[nicunewgrad]

applied to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital's nicu new grad program...waiting for a call back for an interview(hopefully)....

I would love to hear back from anyone about:
- any advice about this NICU/interview process?
-any advice about other NICU's in northern cali/bay area?
-advice about housing or about moving to sf bay area in general
- Also interested in possible roommate situations with other new grads. [pm member]
-if I should bring my car out or just try to live in Palo Alto within biking distance of work?

thanks! -Ashley









thanks! -ash

[ymm123]

I find i like the patient mix best in a childrens hospital. Therefore in the bay area you really have 3 options, packard, ucsf, and childrens oakland.

Childrens oakland had some NICU positions not long ago, but they hired within house. I like their patient population.

UCSF has a great cardiac icu for babies you might wanna check out. I think you apply now and the program starts this july or june.

As for housing, Im not sure where you're coming from but incase a million people havent told you already, yes the income is higher but the cost of living is also higher. As for new grad roomates, youd probably meet some in orientation or possibly on craigslist. But thats a gamble.

I ended up moving to Central California because I fell in love with the childrens hospital out here (which happens to have some affiliations/shared doctors with packard). I start shifts soon so hopefully I will still be in love after my first week. lol. But good luck.

[NICUplease]

My son had open heart surgery when he was 15 mos old (1 yr ago) at UCSF, and I must say... the peds cardiac icu was outstanding. The whole staff were great and were always up on their feet ready to take on whatever. I also worked at UCSF 3 years ago but I was in the dietary dept. As an employee and patient's family.. I would recommend UCSF. I know your looking for insights about nursing at UCSF but I hope this help.

[lmcnabbkv]

I actually work at Packard...its a 40 bed nicu, with ecmo. I was in the Versant program 3 years ago, not sure how many openings would be coming up in the next group...feel free to pm me with any specific questions. Otherwise there may be opening in our lower level units where you cuold train get adjusted and them move up to level 3.
If you have any NICU experience (final semester preceptorship or something similar, that would really help as we are a very fast paced busy nicu)

PA is very expensive to live in and around...depending on how far you are willing to travel you cna find more reasonable areas. I do know people who bike pretty much all year but there are some very rainy cold days which would not be fun to get to work in. Many things to do around the area, outdoorsy, fine arts etc. Bay area in general is very expensive so pay is fairly well adjusted for the c.o.l.
HTH

[2curlygirls]

I started as a new grad at Packard 7 years ago (pre-Versant) and it was a steep learning curve! My first shift I had a CDH patient 24 hours off ECMO across from another baby just being cannulated and I thought to myself "Holy poop, what have I gotten myself into?"

It got better. But I was able to ease into to the "sick" baby assignments. The last few years there, we have generally had much higher acuity patients since our r/o sepsis babies don't come to NICU anymore.

As for the area...I grew up here, it's my home and I love it. But honestly, if my family wasn't here, I don't think I could have made it financially. I have a house but I bought before prices soared in my particular neighborhood (8 years ago) It's rough.

Wow, sorry for the negativity.

Wave to lmcnabbkv!

[NICUplease]

Hi Ashley,

I am not in the LP nicu program but I would love to do it after graduation. I was wondering if you can give me some info about it. There's not much info on the website. I love the NICU and definately want to get into a new grad NICU program asap. What are the requirements, how long is the program, what is the salary???

Thanks,

Mellany