oldgrad66

No problem. When I went in to turn in the paperwork I got the impression that they were very busy. But once they send you the paperwork it usually arrives within a day or 2 and your appointment to turn everything in should be pretty soon after that (at least it was for me). Good luck!

Did you follow up with them for the paperwork like you were supposed to? I was also hired directly and did my physical on 6/13 and I already have a start date. I would say it's not normal to still be waiting, but then again they did recently hire a bunch of people so they're probably backed up? Did you ever call HR to request your paperwork?

Glad to hear it's going well! Yeah, it def sounds like a lot of work. Hopefully everyone on my floor is as helpful as yours! One last question! How many days of classroom orientation did you have? I know you mentioned you had less than normal. So far it looks like I'll only have 2 days, one for nursing orientation and one for the Meditech training. Any heads up about what I should be prepared for during those 2 classroom days? Should I brush up on any skills? Thank you for continuing to reply! It really has helped ease a lot of my curiosities!

If you were offered a position, how far along are you in the hiring process? Input from current employees about the length of the hiring process would also be helpful!

Also, at what point do they check your references?

Hi! I have a quick follow-up question. I was actually offered a position with Centinela and already did my background/drug screen/physical. Because of Covid they're mailing me my onboarding documents to fill out at home, after which I'm going to set up a meeting (I assume to turn in the documents/get my 2nd step ppd/ IDK what else?). I spoke with HR and they said there would be a quiz either in the packet or during the meeting...did you have to do this quiz too? Any idea what the quiz is about? Also...at what point did you get fitted for a mask and have to turn in titers and stuff? What was that onboarding meeting like? How long after onboarding did you actually start working? Thanks for any info!

Hi everyone! So I'm an old grad a year out of graduation and I have to (finally!) choose between 2 job offers. Keep in mind I have been searching for my first job as an RN for MONTHS with no luck until now. Option 1: Kindred, a LTACH, possibly in Telemetry, maybe med-surg (they asked what my preference was but the offer letter does not specify a floor). Pay is just under $32 with a $3 differential for night shift and a $2 differential for weekends (I was offered a night shift position, so I'd be making just under $35/hr). Ratio is 10:1 with the help of a team consisting of LVN's and CNA's. Orientation is 3 months, which is also the probation period. They told me preceptors typically have 3 years or more of experience. Lots of vents, lots of trachs, the patients require a lot of care and it seems like I would be exposed to everything under the sun in regards to nursing care. Only get an N95 if I am caring for a confirmed Covid+ patient (but most Covid patients are in ICU so I was told it would be unlikely that I would have a Covid patient) she mentioned they have had some staff test + for Covid (not sure how common this is at other facilities? Should I be concerned?). I would get 1 surgical mask per day with non-Covid patients. Could eventually get ICU training, which is a semi-long term goal for me (as of right now). Option 2: Centinela Hospital Medical Center, Telemetry Unit. The pay is $32.60something per hour, time and a half after the first 8 hours, day shift. I would work rotating weekends (not sure how much the weekend differential is.) Orientation is 6 weeks. They have a high attrition rate so it is likely that my preceptor will only have 6 months- a year of experience on the floor. Ratio 4:1. I would be occasionally rotated to the Covid floor. 1 N95 per day. Commute is closer to Kindred, but not enough to seriously impact my decision. I realize neither of the two options sounds great per se. But I've been alone and have had no support on this journey of finding a job and have no professional nursing connections. I just want to get my foot in the door, so to speak. The pay would be slightly higher at Kindred (due to the night shift differential), but the ratios, as well as my ability to transfer to a regular hospital later on is a concern. At Centinela, my main concern is about the kind of training I would get during a 6 week orientation with a relatively new nurse as a preceptor. I'd love to hear advice from anyone on which position I should take, which would be better for my career long-term (I'd love to eventually be in an ICU setting....maybe even OR). I'd especially love to hear from anyone who has worked/is currently working at either of those locations.

Oh WOW!. I was told it would usually be the second part of the interview but because the interview was over zoom I would just have to come in and take it. I guess I'll just have to spend the next couple of days brushing up on my pharmacology since I feel pretty comfortable with dosage calculations. I kinda wish I was given that packet before the test, but what can I do ?‍♀️ LOL

So I had an interview today for a job at Centinela and they told me the 8 week orientation was tempprary due to covid (at least for the floor I interviewed for) and that going forward it would be 6 weeks. I also didn't get asked any clinical scenario questions, although that might have been because the interview was running long ?‍♀️ Anyway, I'm supposed to come in for a medication test. Did you have to take one? I haven't read about anyone having to take one in other posts so I wonder if this is a new thing or if it is specific to certain floors. If you did have to take one was it only dosage calculations or was it pharmacology as well? Do you know if we have to get 100% on it? Btw, thank you for answering all of my questions!

Hey, that's awesome! I always read mixed reviews about what it's like to work there so it's great to hear that things are going well. Do you feel like you'll be ready to be on your own on the 13th? I know some people find the 6 weeks to not be long enough. And you just described me to a T. I have had a terrible time as a new grad LOL. At this point I really just want to get my foot in the door. Do you mind telling me more about the interview process? Did they ask a lot of clinical scenario questions during your interview?

Hey guys, I'm wondering how the process with Centinela is going? If you have the time I would really appreciate hearing about your orientation and your experience with Pioneer? Would you recommend it to others?

Hey guys. I guess I'm mainly just looking for advice/ encouragement. I am an old New Grad. I graduated with my ADN last May from a City College in socal, passed NCLEX in November, and have been on the job hunt ever since. I got my ACLS cert right after passing NCLEX and applied to an online RN-BSN program but have not been able to take any classes because it costs about $800 every 5 weeks and I just don't have that kind of money left over after food and rent. (The school will hold my application for up to a year). It has officially been a year since I graduated and 7 months since I started applying for jobs (but I know employers will probably focus more on my graduation date than on my NCLEX pass date). I've yet to receive any offers for interviews. I've "fixed" my resume many times, but I'm really starting to feel like I have nothing to offer. My knowledge and skills are fading. Also, even though I got all A's and passed in 75 Q's, I wasn't very proactive while in school and only have 1 letter of recommendation from my critical care clinical instructor. I tried reaching out to old instructors after passing NCLEX when I first started applying to jobs, but none of them ever replied. I'm seriously feeling like there's no hope left for me, my family is always asking why I don't have a job yet, and I'm starting to wonder if putting myself through nursing school was even worth it. I guess I just want to hear from people who were in similar situations and managed to actually make it as a nurse. And maybe some advice. I was never really able to apply to New Grad programs because they all require 2-3 recommendation letters, and it seems like those will be impossible to get at this point. I feel like I really screwed myself by not being more proactive during nursing school, but I honestly didn't think letters of recommendation would be such a huge deal when applying to jobs. I've also only recently started applying to sub-acute jobs because everything I've read tells me that my license would not be safe there, but I feel like it's my only option. At this point I'm willing to relocate to just about anywhere in the state (I feel like the process for transferring my license to another state will take too long and working at a sub-acute facility might be a better option.)