julesner

I graduated from Excelsior back when it was Regents. I took my boards in SC and have been licensed in GA and 2 other states since. I did want to give you a piece of advice to check out. You mentioned that you want to send yur application money off right away. Back when I went, the rule was that you actually do not have to join until you are finished with all prereqs, have taken all of your regular exams, and only need to take the CPNE or one of the other clinical based exams. Check it out. If it's still the as it was, I just saved you a ton of money...for now anyway. Best of luck!

Nique, I worked for CHOA (Children's Healthcare of Atlanta) for 3+ years on the Egleston campus in cardiac stepdown. I left there not long ago and am planning to go back. That should tell you something! From what I hear from friends, they are desperate for nurses in their NICU. I was pulled there once and had no complaints. The benefits at CHOA are excellent. I will warn you, if you don't have an impeccable record, they won't let you in. Also, they are trying to attain magnet status and so they have some stiff requirements that are tied to your pay and merit raises that require you to do extra projects on your off time. Also, there are additonal things like taking online computer tests and training that never seem to end. Just know that going in if that's what you decide. And the earlier poster was absolutely not exagerrating about the travel time in Atlanta. It is brutal! For example, all CHOA classes, PALS, orientation, periodic updates, etc are held at the Tullie Center off Clairmont. If you have a 9:00 a.m. class, plan on leaving your house at 6 am and just waiting for class to start. If you leave at 7, you'll never make it on time. Unless you live down the street and you'd better be either a college student sharing rent or very well off for that. CHOA does have weekend option positions (known as "baylor" back in the day.) Formally, it's considered part time but, you get all the same benefits as full timers except short term disability and a very nice differential. But that's only if you sign on for weekend option. Working weekends keeps you against the traffic. Best of luck to you.