After 3 1/2 hours of interviewing...

You GOOOOOOOO! Can't wait to be saying the same!!! NICU is where I wanna be =)

~J

Way to go!!! I am very excited for your! Hold on tight it's going to be a wild ride. Keep us updated!

Way to go!!! I am very excited for your! Hold on tight it's going to be a wild ride. Keep us updated!

Yep, during the interview, one of them said, "There will be days in the next year when you will hate this hospital and everyone in it. Just hold on, and make it through your first year. Then, you will be fine." I know it is going to be as much work as school, but I am excited because it is my passion!

Wow ! I have never heard of such a big NICU ! I am a pediatric home health LVN, so the kids I take care of have all spent a few months in the NICU before coming home. Congrats. Are you a parent? I think that there cannot be many things more devastating than seeing your baby in the NICU. Remember to be compassionate with the parents !

yeah for you!!!

I am thrilled for you! That is a huge NICU! I am starting today as a NEW GRAD RN (My license was posted yesterday ). My NICU is also level III and is 59 beds. I thought that was big. I precepted in a NICU that was 27 beds and at the time I thought that was big

It's also cool that you were offered the job at the interview. I was blessed with that experience too. Later I have been told by other nurses that I was fortunate to get the PM shift that I wanted. Most Bay Area Hospitals in California start all new grads on nights in the NICU...if they hire new grads at all.

How much nursing experience do you have? Are you still nervous?

Congratulations!!!!

Heather

I am thrilled for you! That is a huge NICU! I am starting today as a NEW GRAD RN (My license was posted yesterday ). My NICU is also level III and is 59 beds. I thought that was big. I precepted in a NICU that was 27 beds and at the time I thought that was big

It's also cool that you were offered the job at the interview. I was blessed with that experience too. Later I have been told by other nurses that I was fortunate to get the PM shift that I wanted. Most Bay Area Hospitals in California start all new grads on nights in the NICU...if they hire new grads at all.

How much nursing experience do you have? Are you still nervous?

Congratulations!!!!

Heather

I will be a new grad. I graduate in May. I am currently doing my precepting experience in a 60 bed NICU. It has been so good! I love each day more than the day before. I am learning so much. I know it is just the beginning. I am nervous yes. However, I am trying not to think about that too much. I am trying to finish the semester and looking towards taking my boards. How long did it take you to get a test date? I am hoping to have taken my boards before I start orientation in June. Is this feasible?

I will be a new grad. I graduate in May. I am currently doing my precepting experience in a 60 bed NICU. It has been so good! I love each day more than the day before. I am learning so much. I know it is just the beginning. I am nervous yes. However, I am trying not to think about that too much. I am trying to finish the semester and looking towards taking my boards. How long did it take you to get a test date? I am hoping to have taken my boards before I start orientation in June. Is this feasible?

I think the possibility of taking your boards by June depends on your school. I graduated Dec. Our last final was Dec 5. Our school, however, did not release our transcripts to the board until Jan 5. I know classmates that took their boards as early as the first week of Jan. You just won't get your results posted (at least not in California) until the board receives your transcripts. I recommend getting your IP. My hire date was 2/13 and my license posted 2/16 so I only used my IP for a few days...but having an IP enabled me to start working and continue working had there been further delays posting my results.

I mailed my application the the BRN 1/3/06. I received my ATT and scheduled my test on 1/27/06. I took my boards on 2/2/06 and I got my results 2/16/06. That's a reasonable timeline if you want to estimate. But like I said, it depends on when your final grades are posted, when your school sends the transcripts etc. Send your application to the BRN as soon as you can...then you'll have your IP to start in June, if your hospital is ok with that.

Keep me posted!

Heather

[email protected]

I think the possibility of taking your boards by June depends on your school. I graduated Dec. Our last final was Dec 5. Our school, however, did not release our transcripts to the board until Jan 5. I know classmates that took their boards as early as the first week of Jan. You just won't get your results posted (at least not in California) until the board receives your transcripts. I recommend getting your IP. My hire date was 2/13 and my license posted 2/16 so I only used my IP for a few days...but having an IP enabled me to start working and continue working had there been further delays posting my results.

I mailed my application the the BRN 1/3/06. I received my ATT and scheduled my test on 1/27/06. I took my boards on 2/2/06 and I got my results 2/16/06. That's a reasonable timeline if you want to estimate. But like I said, it depends on when your final grades are posted, when your school sends the transcripts etc. Send your application to the BRN as soon as you can...then you'll have your IP to start in June, if your hospital is ok with that.

Keep me posted!

Heather

[email protected]

Heather,

Sorry, my mind is blanking. What is an IP? We were told we could mail our nclex for up to 3 months prior to graduation. My transcript should be avail by mid May. Am I understanding this correctly, I can mail my nclex app now. I will then be sent my ATT at which time I can schedule my appt to test. However, I will be unable to receive the results until my transcripts have been received? Is that correct? The state in which I live allows new grads to work up to 90 days as a graduate nurse. I would like to have all of this done before my orientation begins. I do not want to be distracted thinking about boards when I need to be concentrating on learning the details of the NICU.

~Tiny1

Heather,

Sorry, my mind is blanking. What is an IP? We were told we could mail our nclex for up to 3 months prior to graduation. My transcript should be avail by mid May. Am I understanding this correctly, I can mail my nclex app now. I will then be sent my ATT at which time I can schedule my appt to test. However, I will be unable to receive the results until my transcripts have been received? Is that correct? The state in which I live allows new grads to work up to 90 days as a graduate nurse. I would like to have all of this done before my orientation begins. I do not want to be distracted thinking about boards when I need to be concentrating on learning the details of the NICU.

~Tiny1

Sorry---in California an Interim Permit (IP) is a temporary license that costs $30 extra. They do not allow a grace period for graduates to work unless they have an IP. And the IP is good for up to 6 mos. However, if you take the boards and do not pass the IP becomes invalid and you have to wait 45-90 days to retake the test. Yikes! It sounds like you have the process down. Does Pearson Vue administer the tests in your state? Once you send your application the the BRN then register with whichever company is administering the NCLEX. I think you'll receive your ATT sooner that way. And then, yes, you will only receive your results once the transcripts are received by the board. If you send in your application ASAP it sounds like you'll be able to take the boards prior to actually graduating and you just might get your results before working. At least you can be done with the exam prior to working.

My first day on the unit was wonderful! All the nurses I met were very welcoming. I am thankful that I precepted in the NICU because I was able to catch on fairly well tonight. The charting is new, however, because it's a different hospital, and that's terrifying.

Tell me about the NICU you will be working in. Is it open bay or private rooms? How many beds? Level III?

Take care,

Heather