 |
Advanced Search |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| CPC Nurse Extern Program In the Spirit of Mentoring: The Nurse Extern Program at CPMC By Patricia Rozzi, RN "I came here this summer because I heard this is one of the best hospitals in the country", said one of the Nurse Externs who started in our summer program on June 10th. There were a total of 10 student nurses who were recruited for this program, the first to be offered at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in many years. The externs came from diverse nursing programs from the local and distant schools. These included the College of Mount Saint Vincent, New York University, Borough of Manhattan Community College, Villanova University, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State Univerity, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and Dominican College. After a brief 2-day orientation that included, in addition to the routine mandatory topics, classes on skin care, wound management, fall prevention and patient safety, and body mechanics. The externs were assigned to preceptors on various nursing units. Assignments were based on interests expressed during the interview process that was conducted by Maureen Freundlich, Career Services Specialist. While most externs were assigned to Milstein Medical Surgical areas, 3 went to CHONY-P Obstetrics, 10 south and 11 South. One extern was assigned to the Allen Pavilion Obstetrical Services and one to the Milstein Operating Room. The experience provided for the externs included basic nursing care skills as well as the opportunity to observe the advanced and expert nursing practice of their preceptors. Many also had the opportunity to observe advanced technology and medical interventions for which NYP is renowned. Mona Salloum, one of the externs, described her experience as "the best". She was given he opportunity to observe the whole process of the preoperative care of a patient with a Left Ventricular Assist Device awaiting a heart transplantation procedure, the intraoperative procedure (i.e., heart transplant) as well as the post operative recovery period of this same patient. Fransesca Abreu-Cruz described every day of her experience as "a highlight, being able to translate her education into practice." Overall, the externs were pleased with the experiences they had during the summer. They applauded their preceptors for the learning opportunities they provided them and all expressed interest in returning as nurses to CPC. Katiucia Pierre-Louis has decided that for her future, "Oncology is it," after her experience on CHONY-P, 10 South. The extern program was concluded with an interview and resume writing class from Maureen Freundlich. There was also an opportunity for the externs to evaluate the program. We plan to include many of the suggestions given in future programs. At this final session, Elba Pabon seemed to sum up everyone's sentiments when she said" I did something this summer that I'll never have the opportunity to do again. Everyone is so inviting. This is a great place." Willie Manzano, the VP of Nursing and Patient care Services, addressed the group on their last day and expressed her well wishes for the future and her hopes of seeing them return to CPMC, in our nursing orientation class next year. |
|
||||||||
