Banner Health New Grad RN Program

U.S.A. Arizona

Published

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!

On 3/24/2019 at 9:53 PM, AZBlueBell said:

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!

Thank you so much for all of this helpful information! Makes me a little less nervous ?

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I got an in person nterview set for next week. The phone interviewer asked what what degree and if I already had a license. So, I think they are definitely looking at grad dates and if you have a license. Don't be discouraged. Wait till you your closer to graduating. Cheers

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Specializes in ICU.
1 minute ago, amalfrn said:

I got an in person nterview set for next week. The phone interviewer asked what what degree and if I already had a license. So, I think they are definitely looking at grad dates and if you have a license. Don't be discouraged. Wait till you your closer to graduating. Cheers

Congratulations! What unit is the interview for or what facility if you dont mind me asking.

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She asked what my top 3 preferences were. I told her PACU, ER, and ICU. Also, which hospitals I preferred. So, I'm not interviewing for a specific unit; more for the New Grad position.

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Specializes in ICU.

Oh that's good to know! Thank you for the update! Good luck to you ? keep us updated on your journey!

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I’m only 30 days from graduation and I keep getting denied within the first couple days of applying. I’m ACLS certified, graduating with a BSN... etc. I’ll have to put a reference name from a friend that works for Banner but I’m a little bummed.

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Specializes in ICU.

Dont be bummed! It's not personal! I work there. My connections are pretty good and I haven't even gotten a call! It may just take time. Especially depending on the facility you apply for.

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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!

First of all, congrats on finishing nursing school, passing the NCLEX, and getting a job!

What AZBlueBell said is pretty much exactly how it is! I'm a med-surg/PCU float so I thought I could shed some light on your second question. The academies are basically just knowledge they want you to have for your type of unit. Some of the information won't apply to the facility you work at. For example, I work at Gateway and we don't do PCI, but I'm pretty sure it's in the academy. It's a lot of reading and taking short tests after you've finished the module. The PCU academy is about eight weeks long. You'll have to attend a few classes in person, too. Don't sweat the PCU simulation. It's a group simulation and they really are just trying to put you into situations that happen (I.e. code blue, CHF exacerbation, renal disease, etc.).

As far as the difference between med-surg and PCU goes, I think it really depends where you work. In general, the PCU is higher acuity and the patients tend to be sicker than they are on a med-surg floor. You'll get a lot of experience working PCU!

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I just got hired as an out of state New Grad without taking my NCLEX! I take it July 25th and just made sure to tell them that when they emailed me!!

Also If anyone else is starting in August with the new grad program and needs a roommate I’d definitely be interested!!!

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On 7/3/2019 at 6:00 PM, nursegirl12 said:

I just got hired as an out of state New Grad without taking my NCLEX! I take it July 25th and just made sure to tell them that when they emailed me!!

Also If anyone else is starting in August with the new grad program and needs a roommate I’d definitely be interested!!!

Could you tell me more about your application and interview process ma’am out of state applicant? I am applying from Washington and my applications have been under review for almost one month ??

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