Lacie1221

We rotate between L&D and mother/baby - we have a level 2 nursery but rarely have babies in there. When new nurses start, they are oriented to M/B first and work there for 6 months-1 year before they start labor orientation. Obviously those nurses will do M/B when they work. If everyone on a shift is fully trained then they try to assign according to preferences - like, it's pretty well known that I will always prefer L&D over M/B, so if there's a labor patient I usually go there. And some nurses prefer M/B so they don't take labor patients often. There's not a defined rotation.

I can tell you that Centegra (about 30 min. north of Streamwood - very reasonable commute) pays new grads $28/hr starting. I have no clue how much/if that increases with experience, but I have heard that it's one of the better starting wages out here in the NW suburbs.

I am graduating from an ADN program in December. We are currently in our OB clinical rotation - I've had a great experience, and all I've ever wanted to be is an OB nurse. I need advice on what I should put in an email to the manager of the unit as a thank you for the wonderful clinical experience/please hire me. Here's what I have so far - Dear Manager, Thank you so much for the wonderful clinical experience over the last 8 weeks. Everyone on staff was extremely nice and helpful, and they really made sure we got the best experience possible. I can really tell that the nurses here are passionate about their career and enjoy coming to work. As XXX Hospital gets ready for the XXX opening, I hope there will be positions available for new nurses in your department, and I hope you will keep me in mind when/if one of those positions comes available. OB is my passion, and I hope that I've demonstrated that passion to you and your staff during my clinical rotation. ~~~~~ And this is where I'm stuck. I've had a great experience at clinicals - I really felt like I fit in well with the staff, and they seemed to like working with me. One of my postpartum patients nominated me for a Daisy award, as well. My clinical instructor used to be the educator for this unit, and she thinks I'll fit in really well on this unit. I currently work at this hospital as a patient safety companion (sitter) and am on the call list to be a substitute tech in OB. The hospital is opening a new campus next summer, so they're anticipating at least a few openings for OB nurses both at this campus and at the new one. (This hospital does hire ADN nurses for OB, so that's not an issue.) I'm just not sure how much I should put in this email? Should I bother with mentioning the mission/vision/values of the hospital since she knows I'm already an employee? Should I talk about how I'm intending to start a BSN program next fall? Or is all of that overkill for a thank you letter? There aren't any positions currently posted in OB so I can't submit an application at this time. Thanks for any advice!

I talked to Connie Uehlken in the department this afternoon - the reason I got turned down was because 12 years ago, I flunked out of Iowa because I was really depressed and not getting treatment. They forced me to turn in that transcript, which brought my GPA down to a 2.8. Also, one of the classes I failed at Iowa was Chemistry, and although I took it again and got an A last fall, they didn't have my completed transcript from last fall and only had the F from 12 years ago to go on. Even though every single grade I've received for the past 10 years has been an A. So basically 19 year old mentally ill me screwed 31 year old awesome me out of a future. She told me to appeal and I'm going to, but I'm not holding out any hope that it'll make a difference.

Rejection letters probably get there first.

The letter came in today's mail.

Letter.

I didn't get in. I don't understand how someone with a 4.0, a near perfect Accuplacer, and all prerequisites complete doesn't get accepted. I wish you all the best of luck.

I had orientation today. Found out some bad news - even though I sent in the transcripts they requested, and even though I verified before the deadline that I had submitted everything they needed, they needed another transcript showing the classes I took last fall were completed. It may mean nothing - they could accept me anyway because of my 4.0. But they may have looked at the "fact" that I only have 5 prerequisites completed (even though I have them all completed) and pushed me back to Spring instead. Not the end of the world, I guess, but it's not what I wanted. I just want the gosh darn letter!

One of the sections I wanted is full now. Poop. Orientation is Wednesday, I hope I know by then so I can register!

I hope this week is the week! Crossing my fingers! I have orientation on Wednesday, it'd be nice to know before that.

I'm going to have to start popping Klonopins if that damn letter doesn't come soon!

It's about an hour drive, I live in Crystal Lake. The main reason I was hoping to keep it to 2 days is that it would be one less day to have to find childcare! At least Thursday will be a half day instead of a full day, that will help keep costs down. I just want the damn letter too! The waiting is killing me! I'm completely done with pre-reqs after this semester so I'm very much looking forward to having the summer off. :) 5 weeks until graduation!

I built a schedule - looks like I'll be driving in 3 days a week. If I get the classes I want, I'll be on campus Monday noon-7:30pm, Tuesday 8am-4pm, Thursday 8am-11am. I wish I could get that Thursday class on either Monday or Tuesday but it's not offered then.

I don't have that. I'm so confused. I did register for Orientation on the 17th, though. Kind of annoyed that I waited so long to register and had to do a Wednesday - I'm going to have to miss my Algebra class.