Just applied to UCLA's Winter New Grad Program

[emptybee]

How long does it usually take for someone to contact you for an interview??

[I<3NICU]

I called them today to schedule an interview. The HR lady told me that I can schedule a phone interview. (I'm from MA) She took my name down, the specialty that I'm interested in, and my phone number for the nurse recruiter, but the nurse recruiter hasn't called me back.

I know!! Just give us a job already! What areas did you choose? I chose NICU.

[gwafuh_rn, BSN, RN]

I called them today to schedule an interview. The HR lady told me that I can schedule a phone interview. (I'm from MA) She took my name down, the specialty that I'm interested in, and my phone number for the nurse recruiter, but the nurse recruiter hasn't called me back.

I know!! Just give us a job already! What areas did you choose? I chose NICU.

when they called me so I could have my interview scheduled,they asked me 2 areas where im interested in..I chose ccu and stepdown unit because they have that in ucla sta monica w/c is near to our place..There are no more slots in med surg.hehe!!! so you're here now in california?

[I<3NICU]

No. I'm still in MA now. NICU is like my dream unit. I'm planning on relocating to where a NICU would take me.

[gwafuh_rn, BSN, RN]

No. I'm still in MA now. NICU is like my dream unit. I'm planning on relocating to where a NICU would take me.

goodluck to both of us.hehe

[I<3NICU]

goodluck to both of us.hehe

Thanks! Good luck to you too! Keep me posted!! I'll do the same! :typing

[MNRN22, BSN]

Does anyone know what the starting hourly rate is for new grads at ucla? how about the other LA hospitals? Thanks in advance.

Dave

[emptybee]

Sorry late response...

yes, i did interview for UCLA's Peds/PICU unit late september. Got the phone call last week saying they didn't think my clinical skills were going to be enough to handle the acuity of their patients. Sad...but not really...it would have given me a horrible 1.5-2 hr commute each day....but i really wanted to work there for the experience. I totally thought i had a great shot too...3.5 GPA, my first BS was in Child Development, several yrs of experience working with kids...but I guess it wasn't enough. It's really unfortunate that I wasnt able to do my preceptorship in PICU or Peds, because that would have given me more of an edge. Oh well

They asked me situational questions...the types of patients i've worked with...how i handle stress...conflict in the workplace...

If you want NICU...they start you off in Postpartum.

pay is starting at $31.21...with a dif after 6 months...another diff if you work nights..and another diff if you work weekends. and a $1,500 relocation assistance.

they provide their staff with scrubs...

It's competitive...so everyone who's interviewing...give it all you got!! GL! :heartbeat

[mjick]

When did you graduate? I know our school also does not give us enough exposure in Pediatrics. Most of our clinical rotations are spent in the Med Surg unit.

Is UCLA comparable to Cedars? Or is it better? I'm also thinking of Cedars as a place to start. Not familiar with their training program, though. I got mixed reviews on UCLA. Some say its a good place to start because its a teaching hospital but others say that some management do not treat their staff well. So confused, job hunting stresses me out especially because the last time I had a job interview was 10 years ago.

[emptybee]

I just finished my BSN program last week! I haven't taken my boards yet...but definitely preparing!!

Our program was the same...most of our time was spent in Med Surg. I did an accelerated program...so they wanted to make sure we got enough clinical hours in med surg...which sucks for those of us who really wanted to specialize.

I'm definitely getting scared with this whole job hunting thing. The hospitals in my area are on a hiring freeze...while others are suffering from low census. My idea was to secure a job before the Dec grads came out...but with how things are going...i might be interviewing with them after all.

[mjick]

Congratulations for completing the accelerated program. I have been applying and attending hospital open houses since September. I will not be graduating until December but I get the feeling that "nursing shortage" is not so true nowadays. One hospital is only taking 20 new grads and there were over 150 new grads that attended the open house. That does not include everyone that will apply.

What are you doing to prepare for NCLEX? Self study or review course? Also, when did you apply for your licensure? Have you received your ATT? How long is the processing from the time you sent your application to receiving the ATT?

I am in the ADN program and I thought that the last semester will not be as stressful as other semesters. Oh, did I think wrong! It is much stressful with the added pressure of job hunting and NCLEX.

[I<3NICU]

Thanks for the info! And congrats for completing the program! :yeah:I agree with you that you should start looking for a job ASAP. I'm from MA and there's really not a nursing shortage in the New England area either. (I've been looking since late June 08) The hospitals either have hiring freezes, low census, or not enough budgets, and they only want experienced nurses. If you don't have experience working as a nursing assistant, contact the floors where you had your clinical rotations and inquire about a staff nurse position. Good luck to your job hunting! :)

[emptybee]

what are you doing to prepare for nclex? self study or review course? also, when did you apply for your licensure? have you received your att? how long is the processing from the time you sent your application to receiving the att?

i am currently taking the complete kaplan course. i've also been using my saunders 4th edition book, nclex 3500, and medspub. i got my fingerprinting done in the beginning of sept but since our degrees won't post til november...we probably won't get our atts til late nov..early dec. eeeeeh...tooo much stuff to think bout! i totally hear you...it is soooo stressful to study for nclex and look for a job at the same time!! ughhh!!

mjick, when do you plan to take your nclex??