Hey May 06 grads..any of you seeking NICU?

Kalico · Mar 3, 2006

Hey everyone!! I am graduating in May 2006 (FINALLY!!!) I currently work in a level 3 Nicu in PA, and plan to stay there after graduation!! I LOVEEE the Nicu and cant imagine doing anything else. My unit does not take new grads unless you were there as a clinical associate (which is what I do), so as long as there is a spot I am going for it. I also applied at another hospital just in case. May 2006 grads let me know how its going and yay for us!! haha...

Welcome to AllNurses.com Matnker05!! Good luck with your interviews and please let us know how it works out for you! On a side note, what do you do as a clinical associate in the NICU?

lccougar02 · Mar 3, 2006

well they told me since I am so close to graduation it is going to be like more of an RN orientation but longer. I probably am going to stock the different nurseries but she said that I can do everything the nurse can, except give drugs. I think I am most nervous about being in a whole new place with no one I know. I hope I get a good preceptor.

angeludance · Mar 22, 2006

Hi everyone!!! I graduate in May as well....down to 79 days left YES!!! I only got to go through the NICU for half a day, but absolutely fell in love with it. I have applied for two different hospital NICU positions, and plan to go to an open house this Saturday with the one I went through this past fall. I have an interview for a different area in that hospital Wednesday, and another interview lined up for the 17th with another hospital, but that one is a NICU position.....I'm scared to death, but soooo excited.
Gwenn

:balloons: :biggringi :balloons: I had an interview yesterday with the NICU I went through during our peds rotation and got hired on the spot!!! I am soooo excited!!! This is the position and hospital I wanted all along. The nurse manager said she liked my heart and felt like I really wanted to make a difference; as long as my background check comes back and I'm not an "axe murderer" (lol) that I have a position there!!! When I called my husband after leaving there, I was crying I was so happy!!!

Kalico · Mar 23, 2006

:balloons: :biggringi :balloons: I had an interview yesterday with the NICU I went through during our peds rotation and got hired on the spot!!! I am soooo excited!!! This is the position and hospital I wanted all along. The nurse manager said she liked my heart and felt like I really wanted to make a difference; as long as my background check comes back and I'm not an "axe murderer" (lol) that I have a position there!!! When I called my husband after leaving there, I was crying I was so happy!!!

:balloons: CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:balloons:

angeludance · Mar 25, 2006

:balloons: CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:balloons:

Thank you...now I just need to make it thru the rest of school and boards.

matnker05 · Mar 31, 2006

Hey Kalico!! Thanks for the welcome... To answer your question I actually get to do a lot as a clinical associate. I am given an assginment of between 2 and 4 babies and I am responsible for their care as far as feeding, weights, measurements, full vitals, and reminding the covering nurse what meds need to be given when. I also oversee their weaning if they are being weaned from a skin setting to air setting or from an isolette to a crib. The people I work with are great and they take me up for deliveries when NICU is needed if I am available, so I have been able to learn a lot. Any questions let me know!!

Kerri

Kalico · Apr 15, 2006

Hey, Have any of you guys taken the Kaplan or know anyone who has? I'm a little curious about the course and would like to know what kind of things they do. If any of you can help me out that would be great.

Tiny1Nisolet · Apr 16, 2006

Hey, Have any of you guys taken the Kaplan or know anyone who has? I'm a little curious about the course and would like to know what kind of things they do. If any of you can help me out that would be great.

Hey Liz,

I really don't have much to offer except that my University recommended taking it; I am taking it the first two weekends in May. I figured it could not hurt and the hospital I signed with will reimburse me when I start.

I am currently following Suzanne's plan. If you are interested in that, check out the NCLEX discussion forum.

Best wishes to you and Happy Easter.

Kalico · Apr 16, 2006

Hey Liz,
I really don't have much to offer except that my University recommended taking it; I am taking it the first two weekends in May. I figured it could not hurt and the hospital I signed with will reimburse me when I start.
I am currently following Suzanne's plan. If you are interested in that, check out the NCLEX discussion forum.
Best wishes to you and Happy Easter.

Tiny,

I don't take my class until the 22nd of May. My hospital will also reimburse me for the cost so I am not worried about that. I have been following Suzanne's plan as well and find that to be helpful. I am hoping that between the two I won't have any problems. Please share your thoughts on the class after you take it. Thanks and Happy Easter to you as well!!

Tiny1Nisolet · Apr 17, 2006

Tiny,
I don't take my class until the 22nd of May. My hospital will also reimburse me for the cost so I am not worried about that. I have been following Suzanne's plan as well and find that to be helpful. I am hoping that between the two I won't have any problems. Please share your thoughts on the class after you take it. Thanks and Happy Easter to you as well!!

Liz,

Do you feel like the more questions you answer, the more you realize you do not know? It makes me nervous at times. I am sure it will come together though; no reason to suspect otherwise. I am sure we can do it! Where are you at in the book?

C'wing · Apr 17, 2006

I'm having my interview at my DREAM TOP choice NICU facility next week! I've talked to the nurse recruiter at a job fair and realllly hope I could land this job. It's a well respected hospital and offers 12 MONTHS of new grad trainings (2 months training + 10 months residency). So I'm really excited (and nervous). Hope things will go well.

I didn't know hospital would pay for Kaplan. Maybe I should ask about it during interview? Do you talk about salary, benifits, sign on bonus etc during interview too? or wait until hired? Any tips?

Kalico · Apr 17, 2006

Liz,
Do you feel like the more questions you answer, the more you realize you do not know? It makes me nervous at times. I am sure it will come together though; no reason to suspect otherwise. I am sure we can do it! Where are you at in the book?

Tiny,

I totally feel like an idiot sometimes!!! I completely flunked the lab chapter and felt like I was stupid. :lol2: I can't believe I'm almost done in school and yet I feel like I don't know anything sometimes while I am going through the questions. I am only on Chapter 14 cause I just found out about Suzanne's plan but I am doing 2-3 chapters a day depending on what all is going on. We are on Spring Break right now but my daughter still has school so I am stuck at home all week so I will get lots of chapters done. Where are you at in the book?