coopmke

coopmke has 4 years experience and specializes in ICU, Pediatrics.

coopmke's Latest Activity

1. 

   Delta State University FNP

   coopmke replied to cupcakecutie147's topic in NP Students

   I would love to hear more about the FNP program -- what was the admission process like, how are classes structured, cost, difficulty, clinicals, etc. I am considering this program, so any insight you have would be helpful! Thanks!
2. 

   Aurora ICU Graduate Nurse Position

   coopmke replied to kerwer11's topic in Wisconsin

   I had a paid externship in the ICU at Aurora (West Allis) and then accepted a job as GN/RN when I graduated. I loved my experience starting out in the ICU and feel it gave me an excellent foundation for my nursing practice. You will learn so much, take on as many new experiences as you are offered. I eventually was the nurse doing the precepting, and found the most successful orientees were self-motivated, sought out learning experiences and asked lots of questions. Writing things down to plan your day at the start of this shift will be helpful in keeping you organized. I also recommend speaking up if you feel there is an area that you are not getting enough exposure to. Be willing to help and show that you are a team player. I found no change in my orientation between my time as a GN and when I was licensed - but that was only about a month. Aurora had a clear orientation and having worked in other areas throughout the hospital while floating, or as a CNA - I found I liked the ICU best! Good Luck!
3. 

   Cheap online MSN / FNP programs

   coopmke replied to RNbrent's topic in NP Students

   I was doing a lot of research regarding online FNP program (MSN) and found this thread helpful for some suggestions. I thought I would update with my research - this is current as of May2016. Keep in mind prices change and some schools do not publish their tuition information clearly, but this was my best assumption based on the information provided. Frontier: 61 credits--- $535/credit--- $32,635 Univ of Cincinnati: 50 credits--- $739/credit--- $39,735 St Louis Univ: 41 credits--- $985/credit--- $40,385 Univ of Alabama Birmingham: 55 credits--- $495/credit--- $27,225 Univ of Northern Kentucky: 49 credits--- $597/credit --- $29,253 Concordia Univ: 41 credits--- $662/credit--- $27,142 Clarkson College: 47 credits--- $535/credit--- $25,145 Graceland University: 47 credits--- $735/credit--- $34,545 Duquesne University: 45 credits--- $1,218/credit--- $54,810 Indiana State: 50 credits--- $550/credit--- $27,500 Tennesee State Regents (multiple choices): 46 credits --- $750/credit--- $34,500 Univ of South Alabama: 45 credits--- $521/credit--- $23,445 Ball State Univ: 47 credits ---$590/credit--- $27,730 University of North Dakota: 59 credits--- $392/credit--- $23,128 Walden: 56 credits--- $650/credit--- $36,400 Maryville: 47 credits --- $781/credit--- $36,707 IPFW (Purdue): 46 credit--- $367/credit--- $16,882 I found it very important to clarify if the program was approved for may state, as multiple were not (South Univ is not approved for WI, for example). Based on my research my top choices are Indiana State, Concordia, Ball State and IPFW - but I am waiting to hear back from IPW re: confirmation of tuition rates. If you have attended any of these programs, please share your thoughts!! Hope this helps others in their research!
4. 

   Orientation to your unit!

   coopmke replied to NurseKrieger's topic in First Year

   I received 9 weeks orientation with a preceptor (1 of these weeks was spent in classes learning about the facility, policies and procedures, multidisciplinary approaches, etc.). I work in the ICU and the orientation usually lasts 12 weeks, but I worked there as a nurse extern, so I came off orientation early. We also take and ECCO (essentials of critical care orientations) computer course and an EKG interpretation computer course during our orientation. I had a great preceptor, so I felt pretty good coming off orientation, but its pretty impossible to feel 100%!
5. 

   What do you wish you could/would have done while still orienting?

   coopmke replied to mitral's topic in First Year

   I found it very helpful to ask for the most difficult/least stable patients throughout my orientation. I am in ICU, so I always took the agitated, vented pt's with lots of vasoactive gtts....who's sedatives were maxed out lol. The charge nurses give the pt's who are closest to coding to the orientees so that this can be experienced while working with a preceptor who can jump in to offer help (...not that our whole floor doesn't offer up great teamwork during codes). This allowed me to see the crazy in a controlled environment before I was off orientation.
6. 

   Help! New nurse with questions!

   coopmke replied to calliemarie30's topic in First Year

   I think that the idea of a shortage vs. no shortage really applies to specific areas. By far the distinguishing factor is new grads vs. experienced nurses (the dreaded "1 year experience"). The biggest challenge for new graduates is having no hospital experience (CNA, tech, etc.) prior to graduation. It seems to me that those individuals who have never worked in healthcare in any capacity, and only have their clinicals to relay as applicable experience, have the most difficult time finding a job. I am a recent grad (December 2012) and I had a job secured before I even graduated, in the ICU, which was my ultimate goal. This was because I worked in a hospital as a CNA and later an ICU nurse extern. My hospital is actively hiring new grads and 3 of us Dec. 2012 grads were hired at the same time in the ICU! Our unit is definitely short staffed right now and in need of more nurses, but we have so many internal applicants that the nurse managers do not need to go outside the walls of the hospital to find candidates. Girls that I went to school with who chose not to work in a CNA/tech or other related job during school are still searching for jobs 4 months later with little luck. Others who worked in hospital/LTC settings had no problem getting jobs right after graduation. My advice would be to realize that you cannot be picky and need to apply to all different types of jobs, as mentioned above. Also, if you are moving it may be difficult to secure a job prior to the actual move, as there are so many available candidates in nursing right now.
7. 

   Your Starting Salary?

   coopmke replied to x_factor's topic in First Year

   New grad (December 2012) in Wisconsin (so no prior RN experience at all, just previously e,played as CNA and Nurse External while in nursing school) RN, BSN Working in a hospital setting in the ICU $24.14 is the base day pay + $2.75 for nights making it $26.89 + $1.00 for weekends So before taxes annually the salary is between $50,627.20 and $56,269.20 because my job will be day night rotations with more nights, I'm guessing right around $54,000. This job obviously includes benefits and with the market where it is in my area, it's getting tough for new grads to find jobs.