UCLA New Grad Program or Local?

Hey i was accepted to that new grad program also and was wondering what the hospital is like? I am from Miami fl i just graduated in may also. please let me know what ur thoughts are and what u plan on doing.. thanks mike

I had some clinical rotations through UCLA. My impression was that the nurses seemed very satisfied with their work environment. As a teaching hospital, the doctor-nurse relationships seemed more colleagial (sp?). The aides were trained to do a lot and the nurses, compared to other places, seemed to be able to do more than just scramble through each day. It was a nice place as a student nurse because the nurses didn't seem as snappy and overworked (though always busy, of course!) as at other places we had rotations. That was several years ago, though, so I can't vouch for what it's like today. UCLA also used to pay a lot better than surrounding facilities, so I'm surprised to hear that your local offer is similar. The area surrounding UCLA IS expensive! The rest of LA isn't a bargain either. You wouldn't likely be buying a house in the next year (unless you're independently wealthy), but you could most certainly afford to live there on a nurse's salary.

Some places offer high wages because the work environment is miserable and they have a hard time keeping staff. Ideally, you could tour each facility and maybe even a shadow a nurse or two to get a better feel for each place and how you think you'd feel spending a bulk of your waking hours there every week. LA Children's Hospital was the other facility that left a strong impression of being a good, supportive work environment. A good new grad program is VERY important!

Oh, yeah, also, if money is a big deciding factor (hopefully not, cuz, work satisfaction is sooo important!), also consider shift differentials for 12hrs shifts, night shifts, weekends, etc.

Good luck!

I also did some clinicals at UCLA, and in general it seems like there is a high level of worker satisfaction. They have switched both hospitals (Westwood and Santa Monica) to computerized charting. The benefits offered by UCLA are acceptable (basically HMOs) and the copays are cheap.

Hi! Just wanted to say I'm really happy to see a thread like this on here. I am new to the forum. Just joined yesterday night. I'm really glad to hear all these great things about UCLA medical center. I recently got a job offer for a new grad RN position at Mattel Children's hospital which will start in August. I am absolutely thrilled I landed my dream job and am really looking forward to starting. That hospital has left me with so many great impression and I feel it is a place I will truly enjoy working at and learn a lot at the same time. I have a question though that I hope someone can answer. How long does it typically take for the background check to be complete and then proceed to the next step? I recieved the verbal job offer almost three weeks ago...I pretty much accepted right away because I knew in my heart that is where I want to work. I was told my name will be added to the schedule and I'll be notified by phone after the background check is complete regarding the paperwork to be filled out. Since it's been almost three weeks, I don't know if I should wait some more or call them back and ask.

I graduated in December and work at UCLA. I love it. I just got off orientation and was happy with the training. One thing I like about the New Grad program is that you start with so many other new grads. You are able to discuss the trials/tribualtions/ups/downs with your peers. They do not expect you to know everything right out of school, but they do expect you to ask questions! Another thing to consider is that the patient acuity is SO high at UCLA... You will see dx, equipment, procedures, technology, ect. that you would never see at a small community hospital. They all say that once you work here, you'll be incredibly bored at any other hospital (b/c the patients are so bread and butter).

LA is VERY expensive- Westwood is not cheap either. I live in Westwood and rent in a small 1 bedroom for me is $1250. I live with my Boyfriend though- so 2 incomes make it easier. One other benefit-- always opportunities for overtime at UCLA and in my unit there are generous bonuses in addition to time and 1/2 when you pick up shifts. Any other questions--- I'd be happy to answer...

Oh wow! I can't wait to start at UCLA. I know how high the patient acuity is. When I interviewed I was told that most of the patients on the unit would have been placed in a PICU if they were in any other hospital. In fact I was told that one patient I took care of during my pediatric clinical rotation at UCSF actually later got transfered to them.

Housing is an issue for me too. I'm from Northern CA who will be re-locating to L.A. Right now I don't know if I should pay more money to live in the Westwood area or live somewhere a little further away, like Culver City but on a bus route leading to UCLA. And by the way how is public transportation in L.A? At least for the first year, I'm not going have a car so I'm going to have to depend on the buses to get to work. And I was told as new grads we are to rotate shifts...8 weeks day shift, 8 weeks night shift and vice versa. Do the buses in L.A start early enough to get me to work by 6:45 AM-7 AM?

Hi
I am from Chicago and was called to have a phone interview with Mattel Children's hospital this week. I was wondering how their new grad program is... positives negatives. Any information would be great! Thanks in advance!