Banner Health New Grad RN Program

AZBlueBell · Mar 25, 2019

On 3/20/2019 at 7:17 PM, AZRN09 said:
Hi everyone!
I'm sure this has been previously discussed before but I wanted to ask for more recent advice. I have accepted a position with Banner Health in their new grad program. I will be on the Progressive Care Unit (PCU) and start Banner orientation next month. I am both excited and nervous! Couple of things I wanted some advice/information on:
1. What is the Banner Health orientation like? When do I start working on the floor with my preceptor?
2. How does PCU compare to a med-surg/tele floor? Any recommendations on what to review before I start? What all does "academy" entail?
3. I am starting on nights! I have never worked nights before. My fiance works the normal M-F 9-5...any recommendations on adjusting sleep schedule, routine, meal planning, etc?
Thank you all in advance!

1. The first few days will be all corporate type stuff, policies and starting your online learning modules. There will be skills and sim days to teach you general skills and equipment (IV pumps, IV insertion etc). Add in any classes you may be required to take like bls/ACLS/ekg

You will be required to attend monthly new grad forums where they cover a different topic each session (falls, sepsis, wounds...). If I remember correctly, you should start on the floor by the 2nd week with your preceptor. You’ll have a full 3 shifts, or possibly only do 1-2 with them depending on what other classes you have in that week.

2. The academy, although I can’t tell you anything about yours, is just a more specific way for you to gain knowledge about your service line. For instance, you will need to learn things a tele unit may not and vice versa. So it is kind of like a condensed lecture type thing. I found mine to be very helpful.

3. You’ll have to find your own routine. I’ve tried a couple different ways before settling into what I do now. At first, I was very nervous as I had also never done nights. So my schedule was this:

night before: went to bed at normal time, set alarm to wake at midnight, stayed up til 6-7am, slept until 3-4pm and went to work.

after night 1&2: came home, quick breakfast, slept until 3-4pm and went to work.

After night 3: slept until 3, then tried to sleep like normal that night too.

now my schedule is different because I felt like I wasted a lot of my free time being awake/asleep when no one else was and hated that.

Night before: bedtime and sleep like normal until morning. Wake up like usual, run errands or laze around, eat an early lunch and nap 11:30-3ish then go to work.

After night 1&2: still unchanged, eat breakfast and go to sleep

after night 3: sleep til 1pm at the latest so I can get up and have the afternoon/evening and then actually be successful at “flipping” back to a normal schedule and sleeping that night (if I sleep longer than 1, I’m not tired that night and struggle to flip back which ruins my off days).

My husband works days and I have kids so flipping back is a necessity for my family life. I know some people without kids sleep later than me, and wake up just before work and come In. I wake up early so I can not only shower and get ready but so I can have some time with my kids and we still eat dinner as a family before I go to work. I really dreaded working nights but I actually had no issues adjusting to them sleep wise, I just had to make it a priority. Fan for white noise, cold room and comfy blanket, eye mask and I’m good to go! You’ll find your groove. Good luck!

amalfrn · Mar 27, 2019

Hello! Congrats on being hired!

I would appreciate if you could tell me how long it took from applying to actually getting called for an interview?

taylormade26, BSN · Mar 27, 2019

Jumping on board here- I graduate in May with my BSN, and have applied twice to Banner New Grad. I get denied after 1 day. Is it because they don't hire without NCLEX date/license or before graduation? I thought I heard they will hire prior! Also, how long did it take between application and interview for you? Thanks so much.

BADGER_RN, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2019

Very curious how people are doing getting hired with banner currently! I work at banner and I am having a hard time even getting my application looked at by the recruiter. How is it working out for you guys ?

taylormade26, BSN · Apr 4, 2019

Badger, I keep getting pretty much immediate rejection after applying to the New Grad Experience. I graduate next month, but I heard they sometimes hire before NCLEX. Seems like maybe thats not true.

amalfrn · Apr 4, 2019

I believe that the application asks if you have a license. If you click no, then you'll probably be overlooked for someone who has their RN license. So, once you are licensed your odds are better at being seen by a recruiter.

aeg_bsn · Apr 4, 2019

I also got rejected after a little over a week. I think I am going to reapply closer to graduation and maybe when I have my NCLEX test date! I am honestly really discouraged

AZRN09 · Apr 4, 2019

On 3/26/2019 at 7:18 PM, amalfrn said:
Hello! Congrats on being hired!
I would appreciate if you could tell me how long it took from applying to actually getting called for an interview?

Hi! I had initially applied Dec 2018/Jan 2019 and didn't receive any calls back. When I applied a second time, I made sure to list my references of people who I know that work at Banner. I even reached out to a friend (RN) who currently works at Banner and she told me she would put in a good word for me...so I honestly think part of me getting an interview was because of that. I had previously been a CNA and then LPN for about 2 years and I am also currently working on my BSN with expected graduation date of Feb 2020...so not sure if any of those factors influenced it as well.

aeg_bsn · Apr 4, 2019

Do you think they would hire a new grad from out of state?

AZRN09 · Apr 4, 2019

2 hours ago, taylormade26 said:
Badger, I keep getting pretty much immediate rejection after applying to the New Grad Experience. I graduate next month, but I heard they sometimes hire before NCLEX. Seems like maybe thats not true.

This is what the Banner New Grad application states:

"At this time the program is on-going, year round. There is no application deadline, however it is recommended that you apply no earlier than 60 days prior to graduation and taking your NCLEX. Job postings are refreshed approximately every 100 days, so you may be asked to apply again."

AZRN09 · Apr 4, 2019

5 minutes ago, aeg_bsn said:
Do you think they would hire a new grad from out of state?

I'm honestly not sure but I don't see why not...especially if you will have your BSN because that is definitely preferred. On my application, I did list BSN in my education. I just made sure that it was clear I did not currently hold a BSN but do have an anticipated graduation date and currently working towards that.

Also- from my understanding a computer first filters through the applications and will discard the ones that do not meet the criteria...so make sure you are using key words in your resume and application, such as BSN, words from Banners mission and vision statement, etc. Not sure if this is really true or not but hey might as well try ?