At the University of Cincinnati, co-op education has a long tradition, extending back to 1906. The University considers itself to be the birthplace of cooperative education, which it describes as "the timeless practice of transforming youth to experience." Today that tradition continues in many schools at the University, including the School of Nursing.
At the University of Cincinnati School of Nursing in Ohio, the mission for the co-op program is about transformation. Turn students with their classroom education and acquired knowledge into practical providers of critical care for the community. When combined with the vision to be the best co-op nursing program in the country, the school foresees its graduates as being more independent and ready to provide care thanks to their co-op experiences. They take the confidence gained, and translate that into increased success in the workplace.
Choose the co-op program at Drexel University's Undergraduate Nursing Program, and two options emerge. Each co-op degree requires six months. The student who graduates in the standard four years can take only one co-op, which involves acute and chronic illness. If the student is willing to extend the education process to five years for the Bachelor's Degree, then three co-ops can be taken. Introduction to Contemporary Healthcare Network is part of the second year of school. This co-op involves an administrative position at a healthcare agency. The acute and chronic illness rotation takes place during the third year, and the final co-op in speciality nursing concentration consumes six months of the student's fourth year of education.
For a prospective or current nursing student considering a co-op nursing program, the benefits involve exposure to certain career options in order to make a more informed decision about choices. Professional contacts and interaction with fellow nurses also provide important considerations. Learning time-management skills, delegation of duties and how to prioritize time when under stress all are only learned in the real world of nursing.