Any info on Versant Program at Baptist (Miami) for new grad??

Yes, I spoke with HR in October 2009.

They ONLY accept employees from their hospital into program.

AND their hospital ONLY hires people who have at least one year experience.

She told me to call and inquire once I had one year experience.

She was NOT a pleasant woman on the phone.

Jackson DOES NOT have Versant anymore, btw.....

And it seemed like such a good program for new nurses too. At my hospital we only get 6 week orientation on the floor with another nurse.

the versant program (I heard from some friends) eased you into your job-- like "almost going to school again but getting paid" quoting my friend who was in the program back in 2007

they taught you the rules and how to do things their way, their rules.

good luck. MDC has a good reputation so I am sure you will find a job anywhere!

Thanks guys very much for the info. I really appreciate it. I am very nervous about finding my first job. I am considering starting at a Nursing home to gain some experience before throwing myself into a hospital setting. Any idea if that is a smart approach??

As a previous Versant, I can tell you it's a great segway from nursing school to the actual bedside. I am not sure if the requirements have changed but I don't think you needed to have previous experience. I know that the Versants start in March, August and November so more than likely the March group has been selected. In addition, there are separate start dates for Pediatrics. I would encourage you to keep a close eye on the HR website---it's your best bet for being most updated on when the application process will begin at Baptist. Congratulations and good luck.

Hi everyone!

To get into the Versant program at Baptist you had to have been either a Scholar (MDC/Barry/Nova student who signed a contract to work for Baptist for 2 yrs and attended Nursing School on-site at Baptist hospital since semester 1) or a current employee.

I graduated MDC generic through the Baptist Scholar program in Dec. 2009 and I SOO greatful that I signed up for it because Jackson has let all of their scholars out, forgiving their scholarships because they can't provide them with employment. Sucks..

Well there are ups and downs to the program.. and I beleive me, I've had my share of downs lol. But i would do it all over again if i had to go back in time. HR tells us that Jackson Scholar students have been calling their department in waves of hundreds and right now I'm really lucky that I have a job waiting for me this March!

Baptist is like a fortress...you can't get in ANY way! In all honesty, I've been to their ER twice this year and wasn't at all impressed; actually had an unpleasant experience both times so not sure why they are so picky.

Moving on...there are two hospitals that I have seen that are currently accepting applications for new grads. One is Bethesda Memorial in Wellington, FL, and the other is Delray Medical Center. You can search their job openings in the career section and they will be listed under nursing. These hospitals are about an hour north of Baptist so its a bit of a drive but I don't think we can be too picky at first. If you live further north, they're even closer. Another option is North Shore Medical. I spoke to the recruiter there during a job fair I went to when I was job searching and she told me to apply because she tries to do what she can for new grads.

Another tip...don't just apply online. Send your resume with a cover letter along with a copy of your license, any certifications, letter of recommendations, etc. Send a whole packet and address it to the hospital address to the attention of nursing recruitment. You'll be taking an extra step from just online applications like everyone else out there.

Hope this helps!

Hi I applied for the Versant program as well and I had a phone interview. They told me they should be calling for panel interviews in about 2 weeks. I was wondering if I can handle this and my classes for my BSN? Also, what should I expect with this program and if we get paid while in this program. Thank you, any information will be a huge help!