KELLY COLE’S CO-

OP EXPERIENCE
C
What is co-op?
• Co-op for the College of Nursing varies slightly from
others at UC
• You’ll work one on one with a nurse and take their full
assignment
• Requirements
• You are required to work full time (36-40) hours per week during
the summer between junior and senior year
• Once senior year begins you work 16 hours a month to meet
your requirement
Why co-op?
• The experience I have gained this past year is
unparalleled to my other experience as a student nurse
• My confidence level grew
• Working 12 hour shifts became easier
• I built meaningful relationships with other staff
• I made connections for future RN positions
• My patient care really improved due to the consistency of
going to work
Personal Testimony
• Even though summer has came and passed I vividly remember multiple patients I took
care of:
• The patient who stands out to me the most is a mother who had just delivered her third
baby and was diagnosed with pregnancy induced heart failure
• She felt her whole life was over but was grateful to be alive to take care of her baby boy
• I wheeled her down to the NICU multiple times a shift so she could feed her baby while
she was hospitalized
• One day she broke down in tears because she would never be able to drink a glass of
wine again
• I reassured her then when the exacerbation was over she should be able to drink one a day
• I had the doctors come speak to her and answer all her questions
• She was discharged happily with her baby after a week
Application process
•The application opens in January
•Interviews are conducted in early February
•Once selected
• Floor assignment begins in April
• Orientation begins early May
Advice
•Everyday you go to work is another day to learn
and practice your skills!
•Be present in the moment
•Ask questions
•If you face any difficulties reach out to your co-
op faculty
•Lastly, HAVE FUN!