Dallas. I am sure there are others, but these are all the biggest ones. Many of them offer residency programs, and internships, but they also have general new grad positions as well. I hope this helps, and please let me know if I can further assist you in anyway! Please let me know if you get/read this!

ThisOneGotLucky · Oct 7, 2008

Got it! That was a creative way to reply back...I never would've thought of that. Thanks for the info. I heard that Parkland just raised their new grad pay rate, so good for you! I applied online at Parkland and haven't heard anything from them. I'm flying down this wknd and going to the Baylor job fair because I hear that they hire on the spot! Do you know if their new grad positions are really competitive?

Thanks again for replying.

To the poster's above...we apologize for hijacking your thread.

This site provides a wealth of info!!!

smiles&prayers · Oct 7, 2008

Actually when you apply for parkland, instead of searching for jobs under the category nursing, search under on-line application. after you hit that, then hit the gray box that says on-line application. After that hit the button that says apply on-line. When you hit this it will take you to a list of jobs posted by nurse recruitment. If you keep flipping through, you will find links for the labor & Delivery residency program, and the NNICU residency program. After you apply this way, I would also follow up with a call to the nurse recruitment office just to make sure that the correct department has been able to view your application. These residency programs are super competitive because of the great and extensive experience that you get, so it never hurts to be a little assertive and get your name in there by nurse recruitment. The Baylor jobs are super competitive too, because Baylor is known for being such a great system to work for, plus they are a huge system, so if you don't like one area or hospital, then you can just transfere to another. Many of the people that have children like to work at Baylor, because they are the only area hospital system that offers a weekend plan. (you only work on the weekends, but you get paid for 40 hours, and you are considered a full time emplyoee and get full benefits. You never get your weekends off, but you would get to be home everyday with your kids. The only problem is, appearantly it is very hard to get on this plan, because everyone wants to. I personally don't have kids, but if you do it might be something you want to consider). Baylor is known for paying a lot more attention to GPA than many of the other hospitals, but for the most part, I've only heard good things about baylor. That's such a coincidence that you are going to the Baylor job fair! Just about everyone in my class is going, (since they are known for hiring on the spot). There are actually some people who want to work for baylor so bad, that they are just applying for every job that baylor has posted, and no other hospitals! It is known for being pretty competitive, so I would get there early if I were you. The faster you can make an impression, and get a feel for the position the better. I was originally planning on attending myself, but now that I have been offered those other positions I'm not so sure....Anywho, the only real drawback that I can see to Baylor is that you do not get to see the facility or get a feel for the staff nurses that you will be potentially working with at the job fair, however, if you know for sure that that is where you want to work, that shouldn't be a problem. Sorry this is so long! Hope this helps! Good luck, I'm sure you will do great! Let me know if ya need anything else!

ThisOneGotLucky · Oct 8, 2008

I found it! I applied for L & D and NICU @ Parkland! How long did it take them to get back with you? Do you know how many openings both units have? Are they putting a heavy emphasis on GPA? Do you think me being an out of state applicant will hurt me?

As far as Baylor is concerned...you said our entire class is going, oh my! LOL. How large is your class? I hope I'm not flying down for nothing Are you in as Assoc or BSN program? Do they prefer one over the other?

I know I'm bogging you down with questions but you seem to have alot of info about this!

Thanks

...and we apologize again for the thread topic. He/She cannot PM me until her account is upgraded and this is the only way we know how to communicate now.

Thanks Again!

smiles&prayers · Oct 8, 2008

The NNICU at parkland e-mailed me back and set up an interview about a week or so later, and I went to a job fair, and got an interview set up with L&D, so i'm not sure how long they would take. I know both departments are actively hiring now for their resident programs that begin on January 5th, so I would guess that they wouldn't take too ling, but if you haven't heard back by mid next week I would definately call the nurse recruitment office. Everyone in both departments was so warm and inviting. They really make you feel welcome. I think they were saying that they have about 10-15 openings in the NNICU and around the same in L&D. Both units at that hospital are extremely big. They did not ask me for or about my GPA at all. Everything seemed to be experience, and "how do you react in certain situations based". I don't think that you being out of state will hurt you at all because at the end of the day an RN is an RN. There are about 64 people in my class, and I am in the BSN program at Texas Christian University. Don't let that discourage you though, because I think the managers are going to base a lot of their decisison on personality and what type of impression you make, and then take GPA and resume into account with that. As far as I know, there is not preference b/t BSN and ADN. I just know that further down the road as an ADN you can not serve as a manager, but I don't think that has a bearing on their hiring new GN. Feel free to ask me anymore questions, and let me know if I can help you in anyway. I know exactly what you are feeling right now, cause I am going through the same thing!

I too am sorry for interrupting the topic of this thread!!!!!

ThisOneGotLucky · Oct 8, 2008

Smiles & Prayers you are awesome!!! I can't wait until you post some more so allnurses can increase your status and we don't have to hijack anymore threads! I've heard that Parkland is a wonderful place to work but they make you sign on for 2 years from the end of the internship and if you decide to leave before that time you have to pay $10,000. I definitely don't mind signing on but i just wanted to make you aware of what I've heard (via allnurses, lol). I spoke to the Baylor recruiter and she said that they'll have managers from 13 different units that will be at the career fair. I got excited until she said "...and we're expecting about 300 people in attendance"....yikes!!! That really discouraged me but I'm still flying down because I hate to think "what if"...ya know. I know Parkland definitely pays more, and i like that. I just live by the "You can't miss something that you've never had" philosophy, and I've never had that kind of money so honestly I don't have to have the highest rate of pay but it would certainly be nice. I'm in a BSN program too...actually an accelerated one. I already have a previous degree in a health-related field. Hopefully that'll help me. I wish I knew some things that would help you out but it sounds like you have everything figured out! I'm flying down Friday morning so wish me luck!

smiles&prayers · Oct 8, 2008

Ya, I knew about the contract from Parkland. It's because they have residency programs. If you go for a GN position then I don't think you have to sign one. The lady explained it to me as, they invest a lot of time into your training and money, so they dont want that to be a loss in you decide to leave. You have like 6 weeks into the training before it goes into effect if you want to quit though. Baylor and parkland qualify for the government loan program, but if you do that at Baylor or any of the other hospitals that qualify you will be required to sign a two year contract as well. It's actually really common with a lot of the hospitals around here. Some hospitals do it by department, so make sure you read every piece of the job description and contract that each department gives you. I have my management clinical at one of the Baylor hospitals and my manager asked me to attend the fair today, so it looks like I'll be at the job fair too! I'm sure that you will do great, and that your previous degree will work as a huge assest for you, and you seem to have a great attitude going into things! Good Luck, and have a safe flight! Let me know how things go!!!