Camwill

I believe your DNP or any other degree is as strong as the program you went to. Everyone in my ASN (RN) and MSN (FNP) had jobs a semester before we graduated. I went to Cox College. If they had a DNP I would have done it with them. I got my DNP at the University of San Francisco and was also offered jobs before graduation. Your degree is something you have to do more than study for. You have to pick a program that is going to work for you. Find out if people who graduated from the program you are interested in are working, did they feel like they learned what was supposed to be taught. Don’t go to schools were the graduates are not getting hired and they don’t feel like they gain the knowledge that is needed to practice nursing. There are plenty unemployed nurses or APRNs that are still at bedside. There are so many reasons for this. Just do what you want to do. When I started as an RN I made $17.00 an hour and now I make over $350,000 a year as a professor and as a NP/manager. So happy to only work 40 hours a week! I am constantly offered new positions and have never felt like I could not get a good job! I had to many injuries in the military so I won’t go back to bedside. Money isn’t the marker of whether I am successful but happiness in my role and me feeling like my degrees were worth it, is priceless to me. Good luck to you in your future endeavors!

Congrats ? I will put my advice last. Exams were challenging but I expected that. I worked full-time. I have seven children and my husband and myself are disabled veterans. I needed to work. I did work as a RN care manager in a VA primary care clinic. I think that helped with the program because I could apply what I was learning and I had MDs and NPs around to ask questions. I agree with the other Cox student, I do not believe that you can use a hospitalist during primary care but you can during specialty probably. My advice is to get a calendar and plug in due dates and get another calendar for when you need to complete things. That is two different things. Example I want to have this part of an assignment done although the whole assignment is due a different day. The first day you receive your syllabus plug in your due dates. Get a usb and keep all your stuff on one. You do your project every semester and it will be a life saver knowing that you have everything in one place. It worked better doing it that way for me. Interact with your cohort because you guys can keep each other motivated and on tract. Make sure you understand people are watching you during clinical and work (you are interviewing). I was offered a position at every clinical site, other staff also told people about me and I was offered jobs. To be honest I didn’t apply to any position but have been offered several jobs. I still do get offers. Take everyday one day at a time. Oh make sure that you have your preceptors in advance. I always had two just in case something happened with the other one. Congrats and happy studies!

Sorry it has been so long since I posted here. I started the program in Missouri (I also received my Asn and bsn at Cox) then moved to California during my first semester. It was a little challenging getting clinical sites but I managed. I hope you applied and are doing well in the program!

It is pretty much all online...unless something has changed and it could. I graduated May 2018. When I started the program we had required times to come in during the program... I believe it was three time. Only actually came to orientation because they stopped requiring to come in. So as of now...100% online.

I agree, I moved from Missouri to California and cost of living cannot be the reason for pay difference...we have just not said any thing for changes in pay for nurses. The hospital charges the same amount here as there, McDonald's and any other place the price is the same, of course housing is a little more expensive but I promise you I live in a comparable home that I did in Missouri and I paying $500 more a month. I left Missouri making a little over $45,000 a year and I made $40,000 in the first four months of the year. Missouri nurses work just as hard as any other nurse and deserve a fair wage!

Wow pay is better for new grads since I moved I believe it was around $18 in the Springfield area...moved to California and that is what the lvns make.

Cox college in Springfield has both...that is why I went there!

It is AWESOME! Totally worth it! It stays updated and keeps all your references so you only add it once...it formats your paper and did I mention it is awesome...if you have any questions please let me know! I have used it since 2011 and always got compliments from professors on my discussion questions apa and reports apa [emoji3]

Nice to see you too! It is hard to believe how far we have come!

I believe the questions are different but your adviser can help you prepare! You will be okay, just be yourself! How did you hear about Cox?

Well I will be in that exact spot in one year and you will be done...and again I will excited to finish!

It was a fairly short wait and we were notified quickly! There were a lot of questions and it last about one hour.

I do miss that!

3.7 we have orientation next month...I will see what the avg was!

I can't tell you much about the FNP because this will be my official first semester although I have taken two master courses with them...I have however completed my asn and bsn through them...when I know more I will share it with you!

Congrats and good luck! I kind of am in the same boat as you and have taken two classes and my classes in the program officially start next month. Excited to finish although I just started lol!

How is it going?

I did it for three years and mercy is a great place to work, they value their nurses

Wow, couldn't disagree more...I have two degrees at Cox (asn and bsn) and working on my MSN at Cox College. I had a better time at Cox when I was involved. I was apart of committees, SGA, and was a Ambassador. I really enjoyed volunteering at most of the open houses. I think everyone is different and some people like being involved and some don't...neither is required...you can do what you like!

They do...mine was short since I am familiar with the VA...I did a week and then off on my own...the other RNs I have seen get several weeks orientation!

You triage patients so hands on with all your patients according to whatever they are coming in for...I seldom do injections...no ekgs, if they need that they are going to the ED if symptomatic, otherwise they can have a consult to cardiology, you may take pictures of wounds and dress them. If you ever worked in the ED then think of triage, it is like that!

Your role as a pact nurse is very complex and kind of hard to answer...you are a case manager and a leader with your Dr. I work in a pact team and my Dr called me the heart of the team today. I coordinate with everyone in our team including our veterans. My day usually starts with seeing walk ins, trouble shooting any problem with schedule or anything else that may come up, answering secure messages, and alerts. The rest of the day is continuing to see walk ins, working on dashboard, cans, pac, and case management of diabetic, hypertension, wound care, and several other cases. This is not always the order and there is more but I love the experience. Please ask any other questions you may have.

Mercy Lebanon is a great place to work, I actually loved any mercy or cox hospital!

Where did you graduate? Cox had us interview at the beginning of Jan/February for the new grad positions...mercy asked us to come for interview right before cox...most of the ICU positions went to cox new grads...not saying you won't get it but they picked students that they liked from clinical...do you have some ICU experience? Crossing my fingers for you! It is a great program and everyone loved it!

I would like to say it did not bother me...I did my classes all at Cox and then worked in Springfield. I am not going to lie there were a couple of days I wish school and work were closer but I would still do it again. The hospital and school always seemed to be on clear roads...I don't think I was ever late! The snow can be bad but leave early on those days and you will be fine! Feel free to ask any other questions.