smit1989

I am currently in the ETP program, about to start my second semester in a little over a week. Just to throw in my two cents: during clinicals this summer at NYP-Cornell, I was able to talk to a clinical nurse specialist who gave me some insight on how to land a job as an RN after finishing the ETP year. 1)"VERY difficult to get a part time job as a new grad, but not very difficult to get hired as a full time RN" (his words) 2)His advice on the ER was DO NOT start out working in the ER (if you are even offered a job in one). He told me (and, of course, there are exceptions to this) that the ER is very very stressful, fast paced, and usually is not a place where people are AS willing to take a new grad under their wing and show them the ropes. 3) If you are looking on any hospital's career opportunity page, do not be thrown off by experience requirements for the job...apply anyway and the individual hiring may not follow those requirements. I asked him how hard it would be for me to get a job in an ICU right after I graduate and pass my NCLEX and he told me that with good grades and a good recommendation it would be "no problem at all". 4) He said (and many other people have told me this as well) that many students get offered jobs in their integration sites after the staff witnesses your capabilities in nursing. So, try and get an integration site you would be interested in staying in by emailing those in charge of integration placements. I hope that helps! Again, everything I said above was mostly from a conversation with one person who, to me, seemed to be very knowledgeable and informed. Good luck!

Okay, you really need to drop this. You made your point a long time ago, but no one cares. You have criticized us for attacking you, but this last post is pretty inflammatory. The fourth paragraph in your rant is completely uncalled for. I actually did not get rejected from a med school. I think most of us did not even apply. Perhaps that statement is one personal in origin? I'm very happy thus far. I have gone over my finances again and again and will be able to afford to live and pay back my loans without any extreme hardship. It will be difficult, but nowhere near the way you have made it seem. Also, my calculations have been without any factoring in of working as an RN during the Master's portion. Like I said, you have already made your point. Why are you continuing on with your posts that are in now way constructive? No one here wants to listen to what you have to say. We took a boat cruise 2 nights ago and talked to SEVERAL graduates of the program. ALL of them told us their personal story which COMPLETELY contradicted yours of financial dispair and regret for going through the program. You can keep on with your comments if you'd like. The fact is, is that I'm 100% happy with my decision to go here, and I feel like I really would not get a better education in UW-Milwaukee's program, for example. Also, if you are going to complain to us when we write "attacking" comments to you, please don't do the same to us. Re-read your post...it wasn't even remotely constructive or facilitative of civilized conversation.

Finally! This thread is back to being helpful and encouraging! Let's keep it this way... I look forward to meeting everyone in a few days!

during the master's portion, how many hours per week did you work?

Sorry for calling you an ass...I was kind of rambling in my post. Uncalled for on my part, even though I disagree with you. You are entitled to your opinion in this open forum. You should be able to understand the excitement and anticipation we all have to start the program. Personally, I was fully aware of the difficult financial burden the program was going to put me through. I just know it will be worth it, though. Even a close family friend of mine, who has been an RN for 30 years, has encouraged me despite knowing the financial costs of the program. She told me that an applicant from a school like Columbia SON would be seen very highly for any job position where she works, and also knows the rep of Columbia Pres and how much we will be exposed to there. There are pros and cons to most decisions in life. To me, I think my decision to start at CSON next week will be a good one. Again, sorry for the harsh words directed toward you before, columbiaetp04. Maybe you could give us some positive insight on the program itself? Advice would be much appreciated!

columbiaetp04: I am about to start the etp program next week. I want to tell you (since you seem to feel it is necessary to lecture us) that from the moment I started my applications to direct entry programs, I expected to have to take out a large amount of money in loans and have to pay them back for a long time. Despite this, I (and everyone else starting the program or a similar one) continued on with my applications, flew around for interviews, etc. etc. I chose to pursue a career as a NP realizing the cost of the education and the median salary of first year practitioners. I actually calculated what I figured to be my monthly payments after the three years of school (the last two of which I'll be working as an RN as often as possible- making a good chunk of money to support myself with) and also took into account the probable rise in the rate of my loan. DESPITE all of this, I chose to continue on with the program. Why do you think that is? It is what I want to do. You seem to put a premium on salary. You complain about your "richer" friends. I think you chose the wrong career path. You are calling all of us idiots for not doing the research about repaying our large loans. Clearly, you were an idiot before you started the program by not doing the necessary research to figure out the financial burdens of pursuing this career (or any career in health care, really). Oscar is a weasel. I'll give you that..he's been most unhelpful so far. However, you don't need Oscar to figure out what you will be paying after you graduate. It is pretty simple math. I appreciate you trying to give fair warning about the program, but you are being an ass. Everyone here knows what they are getting into. The thing is, even after the loan payment each month, we will be taking home a lot more than the average person, in an enjoyable and secure job. I'm sorry you can't buy your Benz or an apartment in Trump International yet. Most people with money have to work their way up over many years before they are financially comfortable. It's the way things are. I've accepted that. Now, lets get this thread back to the reason it was started: for us to HELP each other.

Has anyone started reading the two required readings we are supposed to have read by the start of classes? I just ordered them from Amazon and was able to get both, brand new, for $45 including shipping. It says on the accepted etp page that we will be discussing/tested on the material from these books. I guess I'd better start reading!!! Also, what is everyone thinking about textbooks? Are you going to wait and get them at orientation (I think we get 15% off the required texts if we do so), or try and get them used elsewhere?

Yeh, I've received a few emails, but all have been university affiliated. I assume everyone with a CU email account receives these emails to ensure that everyone is informed about events, etc. Very exciting, though! I'm glad they have our summer schedule posted. Seems like Mon, Tues and either Weds/Thurs will be pretty busy, with shorter days on either W/T and Friday. If only they could have managed to give us access to this site a month ago...a lot of our frustrations and stresses probably would have been avoided!! Also, I'm just curious: Who is going to buy a PDA right away? I'm unsure...

Accepted etp webpage is up! I got an email today from Judy, and I already have my CU email!

You said you are in the Women's Health Certificate Program, which means that I am assuming you already have your MSN, since the certificate programs are for individuals that already have their MSN in another specialty but want to move on. This wouldn't make you an ETP student, and I doubt you'll receive any housing/uniforms/equipment information until later in the summer...us ETP students starting at the end of May didn't receive any of that stuff until less than a month ago! They don't give you much time!! Good luck though

I didn't get a sink either...oh well. I was actually hoping for the really small room that is only $10.50 per day, but I can't really complain. I don't think I'll stay in the dorm past this summer. I just figure it will be easy to move into right away, and will make it easy to meet people, look around at apts, find roommates for an apt, etc. Look forward to meeting you all.

I got my housing assignment via fedex today! I am in Bard Hall, room 511! Hope to see more of you in there with me!!

So we won't find out until next week?? What the hell?

Question about dress codes do we only need to wear our scrubs/uniforms and all white shoes when we are doing clinical rotations, or do we also have to wear that during normal class lectures? Just curious!

sorry...same message posted twice

Wow. As a male, I will not feel comfortable practicing pelvic exams on my female classmates. I obviously know that doing pelvic exams will be in the scope of my specialty (fnp), but performing one on a patient who needs the exam for her physical health is MUCH different than one student learning the skills of a pelvic exam on another female student. No matter how much professionalism we all have, this practice would undoubtedly cause a lot of us to be quite uncomfortable, which in turn would not facilitate the learning process. I think a school like Columbia can afford to provide us with paid volunteers for this part of our skills training...we're paying for the best, so we should receive the best, I think! If not, I'd be willing to tack on a couple hundred more bucks to my tuition for paid volunteers...it's not like I'll notice the difference when I will be paying off loans for the rest of my life! That being said...I'm excited to start classes and get to new york! I just wish we'd get our housing assignments so I can start looking for an apt if I don't get student housing!

I'm in for sure!

Does anyone know if we can wear crocs if they are the all white ones with no holes??

I've used both littmann stethoscopes and they are both fine. I ordered the Littmann II SE package. If you are going to throw down money for a nice one, get the electronic cardiology one for a few hundred bucks...but you most definitely won't need it and will be fine with the Littmann II

Thanks for letting me know! Any advice on good brokers in the washington heights area?? Also, if any current students or accepted individuals already living in NYC have vacancies in their apartments I would definitely be interested!

Hey everyone, what's up? I've been thinking a lot lately about the dorms...and it just sounds absolutely awful. For one, I won't eat ramen and easy mac every day and survive the summer schedule. Second, it's close to $700 a month for a tiny cube, no AC, no kitchen, shared bathroom, hellhole. I'd rather pay a few hundred more/month for a studio. Better yet, I'd much rather split a 2 or 3 bedroom apartment with some people...we could easily pay less than $1000 each/month for a sweet place in Washington Heights. Looking online, I've found some really really nice places with lots of space that is close to the SON. If anyone would be interested in doing something like this, let me know. The sites I've been looking at are citi-habitats.com and craigslist.org under "no fee apartments". Let's avoid the crappy dorm and have a nice place to live while we are beaten into submission by our coursework! Just for compatability: I'm a male, 22, easy going but like to have a clean place. I like all kinds of music and have a ton of movies to bring. I also have a girlfriend who will be going to Columbia for OT, but for complicated reasons aren't going to live together. You: easy going and not a slob! male preferred, but females are fine too!

Are there any meal plans for people in student housing? I can't imagine cooking all my meals in a shared kitchen with 30+ people each day. If there are meal plans, where is the dining hall and how is the food? Thanks!

I didn't get mine until yesterday (i was out of town)...so i overnighted my application this morning via fedex for a cool $25. I am crossing my fingers to get a room, otherwise i don't know where i'll sleep!!

Wow...it seems like a lot of us are going to be recent graduates from our undergrad schools. I graduate on May 14th! It will be a crazy 2 weeks:)

Hey everyone! Hope all is well...did everyone get the email from Judy today? Lots of stuff due on the 14th/15th of March. Is anyone here applying for housing? I definitely am, I won't have time to search for apartments between now and May 28th. Who is going to the visiting day on March 7th? Unfortunately I can't afford to fly all the way out there. Would anyone attending be willing to relay any important information to me? ESPECIALLY anything in the financial area...I am freaking out about how much this is going to cost. I STILL have not received a letter from Oscar regarding financial aid...is anyone else in the same boat as me?