HYPEractiveTTU

Hi all, First, I'd like to thank everyone who has helped others on the path to informatics. It is difficult finding resources due to how new the field is, so I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say that the advice from experienced informaticians is greatly appreciated. I'm a public health nurse (acute care background) who has decided to go back to school for Informatics. I completed a certificate program to make sure it was a field I wanted to enter. Shortly after completion, I was positioned to lead in the implementation and administration of a new emr system (while maintaining a full case load!). I really enjoyed what I learned in my postbacc and what I do at work and would like to continue my education with a masters. Due to family and work obligations I only applied to the Universities with online programs. Because I will be paying for this masters completely out of pocket, cost is probably the main factor for me, but reading about the difficulty some members have with breaking into the field, alumni networking and school notoriety is taking a larger and larger influence with my decision. Experienced Informaticists/Informaticians... have you noticed a university that consistently produces well-prepared informatics professionals? Thank you all in advance

I cosign Larry's endorsement of bigshears. They are definitely not sissy. They are the Chuck Norris of trauma shears.

I'm a recent BSN graduate of the first half of Columbia's Entry to Practice (ETP) program, and currently in the ACNP program. Columbia doesn't have a minimum GPA because they realize that there are other qualities that make an excellent pracitioner. I didn't have a steller GPA, but I worked full-time, volunteered, and held positions in several organizations. I also had incredible letters of rec from professors and managers who believed in me, and expressed my passion for the profession in my essay. One of my favorite professors told me that "applying to school is like playing darts. The more darts you have, the greater the odds are of getting a bulls-eye." You only really need ONE acceptance. Also, never reject yourself without even applying. GPA is an important factor, but NOT the only factor. You never know what will happen. I was rejected to some schools i applied to, but then accepted to Columbia University in New York City. Apply to as many schools as your wallet will let you. Good luck! -Art

How is everyone after the first couple days of nursing school? Art

I don't think the Acute Care program is dysfunctional. I spoke with the new director on several occasions and she seems extremely enthusiastic about the program. She answered all the questions I had, told me about some of the clinicals locations, job opportunities, and the increasing role of an ACNP. She even referred me to some current and alumni who all have said good things about it. But like everything else, there are people who feel the opposite. As for the negative comments about Columbia, I again refer you to this famous quote by one of my classmates: Yeah, there are spoiled brats here. But you see spoiled brats in ANY school you go to. I've seen it at my undergrad state school in west Texas, and the community college I did my pre-reqs at. You're not pampered here. You will wipe as many keisters, make as many beds, measure as many emesis basins, and change as many diapers as I did when I did my Nurse Aide training... as well as write care plans, SOAP notes, and do case plans and presentations until you get sick of typing. Those that don't want to, will get a low grade in clinical. Also, during integration, you will be completely immersed in the RN experience. I'm in the Columbia-Milstein ER, 8pm-8am for my integration, and it is non-stop work. If what I'm going through is being pampered, then I don't want to know what the opposite would be like. Meagain716, I see that you're nervous... I think we were ALL nervous. But you gotta do what you gotta do. If you look at all the postings on here about Columbia ETP, you'll see every current/former ETP'er who is a part of this site has commented in some way about the program. You can listen to all of us tell you how great or awful this school is, but YOU are the one that has to live with the decision. The only advice that I can offer you is to follow your gut, because it's usually right.

The facebook that the SON does has nothing to do with the website facebook.com. It's just your photo, uni, interests, specialty, etc... with some info about yourself that is uploaded into a password protected portion of the columbia SON website. ps. great idea starting up the facebook.com group!

you're gonna be on your feet a lot in some of the rotations, so make sure that the shoes you pick are comfortable. It really doesn't matter what kind they are, just as long as they are all white (they do uniform check!!!). I just wear New Balance sneakers, but I've seen everything from Nike to Dansko. -art ps. I'm just going to vent a lil... but... ... WE JUST FINISHED OUR LAST SIX HOUR CLASS!!!!!! YEEEAAAHHH!!!!!!!

There's no dress code at Columbia, THANK GOD. I'm so exhausted knowing that we're almost done with the BSN portion (along with a small case of "senioritis"), that I just wake up, brush my teeth and head to class... just like I was an undergrad again...lol The only time we do have a dress code is for clinicals. They randomly show up and do "uniform check". Meaning the Columbia SON uniform and WHITE shoes. Hair must be above the collar, and no dangling jewelry (even though we wear our ID's around our neck [?]). -art

The housing is for New York Presbyterian employees, so we aren't eligible for that. The shuttle is free and leaves on the hour. The students who had rotations at Cornell frequently used that since it was free. Housing in NY is expensive. But there are a lot of flyers posted around with people looking for roomates, some are reasonable (for NY). The best bet to look for off campus housing is to go through the housing office.

Many? you mean more than half of the class right? lol Thanks for grouping me in with the "small town" folks! I forgot how Houston is only the 4th largest city in the nation... is it even on a map? :trout: have you ever thought about being a recruiter? yup... NYC is an education all in it's own.

I agree with Ar... i mean Fluffhead. Get the CPR done ASAP. If anyone asks, you gotta be able to present the card. I forgot if they had a preference, but I got the American Heart Association certification for "Healthcare Provider". I have a Bachelors in Business Administration (Marketing), so I couldn't tell you if it's "harder" than a science/pre-med degree. But even if you're on the executive board of MENSA, the workload is killer. While in undergrad, I held several positions in different organizations, and like Salamandrina, worked full-time with a full-time course load... and I've never experienced this much. We take everything required for the RN, the community-related courses to satisfy the BSN, AND even some Graduate courses (pathophys, adv patho, clinical evidence, health promotion) that go towards the MSN, WHILE doing more than the mandated clinical hours... It's very efficient. Hard-yes.. but efficient. As for Columbia being "worth it." Education from Columbia is what you make of it. Something that I've said to a lot of people, is how Columbia is like having the best damn Toolbox money can buy... it all just depends on how you use it. -Art

It's normal. Sometimes, the nurse your shadowing is more uncomfortable than you! I knew that my OB rotation might be the only time I would ever see a birth (i'll probably be on the "support" side when I have my kid), so I was very exited. The thing that irked me, was when the nurse I shadowed would first go into the room and ask if it was ok if a MALE nursing student could observe. I understand it's ALL up to the pt. It's their day. But why throw my gender in it? Why couldn't I JUST be a nursing student? I'm in a second-career program, 27 years old, waiting outside while my nurse asked this... she then poked her head outside and said, "sorry, she said no guy students." Then closed the door. Just AT THAT MOMENT, an anesthesiologist and 3 residents (all either younger than me, or my age), walked right in... It sucks that things are like this. I have friends in both med school and paramedic school and neither had an experience like I did. I eventually did get to help in the Miracle of Life, another nurse took me under her wing and introduced me to patients as a Nursing Student... not a MALE Nursing student.

Well, it's kind of like what Mah...--i mean Yogagal said. People usually don't post here if everything is awesome. It's like a restaurant. If you enjoyed the food and service, you usually won't go out of your way to post about it (well, most people). But if your food was cold and full of roaches, and the wait staff was rude, blah blah blah... you're going to immediately tell every single person to NEVER eat there. Here you have 4 (rather content) current ETPers who know that there ARE negative posts out there. We are here because we experienced exactly what you are now, just last year. The program IS tough, there WILL be times when you hate it, and there ARE moments when you wonder if you made the right choice... But then there are times when your preceptor pulls you aside and comforts you as you watch your patient dying, and times when a professor goes over every single question on a 100 question exam, just to help you know what questions you got wrong, and WHY you got them wrong. People are different. There are different expectations, different standards, and simply different personalities. My suggestion is for you to attend visiting day and ask every question you ever had about the school and program. PM any of us if you want to keep it private. -Art

wow, congrats to y'all Just like my classmates above has stated (it was just yesterday we were on the other side of the screen asking a million questions... WOW, where did the time go), you're going to hear a lot of opinions, just don't take them to heart. We're all on the tail end of the "phase 1 - BSN" portion of the ETP, and even though completely beat up, feel very glad to be here. Now for the advice: 1) Sleep. You can kiss that goodbye. There are some gifted people out there (like yogagal) who can get the needed 6-8 hours of sleep a night. Myself, on the other hand, acclimated myself to 4-5 hours (less on exam nights. 2) HOUSING! Summer is the MOST fun you will have. The School of Nursing is pretty much the only ones at the dorm during the summer, so you'll meet all sorts of people going through exactly what you're going through. Turn your forms in NOW. If you are planning on staying in the dorms for the 1st year (like myself), pick out a nice room, it's not much more, and getting on the wait-list once you decide you hate your room takes forever. (if your a guy, stay away from the men-only floor- 7th floor). 3) Review A&P. Things will go easier that way. 4) Keep your mind open to other specialties. At Columbia, we are blessed to be able to change what specialty we want before entering it. You'll "find yourself" during your rotations. 5) Be prepared to get some thick skin. Hey, it's New York. 6) For the guys out there. Keep contact with "your boys." You'll make a LOT of awesome female friends, but you'll sometimes need a break and just have some testosterone time. If you have any more questions, keep them coming. We got a lot of help from this forum last year, and we're just returning the favor... -Art

I think this was stated earlier, but the letter is just a thin envelope. I was offered a spot on the wait-list for the 2005 class (mailed in a thin envelope), and was ultimately rejected but encouraged to reapply. I reapplied the next year and saw that same thin envelope in Feb... I thought it was either another wait list offer, or a rejection, but I got in! Good luck to everyone! There are a bunch of former and current ETPers (like myself), along with traditional Masters and DrNP students, who are appreciative of all the advise that we received here. So ask whatever is on your mind... -Art