Katie Jo Rankin (Burgett), BSN, 2010

On Nov. 27, 2012, Katie Jo Rankin wrote:

Being graduated for two years I have realized the AMAZING reputation the University of Iowa's Nursing Program has.

My quick little story to pass onto those nursing students who "aren't sure if they can keep going..." or "are so worried about finding a job after they graduate...."

I graduated in December of 2010 (3.4 student, nothing special - haha) and landed an ICU job at Loyola University Medical Center. The week after I started my manager called me in the office and said to me "do you know why I interviewed a new grad for an ICU position?" of course I said "no?" And she said "because you are a University of Iowa grad, and I have been a manager for many, many years and never been let down by a University of Iowa Nursing grad!" So I worked there until about a month ago (I got married and moved to CT for his job). When I left my manager said "Again, those University of Iowa - I will continue to seek out and hire those grads!"

And then recently I got news that I was accepted into Fairfield University's CRNA Program starting in May 2013. I had interviewed in October and they went ON and ON about midwest nursing programs, specifically University of Iowa's. And furthermore, I had applied to five CRNA programs because I didn't know where I was going to be and got an interview with ALL of them with 1.5 years of ICU experience. I believe it's because I had that UNIVERSITY OF IOWA BSN on the resume! This isn't an email to boast but to give a BIG thank you to you for helping get us through school because it sure has paid off! Pass on tons of optimism to the CON students from a former grad :)

Katie Jo Rankin (Burgett)