babynurse06

Hi all, I have been a nurse for almost 3 years in a level III NICU that does all your typical vents, drips, surgeries, even echmo. I have found a school that takes NICU experience as their ICU requirement but I am wondering if there is anyone out there who only has NICU experience and finds school to be difficult because of it? I could transfer to adult unit but it would mean taking a pay cut and sacrificing my day shift hours.......so part of me thinks why do that if they accept NICU? I don't know, so I wanted to get the opinion of those acutally in a program. Any advice would be great. THANKS!! :heartbeat

Hello all, I'm thinking about going to CRNA school but notice that a lot of them don't even accept NICU experience. Just wondering if any NICU nurses have gotten into school and found it really difficult because of working mostly with adults in school. Also I was talking to some schools and they said it would help to get certified. Should I take the CCRN or the RNC?? I know that the RNC is more recognized in the neonatal community but for this purpose would the CCRN be more recognized??? Plus if anyone has any input on schools that are neonatal friendly I'd appreciate it! THANKS!!!

Hello all- I am currently in a great NICU and make a decent salary but work nights and just do not know how much longer I can manage it. I found that CHOC has some day positions open but i heard that they pay $23/hr?! Is this true??? That would be a 10 dollar decrease from what i make now!! Any info would be appreciated, thanks!

yes, I am in California and we get 6 weeks after the baby is born (8 weeks for C-section) paid either through state or employee disability so its a fraction of what you would usually make but still something. Then FEMLA does allow you to take up to 12 weeks off (including the 6 paid) to spend time with your baby and still keep your job, but the remaining six weeks is UN paid. I unfortunately need to have income coming in at all times so I will be taking the 6 weeks and then using my vacation time of two week after that...or just quiting after the six weeks and having my vacation paid out to me....or I could do what someone suggested and work casual, per diem until I am able to find another day job....I dunno why I stress so much at least i'm a nurse and have the flexibility!! Anyways thanks so much to those of you who already responded.

Hello all! I am currently 7.5 months pregnant! I currently work in the neonatal ICU and love my job but simply cannot handle the night shift anymore and after the baby is born I am going to need to find a day shift job to better accommodate with my husband's schedule so I was thinking of getting a new job after my maternity leave is over at a different hospital. Ideally I would just start the new job now but I don't know how that would work as far as maternity leave and healthcare etc. My question is can I quit my job after I get my 6 weeks paid maternity leave?? And is it even smart to start a new job and change health benefits etc. so close to after the baby is born?? I don't want to burn bridges where I work now either...but I also really need to do whats right for my family. Any advice would help. Thanks guys!:monkeydance:

hello all- i currently work in a NICU (neonatal) just wondering if thats accepted (icu requirements) the same way as adults?? i would like to advance my career at a young age and thought about CRNA....but i also get queasy at the sight of surgery....i know as a CRNA you don't really have to watch....but would it be a bad idea to become a CRNA for this reason???? i appreciate any thoughts

I took the NCLEX this past monday and it was horrible! I did really well in school but I am truly scared that i did not pass....which is really bad cuz i just relocated and if i don't pass i loose my job...not cool considering i sold everything i own and came out here to cali...no the cheapest place in the world. all my drug questions were intereactions with HERBS what the heck?!?! and i had like 11 choose all that apply......i ended at like 180 something....it was a blur i was there for 3 hours and it felt like 15minutes.....i'm so scared....did anybody else pass with this many questions????????

I just graduated and am moving to Cali from PA...very nerve-racking even more so it doesn't sound as though I am going to be getting my ATT before I move in late july.....so i can take the test before i move...so if i fail....i wouln't be left paying outrageous rent with no job.....ok i'm ranting...the point is i've been reading some of these posts and I applied to the board but was under the impression that i shouldn't register with the testing facility until i've actually gotten my ATT card....am i confusing the information???

im really unsure of what you mean as far as nursing lotto.....cali thing i suppose. May i suggest applying for RN programs elsewhere in the country. I am from PA and there are no waiting lists etc for programs. I just graduated and am moving to cali, i got hired at every place i applied for out there just because it seems as though your state can't produce the nurses, because of its waiting lists. If you don't mind moving why not try out another state!!

I graduated this past saturday!!! I took a job in CA in the NICU at UCI Hospital. I'm moving from PA so i'm ssoooo exicted and soooooo scared!!!!!!

HELLLOO ALL, I just graduated this past Sat. WWHOO HOO !!!!!!!! I am from PA and am moving to SoCal for my first nursing job. Here is my dilema.....my school said it will take about 4 weeks before they can finalize my transcripts, the board says it takes 4-6 weeks after they have all their paperwork to get the eligibilty to test....i start in the end of july and kinda wanted to take it before i move....cuz it will take even longer if i have to change my address in the middle of it all!!!! Did anyone else have to wait this long for their school transcripts??!?!

i'll be down 24k for my BSN from a state university in pa...close to pittsuburgh!!

Hello all, I just graduated and have gotten a job at UCI medical center...and now am looking into apartments and all that jazz to move (i'm moving from PA). Anyways i look at apartments that seem nice go to apartmentratings.com and seems like everybody says they have gang members living in their communities, break ins, etc. I'm a country girl ready for change, but i would like to feel safe. Someone reccomended living at huntington beach...but that doesn't appear safe by the reviews either. Where do i go to be safe and not too far from the hospital?!?! I'm starting to get worried. Does anyone know of a safe, nice apartment complex or even areas or zipcodes to avoid?? Thanks to all!! :uhoh21:

do you know anything about UCI Medical Center???

I graduate in may06, do i need to wait until my classes and final grades are completed before i start the process for CA boards. I start my job on the 27th of july...i will be moving from pa and i'm wondering if i will get my results and all that in time. ??

i graduate in may06 from around the pittsburgh area and looks like i will be relocating to southern california!! very excited...very scared!!!

again this is for the NICU

OOH ok, to make things more complicated, I have now also been offered a job at UCI Medical Center at Irvine...def. seems like a safer area the staff at the hosptial, werent' "as nice" and i would be making a little bit less money...but they still sound ok too...no contract, which i like. If any of you have an opinion on the comparrison of Millers Childrens in Long Beach and UCI Medical Center in Irvine I would appreciate it.....it will be so nice to finally just know where i'm going! Thanks guys!

Thanks Fergus I appreciate all of your help!

SOO I got the job at Millers and loved the hospital!! ...one question though, they are making me sign a contract that says i will work for them two years after my one year of training, so essentially three years....is that commonplace in cali?? Anyhow the other thing is now i need to find a SAFE place to live....i've been looking at apartments and then i look that the reviews of cockroaches and cars being stolen and now i'm scared! Do any of you know good apartment buildings either around long beach, seal beach, huntington and or anything close to millers. THANKS A MILLION!

Thanks for your post, actually Hoag was my first choice and they dont' take New grads in the NICU, they tried relentlessly to get me in their urology floor and i just wasn't diggin it. CHOC i have also applied to, and they seem very nice, pay however is less than at Millers...but i am still keeping my option open there!

Thank you both for all of your help! I can't wait to see the hospital this week!! :w00t:

I have been looking all over CA for places to start working, I am a new grad and have my heart set on NICU nursing. I am actually traveling to Long Beach in about a week to visit Millers Children's Hospital. Does anyone have any input on how it is to live in long beach?? expensive? stuff to do? weather, how are the beaches there?? How hard would it be to commute from a more southern beach, like maybe Huntington?? Perhaps as you can see my main two goals, NICU and a nice beach!

I will be visiting two hospitals in CA to consider working for. One is Miller's Children's Hospital in Long Beach and the other is Children's Hospital of Orange County. I'm just wondering if anyone knows the reputation of these hospitals, or even the stuff you don't hear from the nursing recruiter! Also waht is the general starting salary in the southern area? I so far have been finding 26.00 - 28.00...is that enough to life off of out there?? Thanks for all of your help!!!

I am a nursing student in PA, graduate in May....and was looking at moving out to California along the coast. Tired of all the snow!! My question is, i was looking at apartments and was shocked to see the average apartment costing 12-1600 dollars a month!!! Do they pay you enough to live?? and what kind of taxes do you have to pay. I'm just wondering if i will be able to support myself on a new grads salary??? i appreciate the help!