ADVICE NEEDED: Vanderbilt Trauma ICU RN Residency

Published

Hello!

I received an offer for a Nurse Residency program at Vanderbilt in the Trauma ICU. I am currently living and applying in California as well, but I have heard wonderful things about Vanderbilt's program. I have not yet heard back from the other Nurse Residency programs in my area (UCSF and Stanford) and I am supposed to either decline or accept Vanderbilt's offer in the next 5 days!

I was wondering if anyone could shed any light on what the unit is like? Specifically for New Grads? It would be a huge pay cut from the offers/potential offers here in California, but I am interested in Critical Care (flight nursing in particular) and I feel like this could be a great learning opportunity.

Any advice, insight, or thoughts are welcome!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.
It would be a huge pay cut from the offers/potential offers here in California, but I am interested in Critical Care (flight nursing in particular) and I feel like this could be a great learning opportunity.

Any advice, insight, or thoughts are welcome!

You shouldn't compare per hour Cali vs. Nashville. The cost of living is far less in Nashville than Cali. Even though you would make less per hour at Vandy, you could have more money after your bills are paid vs Cali.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Very true, the cost of living here is MUCH higher.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiothoracic and Transplant ICU.

I think Vanderbilt will be a great experience for anyone! If you obtained a slot in their Trauma ICU that would be GREAT experience for you when you become a flight nurse. Also, after some time in the ICU, you can ask to switch to their ED (which is a level 1 trauma center) to get your emergency time in.

I just applied to their nurse residency for the Winter/Spring cohort that starts in February. At the moment I am undecided if I want to pursue their Trauma ICU or CVICU (my goal is to become a CRNA). I will be taking a huge pay cut because the cost of living in Nashville is higher than where I currently live AND Vandy pays less than my local hospitals. However, I know that the experience at Vanderbilt will set me up for success and just the word, "Vanderbilt" on a resume raises a lot of brows at graduate schools.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds, Neuro, Orthopedics.

I turned down a residency at Vandy because of their low pay. Even for Nashville, I felt the pay was a slap in the face and I see things haven't changed. You can get an ICU residency experience anywhere, don't settle for low pay.

There also might be a culture shock coming from Cali to the bible belt.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi Shea -

I completed the Perioperative Nursing residency at Vanderbilt and it was an amazing experience. It really gave me what I needed to excel in high-stakes surgery and was recently hand-picked to join our high-risk cardiac team as a scrub nurse. I loved Vanderbilt - such a great community, especially in trauma. The trauma surgeons are definitely some of the best in the world and treat everybody with respect. Dr. Eastham-Green is an amazing surgeon and she represents the best of what a surgeon should strive to be - compassionate, brilliant, and unrelenting in the fight to save life.

[email protected]

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion