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I work at a level III but the facility I mentioned above is actually a higher level III as you mentioned. They have body cooling and surgeries (non cardiac). Thank you so much for your response and input.

You are correct. Thank you.

The regional NICUs in CA such as UCSF, CPMC and a Kaiser which I know for sure. These are the only ones that I'm able to travel to. Everything else is a pretty far commute. One hospital didn't state that surgical experience was required, but the manager asked if I had the experience. After I explained, I found out that they weren't able to train. I guess it all comes down to their willingness to do so or their budget. I'll keep looking out for postings and applying anyway.

I work at a smaller 20 bed community level III NICU. I have 7 years experience. We care for micropremies and sick neonates, but our facility transfers out patients who require body cooling and surgery. I would really like to work in a higher acuity unit, but I feel it's impossible as most places require that you already have surgical experience. I'm not a new grad so I'm unable to apply to those positions. I feel like I'm just hitting every road block in my desire to work in a level IV NICU. I see many posts about people going from level III to level IV. How were you able to do so? Thanks.

Sorry I have no advice but I am also wanting to work in a level IV NICU. My issue is that most places won't hire unless you already have the experience. Was the level IV position a training position when you applied?

Yes, I've tried wasting more than 3 drops with no change. Jory- yes, we use this system with our radial art lines and I do keep the arm down to increase flow. I think I have my syringe ready fairly quickly, but maybe the air is affecting results.

I forgot to mention that I'm talking about a peripheral art line where it has a port very close to the insertion site. You clamp the line, put a cannula through the port, waste 3 or so drops, and collect specimen. Other nurses do it without a problem. I notice it happens when the blood drops too slowly, perhaps, not clearing the art line fluid adequately? For UACs, I would of course draw up about 2ml or so of waste and return it after I collect my specimen.

I think it's just me, but a lot of the times it appears my samples get hemodiluted. I have asked others and they explain what to do and it seems that I'm doing it the same way, but the results are always off. I do clamp off the line and "waste" a few drops before collecting. Any tips or specific techniques? Thanks.

Ok. I think I'm okay at lady partsl exams when patients are under 6cm dilated. Above that, I think I'm supposed to go by how much cervix I feel, correct? I had a patient where I found her cervix and I felt there to be

Just curious if anyone knows the starting salary of a Certified Nurse Midwife in the bay area, California.

Thanks for your replies!:wink2: Maybe I'm thinking too hard about this but if 10cm or complete is when there is no cervix, how can someone be 100% effaced (cervix thinned out) and still be 6cm dilated? That's the part that's confusing me. Doesn't 100% effaced mean you can't feel cervix? Thanks.

Just to clarify, position them on the side where there is still cervix?

I'm a new grad RN in L&D. I seem to have more difficulty determining cervical dilation when the pt is 8cm or more. How can you tell the difference between 9cm and 10cm. How do you know when a patient's complete? When I feel I can't even tell the difference when a nurse said the pt. was 9-10 (9.5). What is an anterior lip? Station is also difficult for me because I can't ever feel the ischial spines. Any tips/suggestions? Sorry, I just feel lost. Thanks.

It all depends. You should start speaking to recruiters now. This is the time when they will be hiring for new grad programs beginning January or February of next year. Some kaisers will hire you with an RN IP while you wait for your results, but usually, this happens when you know the manager or someone on the inside. In my experience, it's very difficult to get a job at Kaiser if you don't already work there or know someone. My advice is to start looking now. Good luck!

Does anyone know how much Washington Hospital in Fremont pays New Grad RNs or a Staff Nurse I? I heard that they pay their nurses really well. One experienced per diem nurse said she gets about $85/hr or something base (day shift, I believe). I also heard of a nurse getting like $90 something. I was shocked! I'm just curious as to how they can pay their nurses so much. Is this hospital a good place to work? Thanks.

I just started my first week of an 8 week orientation as a new grad RN on L&D. I feel very stressed out. It was a very busy week and I have yet to care for a patient and chart on them on my own. My preceptor usually helps me out and we jump from one patient to another. I just felt very scattered trying to care for our patients, trying to learn where everything is and how things work on this hospital's L&D unit, and catching up with all of the charting. We're on a computerized charting system and, although I'm pretty savvy on the comp., I feel it takes away from patient care. I'm usually a fast learner in other areas but L&D is making my confidence level go down. I do love L&D though. How long will it take for a new grad to feel comfortable on their own? I will be expected to be on my own in the beginning of January!! Any advice on what helped during your orientation? Thanks.

I just started my orientation on L&D and my orientation is full time, 40 hours per week!! I feel it is not enough at all, especially when your a new grad and you have to learn to scrub or circulate in the OR and recovery in OB PACU as well. I wish my orientation was 6 months!!

My new position as an RN is dependent on passing the extensive background check including degree verification, current and former employment verification, SSN ver, criminal history, etc. I received my report and there was an issue regarding the dates of employment that I stated on my application and what they verified. They verified that I worked at my former employer for 1 day when I worked there for close to 3 years!! I am so mad right now and am disputing the info on the report, but this is also delaying the hiring process. I've contacted HR to keep them posted so they won't give my position to someone else. There was also an issue w/ my SSN saying that my name doesn't match with the bureau's report. What?! Are these major issues that would prevent me from getting hired? How are they getting this inaccurate info?! I'm scared that I won't be hired because of this.

So, its my first 3rd day on my own on the unit where I work. I received a recovery patient from a delivery who was transferred by a nurse. Later in the day I hear the lead nurse for the day saying my name over the phone when someone called. I could tell someone on the other end of the line was asking what the name of the (she stated my race) girl was. Then I heard our lead nurse say to another nurse that a nurse had a complaint or was going to complain about me. I was sitting right there in the nursing station so I know I heard my name so I asked if it was about me and the the nurse said no, and she named another nurse (who is the only one on the unit of the same ethnic background as me). I don't think that was true because the nurse who called about me was the one who transfered a pt. over to me. What I don't understand is, if there is an issue, why not pull me off to the side and discuss it with me personally first? I can't pinpoint what I did wrong where she would want to seriously complain about me. I was in the room when the pt. was transferred, had the room all set up, got the pt. situated, etc. I do what I normally do, what I was trained to do, and what I've observed the other seasoned nurses do. I just don't understand. This is really bothering me. I think it's better if all parties told me what I did wrong so that I will avoid doing the same thing next time. But like I said, I have no clue that I could do something wrong in that short amount of time that the pt. is being transferred. I mean, the transferring nurse isn't even in there by the time I do assessments. She's just in and out b/c the give report before the pt. comes on the unit. I don't know. Just wanted to vent. Thanks for reading.

I'm a new grad RN wanting to go into L/D as well and heard the same thing as you- to gain med/surg exp. first. I didn't agree. If you can get into L/D right after graduation, go for it because it will be difficult later because hospitals don't offer many L/D training programs for RNs and when they do, it is really competitive. If your school offers a senior preceptorship, try your best to be placed in L/D or Postpartum. This will give you an edge when recruiters/managers look at your app. I worked as a nursing assistant on a postpartum unit because they didn't offer any positions on L/D. You should try to transfer at the hospital where you work though because all hospitals are different. They like to see that you have some background related to the area besides OB rotation in school. I have to agree w/ the previous post. Go directly to the source. I was contacting recruiters for months about a new grad program on L/D with no luck. They were telling me that the position may not be available anymore. I was getting tired of that so I called the nurse manager, she told me to email her my resume, and from then I received an interview. I'm still waiting. Make sure you apply for postpartum postitions as well. Those are easier to get into. It will be a little easier to transfer to L/D later on. PM me if you have any more questions. Good luck!

I had two interviews recently. One on L/D and one on a postpartum unit. The interviewer for L/D said they would have a decision by the end of this week. This is also my first choice in hospital and unit. The interviewer on PP stated that she would have a decision made soon (possible today or the following day) since she wants to fill the position quickly. The interview went really well and she seemed very interested. If postpartum calls me back w/ an offer I want to be honest and ask her if it would be okay to have until the end of the week to make a definitive decision, but what if she says she needs a decision right away? Is it okay to state I'm waiting to hear back from someone else so I can weigh my options or should I accept the position and if L/D calls me back, later decline the Postpartum offer since I would not be starting hospital orientation for a couple of weeks. I know she wanted to make a decision right away because she wanted the background check to process before the next orientation date. Any advice would be great. I hope my posting makes sense. It's complicated. Thanks.

Jobs for new grads in the region are hard to come by, but with your 6 months of experience, it should be a little easier for you to find something. It still may be a little difficult though. I would say the Roseville area is a wonderful place for a growing family to live. I think there are a lot of new housing communities in that area. I'm not sure of which hospitals are good, but there's a Kaiser and Sutter Hospital there. You can probably expect to get paid $36-$38/hr base pay with your experience depending on the facility.

I received my pocket license about 8 days after I took the NCLEX. I just received my RN Certificate and info on license renewal yesterday (exactly 2 weeks after I took NCLEX). Hope this helps! Congrats! Oh, and I live right around the Sacramento area so that may be a reason why it was so quick.

yes, I have thought about moving down south, but was scared since I do have a child and would have zero help there. i would totally have to depend on child care and that may not work if I have a night job. If it were just me, I would go in a heartbeat. Thanks for the suggestion.

That's the way I checked it and found out in 3 days. I received my license in the mail like a week and a day or so after my test date. This is not true for everyone though. You could check but don't freak out if you don't see it in a few days. They don't release results or post your name until your file is complete, transcripts received, etc. Last semester graduates didn't see their names posted for over 2 weeks so it really just depends! Hope this helps!