I was cruising the hospital websites as I do everyday as a new grad and came across this:
The Department of Nursing at Massachusetts General Hospital is running a New Graduate RN ICU Residency Program for six months from April 2011 to September 2011. RN residents will be hired and trained to work successfully in an intensive care setting.
Qualified applicants MUST have:
- a Baccalaureate of Science Degree in Nursing
- a current MA RN license
- less than 10 months of professional RN experience in a healthcare setting
- completed a clinical practicum in an ICU or experience in a patient assistive role in an ICU.
RN Residents will be eligible for benefits and paid a salary of $11.44 per hour. The schedule will be 40 hours per week with five 8-hour shifts. Day/Night rotation with weekends and holidays required.
11.44 an hour? They can't be serious...can they? They pay their CNAs more!
Got a phone call today from MGH telling me I passed all my background checks and references. I will be starting in April. I can't wait to start my nursing career at such an awesome institution. Also, the woman I spoke with in HR today told me that those who get through the program will be working in the ICU at the end of the 6 months. :)
Do you know if they will take someone with an Associates in Nursing but a Bachelor of Science in another field? How long did it take to get an interview or call back once you applied? I am a new grad and was interested in the internship but was unsure if I should apply since I only have an associates degre.
I applied on Feb 2nd and received a phone call for an interview a week later. It can't hurt to apply but I don't know if all of the positions have been filled or not. You never know if they will take you with the ADN or not until you've tried.
Do you know if they will take someone with an Associates in Nursing but a Bachelor of Science in another field? How long did it take to get an interview or call back once you applied? I am a new grad and was interested in the internship but was unsure if I should apply since I only have an associates degre.
A BSN is required. They will not take anyone with an ADN for any new grad position, even with a Bachelors in another field.
Is anyone who was accepted to the program going to the round table event on Thursday afternoon?
How did you hear about that event? They told me I was accepted but I haven't received anymore info in the mail or e-mail.. Did you get any kind of offer letter or anything?
I received an e-mail from someone in the nursing professional development department to invite me here. Since acceptance I have received information about the first two days of orientation and have had background checks and references completed. They said offer letters will be given on the first day of orientation.
As an MGH nurse for a little over 3 years now, I can say this is a great opportunity for new grads desperate for experience regardless of the measly wage, but you get benefits and experience as a REAL nurse. It's a new grad residency program, not a new grad staff nurse position. It's a resume builder at the very least and when hospitals across the country see any Boston teaching hospital in your experience, it's a huge plus. I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to be hired as a new grad at an MGH affiliated hospital in 2006, although not my first choice and was a community hospital. However, it was my foot in the door to get in a major level 1 trauma center either at Mass General or Brigham and Women's. It was unioned but union dues were discounted for new grads and health care was covered in full as a union benefit, so it's all relative. My starting salary was $24.11/hr 40hrs/week (not including differentials and I was hired as day/night rotator, definitely did more than my fair share of nights than I probably should have). But, I was thrilled as it was a job with benefits even if I felt for the Boston area was rather a low hourly rate at the time. After my year/year and a half, itched to apply for Boston to see bigger and better. I scored a position in my first choice area of specialty at MGH being surgical trauma and have been there since Dec 2007. :) This September I'll hit 5 years as a nurse and will be able to be a Clinical Instructor.
My point is, even if you're offered something that's not ideal including a nursing home position, take any opportunity you can get especially during these rough times in the job market. Once you have some experience that's when you'll get what you REALLY want. You may even have to relocate to get the job if it's an option, Connecticut is looking for nurses including new grads. The economy affects even the "best hospitals" in the country such as MGH. Even toiletries are no longer name brand that we offer patients since that affects the "budget." Cut-backs are everywhere and I'm grateful I was able to secure a job at a world renowned teaching hospital when I did....
llg, PhD, RN
13,469 Posts
Great post, dtrmnd2sccd post #203). Your reasoning hits the nail on the head.
I wish you the best of luck in your career.