Renown in Reno, New Grad in ICU??

Reno1978, BSN, RN · Feb 6, 2009

Yep! I worked in the Roseview ICU in Renown as a new grad. It's a 18 bed Medical/Surgical ICU. There's also the Sierra ICU which does mostly trauma and it's 28 beds and there's the Tahoe ICU that does mostly cardiac that has 38 beds, I think. All accept new grads. The new grad rate of pay is $27.21 and there's a 10% differential on night shift - no weekend diff.

New grads are oriented to the unit for 12 weeks. I liked the environment in the Roseview ICU and felt I always had support - able to ask people questions even beyond orientation.

If you have any other questions, I'll follow this thread and post responses :)

I know nothing about the PICU....

NVRN2008 · Feb 7, 2009

Thanks so much for replying Reno1978!

Ah, so you started off as a new grad in ICU at Renown. For the 12 week orientation are you with a preceptor the entire time? That's great to hear that you felt supported on your unit. That's soooo important. Would you say that was specific to your unit or are the staff and administration generally supportive of nurses throughout the hospital. Do you know anything about the nurse-patient ratios on the step-down or med-surg units?

The pay you mentioned is comparable to Las Vegas. I wonder if the cost of living is lower in Reno? I would assume it is because it's a smaller city, which would be great to have the same pay yet live cheaper

Of course, there is no other city like Vegas, but I wonder have you lived/worked in a city larger than Reno? How would you say it compares? I'm trying to get an idea of what kind of change or culture shock I'm in for when I move up there. (I grew up back east, so I know all about the weather compared to Vegas ;-)

Thanks again Reno1978 :heartbeat

Reno1978, BSN, RN · Feb 7, 2009

The 12 week orientation consists of both classroom time (ECCO, PACEP, other classes for new nurses, etc.) and preceptorship on the floor. When you're on the floor, you're always with a RN preceptor. After your orientation, they typically pre-assign your two patients for about 1 month so you can build confidence, time-management, and skills on your own on patients who won't make you soil your pants as a new nurse.

I can't really compare the cost of living between Reno and Vegas...I've never lived in Vegas. What I can tell you as a new grad, claiming 1 exemption for taxes, and having benefits deducted (med, vision, dental), and working 36 hours/week I'd be bringing home $1650 every two weeks. You should take a look at Craigslist to get an idea of rental costs if that's what you want to do. The housing market took a pretty big hit, so home prices are low....definitely a buyer's market. Also, there was plenty of overtime available usually, so each overtime shift added about $300 to my paycheck after taxes - and I never really worked more than 1-2 OT shifts per pay period, if any.

It's hard to really say how the culture is in Reno. It really just depends on what you're into. If you like nightlife, there's plenty of that...lots of nightclubs and lounges. If you're into outdoors stuff, there's snowboarding, skiing, hiking - Lake Tahoe is close and is probably the most beautiful place I've been to in the US so far. The weather is nothing like Vegas...Reno is in northern NV and Vegas is a good 9hour drive to the south...winters are cold, sometimes it snows a lot, sometimes it doesn't....this year was mild before I left. Summers are hot, but not humid. Spring and Fall are pretty mild too. There's lots of restaurants and events throughout the year that are fun. But Reno isn't so large that it feels like a big city. If you live in Reno proper you can pretty much get to wherever you want to go in town within 20 minutes.

I recently moved back to WA state where I'm from to be closer to my family.

Medwynn · Feb 19, 2009

Thanks so much for replying Reno1978!
Ah, so you started off as a new grad in ICU at Renown. For the 12 week orientation are you with a preceptor the entire time? That's great to hear that you felt supported on your unit. That's soooo important. Would you say that was specific to your unit or are the staff and administration generally supportive of nurses throughout the hospital. Do you know anything about the nurse-patient ratios on the step-down or med-surg units?
I wonder if the cost of living is lower in Reno?
Of course, there is no other city like Vegas, but I wonder have you lived/worked in a city larger than Reno? How would you say it compares? I'm trying to get an idea of what kind of change or culture shock I'm in for when I move up there. (I grew up back east, so I know all about the weather compared to Vegas ;-)
Thanks again Reno1978 :heartbeat

I went through a 10 week orientation. Previous apprentice nurse experience applied to decrease the amount of time i was on orientation. A new grad is always welcome to join all the intensive care units in Renown. I know that all the ICU's here have a great support system and experienced nurses you can go to. I currently work on the cardiac intensive care unit. we currently do not have a step-down unit but it feels as if all of the ICU's have stepped up to receive those patients. the med surg unit can receive up to 8 patients at night. Be prepared to get your time management skills up to par.

cost of living is comparable but probably slightly more than Las Vegas.

i've lived in los angeles for 2 years. Reno is a small city. change? definate. All i can say is the same old bars / casino partying gets old fast. You have the chance to do winter sports and in the summer do everything outdoors to your hearts content. 4 seasons. It's a different pace here.

mercury7 · Apr 2, 2009

Hello,

I am a New Grad and was considering employment with Renown's Cardiac ICU. What is the Cardiac unit like at Renown? What types of patients do you see? What is the general atmosphere? Much of my precepting and clinical hours were spent in burns and so the Cardiac ICU is unfamiliar territory for me. Any info would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!

cubeo · Sep 1, 2009

I went through a 10 week orientation. Previous apprentice nurse experience applied to decrease the amount of time i was on orientation. A new grad is always welcome to join all the intensive care units in Renown. I know that all the ICU's here have a great support system and experienced nurses you can go to. I currently work on the cardiac intensive care unit. we currently do not have a step-down unit but it feels as if all of the ICU's have stepped up to receive those patients. the med surg unit can receive up to 8 patients at night. Be prepared to get your time management skills up to par.
cost of living is comparable but probably slightly more than Las Vegas.
i've lived in los angeles for 2 years. Reno is a small city. change? definate. All i can say is the same old bars / casino partying gets old fast. You have the chance to do winter sports and in the summer do everything outdoors to your hearts content. 4 seasons. It's a different pace here.

hey Medwynn, i am going to start my orientation in November, and working in Cardiac intensive care, any tips for me to get ready? im really excited, and hope to see you there to guide me ^^