The Current

Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: Matthew Hill Things are looking up for recent UM-St. Louis graduate Janice Koziatek after she landed her dream job of working as a Labor and Delivery nurse at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

In May 2007, Janice Koziatek walked down to the podium to receive her nursing degree from UM-St. Louis.

Choosing to become a nurse was not an easy task for Koziatek. Throughout high school and her freshman year of college, she debated between becoming a pre-med major or an education major.

Once it came close to graduation, she knew that she had to make a final decision on a major and began focusing on the option of nursing.

After much research and study, Koziatek realized that nursing would be the perfect career for her. It combines both of her passions of caring and teaching into one. Not only can she treat her patients, but she can also teach them how to cope or handle changes that they may encounter.

UM-St. Louis has provided Koziatek with the knowledge to become a successful nurse. She remarked that the University's nursing program is "Fantastic!" In fact, the nursing board's pass rate is number one in the state.

The professors for the nursing program care for both their profession, as well as their students. In turn, this helps future nurses think on their feet as well as resolve dilemmas that they will come across in a hospital.

Clinical experience came easy for Koziatek. Out of the 151 hospitals in the St. Louis area, she was able to train and work at Barnes Jewish Hosptital, DePaul, St. Johns Hospital, Missouri Baptist Medical Center, St. Louis Children's Hospital and Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center.

The nursing program was "incredibly challenging" at times, but once all of her course work was completed, she was very proud of herself.

She states that after being a part of this "dynamic University" she has become one of UM-St. Louis' biggest cheerleaders. She feels very lucky to have been able to graduate from such a "wonderful school of nursing at such a great institution."

Once Koziatek made the decision of working in the Labor and Delivery unit as a nurse, she applied and interviewed at several hospitals around the area. She received several job offers and had to make the tough decision of where to work. She chose the hospital that would offer her the best experience as well as paramount learning experience as a new nurse.

Continued...

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