spottybug

Just a note about this facility...one of my closest nursing school friends got a job there as a new grad and received 6 weeks of orientation as a new grad in one of their busiest departments. She's been there a year and is already "burned out" on acute-care. They are constantly understaffed and she tells me that breaks are few and far between and she cannot count on having a nurse break her for a 30 min lunch. They are also slightly unsafe, not giving her proper training in certain procedures but just letting her "spread her wings and fly," a quote from a nursing supervisor when she asked for training. From observing her experience as a new grad, I would not touch that hospital with a ten foot pole. :) Just my opinion, though... Have you thought about pediatric nursing? :) :) :) I work at Children's and it's been wonderful to me, from new grad residency program to switching departments after a year. Send me a message if you want more information... Also, you might think about the differences between teaching and non-teaching hospitals, like UWMC, Harborview, Children's vs. Providence, Virginia Mason, etc. I love working in a teaching facility. Some hate it, but there is a significant difference, I feel and it was simply fortuitous that I ended up in a teaching facility. It was not something anyone had mentioned during nursing school or when I was applying for jobs. Hope this makes some sense and good luck to you! (I absolutely agree with MaleNurz; whoever mentioned Hanford as causing MS is exceptionally, frighteningly ill-informed.)

I work nights and we're usually 3:1 but never more than 4:1, no CNA's. :) Usually pick up the fourth at 11p...

I work in a peds hem/onc/bmt transplant unit and we take bp's on all kids, all ages Q4 hours. :)

I'm a new grad RN and I work in a free-standing Children's Hospital on a hem/onc floor- I love it.

Holy crap, I'm moving to Wisconsin! :) I'm in Seattle and I started as a new grad at 23.96, 4.25PM, 2.50Eves, 4Weekend differentials.

Hem/Onc is the best! It is so rewarding and while it can be difficult, it's an amazing, unbelievable field to work in. It's hard to explain almost. I'm a new grad and though I knew I wanted to do peds and oncology, I also had a desire to work in PICU/ER. I won't ever do anything but hem/onc-transplant. I knew I'd enjoy it, but I did not anticipate falling in love with it...you're always on your toes. Always learning.

I work at Seattle Children's hospital and was hired as a new grad into their hem/onc unit. It's an awesome place to work if you're interested in moving cross-country. :) Good luck, I didn't seem to have any trouble getting the job, I'm sure you won't either. It takes a special kind of person to work with peds hem/onc-ers...I truly work with the world's best nurses and team. :heartbeat

I'm an RN and I was hired on at a major hospital in the area before I graduated from nursing school, contingent only on me passing boards. Hope this helps. It really helps to have some type of experience while in nursing school, other than clinicals.

Hi! I am a new grad RN and I was hired directly into Hem/Onc specialty at Seattle Children's Hospital. I am in love with my job, love my nursing coworkers, the doctors, the hospital, especially the patients. It's an amazing place to be... I've always heard that your first job can make or break you, I'm positive this is the job for me. :) :redbeathe

I passed with 75 questions- took me an hour. It's very nerve-wracking when you're answering along and the screen just goes blank and politely tells you that you're done. :)

Has anyone worked at VM? I had heard great things about the hospital but am currently working there and have had the worst experience. It could be simply me, but I am curious to see if anyone else has an opinion. You may PM if you want. Thanks... (I just haven't seen much on this forum about VMMC)

Thank you everyone for your thoughts- I appreciate the feedback and thought the same myself, in regard to being able to better appreciate and help patients through difficult times.

Four years ago, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl who died of sepsis 29 hrs after she was born (I was GBS+) and after my wonderful yet heartbreaking experience in the NICU, I decided to become a nurse. I would have never made it through that time if it were not for the nurses. (I was previously in school to become an MD.) I am now nearly finished with my BSN (I will graduate this December) and am considering going into L&D nursing. I currently work in a busy ER as a nurse tech and I love that atmosphere as well. I had never thought of going into L&D simply because I felt it would be too personal, too many memories, too difficult a place for me to be. Wondering why all these mothers had healthy, normal deliveries (even those who are GBS+) and I was unable to have the same. Anyway, when I did my rotation through L&D for school, I fell in love with it. I didn't have any of those feelings, I just felt like I belonged in the L&D room, coaching, helping, supporting. I loved the atmosphere, the fact that most patients are not "ill" and that you are a small part (to them) of a wonderful beginning in their lives. My question to you nurses: Have you lost a baby, at any time during gestation, not just at delivery, and continued to work in L&D? Would you advise me differently? Thanks in advance.

My apologies in advance for asking such a ridiculous question... I will graduate this Dec (2007) with my BSN and have been working at a large hospital this summer in a BSN-student residency/internship/clinical experience. I have been heavily recruited by the CCU/ICU Nurse Manager to apply and work in the unit. I have had several observational experiences in the adult ICU/CCU and have always felt a certain dread, even before arriving. I find that I do not like the exceptionally sick patients, the vents, the drips, the extra lines, etc.- but have been repeatedly told that it's "normal." I have no interest in ICU nursing- what was the deciding factor for you CCU/ICU nurses? I realize there is something for everyone, but in being assured and reassured that I would make an "excellent" ICU RN, I have serious doubts about it. I feel that in order to be a good nurse, you should be comfortabl in your setting, as opposed to feeling dread and watching the clock to see when your shift is over... Any response would be greatly appreciated- thank you. ~A Senior Nursing Student

I agree- what school do you go to? I'm in Yakima at WSU-ICN...3rd semester.

It's only the second year that this program has been offered- it's still pretty new- so I don't think many people know about it. I only knew about it because I have family friends who have worked there. It didn't seem very competitive to me. However, I've heard great things about the hospital itself...have you?

I am going to be there too- I will be working on the Acute Care of the Elderly unit- should be interesting! :) I'm excited!!

I don't think so...not for just the summer anyway. I heard they will hire you as a nurse tech but only if you work during the school year as well. Harborview and Swedish look like they have fantastic new grad residency programs but nothing for summertime internship-stuff. Have you checked Valley Med. in Renton? I heard from several nurses at Virginia Mason that VM is an excellent place to learn as the nurses there are expected to teach and supposedly enjoy it. I'll believe it when I see it- most nurses have that "EAT THEM, they're NEW" attitude, which makes for an exceptionally pleasant (note sarcasm) day. :)

So are you already an RN then?

I just finished applying for a Nurse Tech Program at Virginia Mason in Seattle- go to their website. It's an 8 week paid program; you need to have a certain amount of nursing school. Hope this helps. Deadline is March 1st, 2007 for applying though, so you'll have to hurry!

I am currently attending WSU's ICN Program in Yakima, which is a distance site for learning. I am in the BSN program and would like to recommend you go to the actual school (in Spokane) for the best clinical experience. I'm not sure how online works, but if I had the opportunity to redo my application process, I would have gone to Spokane. :) My opinion...hope it helps!

I live in Ellensburg! :)

I just finished my first semester of nursing school this May and I have worked either full-time or part-time throughout the pre-nursing school and did work part time (about 25-20 hours) per week throughout this last semester. I think that it gives you a nice balance between work and school, and I thought it wasn't too hard. I guess it depends on what kind of work you do. I am a casino Black Jack dealer and I worked mostly evenings and nights with a fairly hectic schedule and still managed a 3.5gpa. But- I have no children, no other responsibilities but work and school. I did, however, just get a job as a nurse tech/unit secretary in a busier ER for this area and in my interview, nurse manager said that she preferred people who did work through school. ?? I thought I'd share my experience with you to help, good luck with nursing school!!