Kathyz

I had a Master's in another field when I decided to get my nursing degree. There are so many entry points for becoming an RN. I finally chose an ADN program. It's so cheap and most hospitals, like mine, pay the same across the board no matter what your education. I am currently in an RN-BSN program at North Park University which may works pays $5,000/yr toward. I would consider doing it that way, especially if you have kids and it's close to your home. Good luck!

I started working at Glenbrook during my last semester of nursing school as a PCT. My manager knew I wanted to be hired on her floor as an RN. Therefore I was very lucky to get my job. However, I'm not sure if was luck as much as foresight. I love NorthShore. They have great benefits, their hospitals are updated, everything is computerized and they don't skimp on supplies. I would advise all of you to directly e-mail the HR person to see what's available. Go to northshore.org and you can find the names and e-mail addresses of HR representatives for each hospital. They have a great 12 week orientation program. One day a week you meet with your group. It's really organized and thorough. Good luck!!

I am a new grad and just completed orientation for NorthShore Healthcare (Evanston, Glenbrook, Highland Park and Skokie Hospitals). They offer $7,500 sign on bonus with a two year commitment to the system. The first year you have to stay on your floor. That amount is for full-time. There are other tier levels depending on your hours. Their next new grad orientation will be in October. It's a great company! The benefits are amazing.

I work 7 miles from my job. There's a hospital right in my town, about 1 mile away. However, I love the health system I'm in.

You can get CEU's through in-services at your work, magazines and seminars. However, Illinois has not yet designed a date when RN's will need to earn CEUs.

I love the Pyxis too! My only problem is that it takes a while for it to recognize my fingerprint and sometimes not at all so I go to the other Pyxis. It is possible to override meds for a patient so just be sure you double check at the bedside too! We're completely electronic so a chance of error at my hospital is pretty low. I get more worried about giving Dilaudid to patients and BP meds, Lasix, etc.

They don't call off new grad orientees or their preceptors during orientation. Now that it's over I want to be put on the "call off" list but my manager told me to wait a little while longer.

I know how you feel!! I have been off orientation for a week now. I thought things were going well into last night.... I took verbal orders over the phone from an MD (tons of meds, she was rattling off labs, etc). I felt like a complete idiot. I had to even call her back. I just hope I got it right. I was late giving an antibiotic on another patient and had a third patient bladder scanned hoping it would be I left feeling discouraged but we're all new. Like in any job we had before, it's a learning curve. And my husband always asks me when I get home, "Did you kill him/her?" And since it's a "no", he said no big deal. I really am hoping to be called off tonight but I know that won't happen. I just hope I don't have any admissions or blood draws. But one thing I learned last night: Pharmacy is my best friend!! So something good came out of it.

Thanks everyone!!:wink2:

:yeah:Hi, everyone! I work on a Med-Surg, Hospice and Oncology unit. I was a PCT for 8 months on the same floor while finishing my ADN degree. I've been on new grad orientation for the past 12 weeks at my hospital. I was of course a little worried to be by myself, however, on my floor, you're never alone. Yesterday, my first day off orientation, wasn't bad at all. I was surprised they gave me a full load (5 patients), but it wasn't bad because I need 3 out of 5 of them. Today I come in and have four patients. Some things happened with each of them that made me proud. Nothing big, but I left happy. Patient #1: Order for 0.9NS to be run at 75mL/hr. Went into room at 0800 and it was infusing at 50mL/hr. Ted/SCDs were ordered 4 days ago. Guess what??? Nothing in the room. Patient on Levaquin for UTI. Came back Levaquin resistant. Talked to PharmD who spoke with MD and was told they don't want to continue antibiotics since the patient is showing no signs/symptoms. Their decision, but at least I know the story. Patient #2: Hospice. Comforted family. Extremities were beginning to mottle so I put on some socks. Answered questions about patient comfort, etc. Able to take care of everything myself. Patient #3: 80 year old female with Stage IV Breast CA and massive back pain. I've had her with my preceptor since Friday. She takes 10/325 Norco q4h PRN and a Lidocaine patch. Fentanyl patch has been increased from 25, 50 to 75mcg since Friday. Still states 10/10 back pain. Refuses to get OOB. Watches TV all day. Yesterday o2 went down to 88. Applied oxygen. Today finally got a pain consult going. She seems more loopy. I think the Fentanyl patch is kicking in or something. Something has to be done so the MD is coming tomorrow to give his opinion. Now is beginning to choke when she eats. She needs to raise the HOB. Ordered bedside swallow eval in case something else is going on. Patient #4.......I admitted her w/ my preceptor over a week ago. Taking oral antibiotics for a foot wound which is a Diabetic Ulcer. This has been going on for close to 6 months. DX DM II and Diabetic Ulcer. Debridement surgery was Friday and Wound Vac in place Sat. Today I saw how much they took out and it was a lot. They're just trying to save the limb. Osteomyletis. Had PICC inserted b/c she'll be on antiobiotics at home (no insurance). Arm today 4 inches larger. Dopplers ordered; dx with DVT. In the meantime she will have to go to IR to have PICC removed and replaced tomorrow. Needed Vanco trough and PTT. Had IV Therapy insert two peripheral lines because I needed to start a Heparin Drip and possibly continue the Vanco. Labeled the machine correctly, set up the Heparin and verified it with my charge RN. Spoke to the intern and IV Therapy throughout the day about this patient. I know it's not a RRT or Code Blue, but catching the little things and taking care of some of these other big things such as a Heparin Drip, and doing it mainly on my own was a great feeling. Granted, I ask for help from a lot of people and if they don't know me, I always tell them I'm new. So far so good. I'm sure not every day is going to be great. I'm off tomorrow so when I go back Wed I'll have different patients but I am learning A LOT!! kathy

I don't know much about Illinois Masonic. Actually Advocate Luthern General is right on the Des Plaines border which is a lot closer to where you're going to live. However, I heard they having a hiring freeze. Illinois Masonic is having an open house for new grads on March 9. I believe their next new grad orientation program, which is 18 weeks, starts in July. They to attend since so many hospitals out here now have hiring freezes. I work for NorthShore which comprimises Evanston, Highland Park, Glenbrook and now Skokie Hospital. We are not really hiring at this time either. Good luck!

I did really well on my school's exit HESI. I used the HESI book along with their CD. I didn't feel the test was very hard and like the OP said, it does not help with critical thinking at all. I felt the HESI was much easier than the NCLEX. Good luck!

Fingers crossed!

Good luck!! Mine stopped at 75 last week and I passed. Hang in there and keep us posted! Kathy

I'm sorry you have this delay. At my school they told us up front we needed to have fingerprints done along with all the other expenses. Don't let this throw you for a loop. Keep studying. Good luck.