Vanderbilt's Nurse Residency Program

nurseman78, BSN, RN, NP · Nov 4, 2011

Vanderbilt recently upped the pay for all nurses by about $2 to $3, so I think the starting pay is more like $21.00 for new grads now. If you work in critical care, you also make about $1.50 more an hour than the other tracks.

Cost of living in Tennessee is pretty affordable. I live in Nashville and only pay $590 for a 700 sq. ft. 1 bedroom apartment. I have friends who rent houses for about $800/month. While there are some sketchy areas in Nashville, I would say overall it's a safe place. Just avoid Antioch, East Nashville and parts of Madison and you'll probably be okay. I have had no problems with safety and I live alone.

Vanderbilt is a great place to work, and I can say having them on your resume speaks volumes. With even less than 1 full year of experience here I was able to get the job I always wanted back in Utah where I'm from. Not that I recommend leaving Vandy within one year, but that gives you an indication of their influence on recruiters.

ziggy150 · Nov 6, 2011

What made you leave Nashville? Did you get homesick or something? Utah IS beautiful.

nurseman78, BSN, RN, NP · Nov 6, 2011

My decision to leave Nashville has nothing to do with Vanderbilt or the floor I work on. I love the people here and the hospital. Just wanted to be near family and friends. Being out here by myself (not married) has been a bit lonesome. Plus I got an offer for a great job at the U of U.

ziggy150 · Nov 6, 2011

My decision to leave Nashville has nothing to do with Vanderbilt or the floor I work on. I love the people here and the hospital. Just wanted to be near family and friends. Being out here by myself (not married) has been a bit lonesome. Plus I got an offer for a great job at the U of U.

Thanks for the reply. I figured it might be something like that - home and family. Surprised you didn't meet some people in Nashville to hang out with though; especially working at Vanderbilt.

nurseman78, BSN, RN, NP · Nov 6, 2011

I have met a lot of really cool people to hang out with. It's been great. But the family thing is the biggest motivator for the move.

ziggy150 · Nov 6, 2011

I have met a lot of really cool people to hang out with. It's been great. But the family thing is the biggest motivator for the move.

Gotcha. Well, I really like hearing that it wasn't because you weren't able to click with anyone. When we move we will only have each other, but I usually am gifted at attracting people in a new work environment; as is my wife. Alot of my friends have moved to other parts of the country so this move will be good. I don't have any bad vibes about making this move. The only thing I'm worried about is being able to land a job there while living in Michigan. I don't know if they'll want me to fly down for an interview or what.

nurseman78, BSN, RN, NP · Nov 6, 2011

They will want you to fly down for the interview. They get quite a few applicants and it's pretty competitive to get in. It's worth it, though. Great place to work.

ziggy150 · Nov 6, 2011

They will want you to fly down for the interview. They get quite a few applicants and it's pretty competitive to get in. It's worth it, though. Great place to work.

I hope it's not super difficult to get a position in Nashville. I don't plan on putting all my eggs in one basket and will be applying at as many different hospitals as is needed or available. Historically, I usually do well with interviews.

aka640, BSN, RN · Nov 8, 2011

Hey!! To the people who were accepted in the residency program, what was your GPA and how much experience or volunteer activities did you do?

Zippy7 · Nov 9, 2011

Hi nurseman78... thanks for posting your stories and for all the valuable feedback. I myself am a Vandy hopeful. I interviewed for Winter 2012 and I'm just waiting now. Hopefully I get good news. So out of curiosity, did Vandy ask you for a 2 year commitment? How did they feel about you leaving after a year?

They will want you to fly down for the interview. They get quite a few applicants and it's pretty competitive to get in. It's worth it, though. Great place to work.

Zippy7 · Nov 9, 2011

Hi BennyRNCA,

I applied to Vandy's Winter 2012 program. When I went to the interview, they told me that starting is $18.25, but the shift differential can bump you up to about $24 or $25-- depends on whether you're nights or weekends. It does sound small compared to what CA hospitals offer, but cost of living in Nashville is way lower according to many I've talked to including the program recruiter.

I'm from SF originally but I attended an accelerated BSN program in AZ last year. I was trying to make my way back to CA only to find out that there are literally thousands of new grads back home hurting for jobs. I then started looking out of state and found out that Vanderbilt has one of the best programs in the country. I recently interviewed with UCLA and their new grad interview system feels like a conveyer belt of new grad interviews compared to Vanderbilt's. The Vandy interviewers were very professional and prepared and knew me by name. Anyway, something to think about...

I'm still another year from getting my BSN here in CA, but don't mind moving out of state to get more experience upon graduation. I have been following various interested hospitals. I love Vandy's reputation as a world class employer.
My one concern is the starting pay ($18) for new grads when compared to CA's start pay from $30-35. Understandably, the cost of living is higher in CA, but does anyone know if that also compares with TN's cost of living at the $18?
There are places away in CA where the rent or housing expenses are not that high if you don't mind the extra 15-20 minutes extra drive time and figure with working the evening shifts it will not make that much of a difference.

lisak218 · Nov 30, 2011

am1819- I got into the peds track too!

Hi- I was wondering if you could give me advice on the letter of intent! I want to do NICU- really badly and since

you got picked Id love some advice!

Thank you,

Lisa