New Grad Training Programs - Your experiences...

[bowkerj]

Hello,

I am a student nurse and will be applying to several new grad programs when I graduate. I would like to hear about your experiences for those of you who were accepted into a program. What is the process like, applying, interviewing, training, etc. What perks were you offered ie, sign on bonus, tuition reimbursement, etc?

Thank you for your input!

[mitchsmom]

I was just hired into L&D (where I did my preceptorship) and will do a general orientation all next week, a day of IV class, then go to the unit (unless there is something else I don't know about... I know at some point I will take fetal monitoring/ NRP and ACLS). I will have a preceptor/orientation for 12 weeks. The sign on bonus was $2500 (1/2 at either 3 months or 6 months (don't remember) and the other half after 1 year) and there is some kind of partial tuition thing for a 2 year committment but I didn't want any kind of committment so I didn't do it. They also pay for your license, Kaplan review, etc. if you do it. I basically had no interview because the unit manager already knew me from my preceptorship plus they need people really bad, so she was like "hire her"... going to HR was more of a check in the block than an interview. Good luck to you :)

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

I got hired into my ICU position back in March, but I had to graduate and pass the boards before I started. I had a week of general orientation, and then started my Critical care classes. I get a sign on bonus of 5k (1/2 upfront, 1/2 in 6mths), 6 months of orientation on the floor, and in 1 year they will pay for my CCRN and give me a raise for having it. The bennies are unbelievably good. (100% covered hospitals stays in network, and fertility bennies as well).

My interview process was pretty easy. I called and described my grades in nursing school and experience as a tech. I left it as a message on the manager's answering machine. I had the job 3 hours later.