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Mary Weldon, Nursing

Although most co-op experiences are six months long, some last a little bit longer. Like senior Nursing student Mary Weldon's co-op, for instance; it's lasted more than two years...and counting.

"I took a co-op with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) because I knew that they offered students a very rich learning experience. I worked in the department that oversees continuing education programs for CHOP's full-time nurses and outreach programs. I helped coordinate one event, called Rx for Success, that introduced the hospital to nursing students."

After the co-op ended, Mary stayed on as a nurse technician. When her next co-op cycle came around, Mary's supervisor asked if she wanted to stay and told her about the various positions available to her. Mary chose to work in CHOP's cardiac intensive care unit (CICU).

"Although most of the patients were babies, we also treated adults since CHOP is one of the few hospitals that treats congenital heart defects," Mary explains.

For her third co-op, Mary worked at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in their neuro intensive care unit.

"I intentionally chose an adult hospital because I wanted to see if I would miss caring for infants and children," says Mary, "and I did."

As she prepares to graduate, Mary is again working at CHOP and expects to begin a full-time position there in the next few months.

"CHOP treats their nurses extremely well," says Mary, "and Philadelphia is fortunate to have such a wonderful hospital for children."