mdwRN

That ankle length quilted coat sounds nice! I have a GoreTex jacket that works great for hips up...but hips down to my ankles I am frozen. Half of us walk the almost 1 mile walk to the hospital but Chicago January winds are unbearable when you have tissue paper thin scrubs on. When the bus isn't coming or worse....the bus is full! and you got to clock in it just makes sense to walk.

It's not even the end of October and I am freezing walking out in the cold from the parking lot to the hospital. We have a shuttle bus but it takes 30 minutes between each pick up because the bus goes to a few lots. How do you all do it?

Help! My shoes are a biohazard! I need to autoclave them they are so bad. Inside and out. How has anyone cleaned their's?

I would suggest working as a tech in an ER. You will gain lots of practical skills(Foley's, pt transport, O2 tanks, setting up various trays for LP's, Sutures, Gyne, I & D, asepsis, etc) Some nurses might even let you draw blood, start IV's. You will deal with a spectrum of pt's and that experience will serve you well in nursing clinicals and your career as an RN. Good luck!

I thought about LGH for a second but Christ is closer so I'd be more interested in that location but have to admit a little intimidated by such a large system(Advocate) and it's recruiters that is. I am reworking my resume and trying to decide on a pediatric area to switch to. I'd be interested to hear what to watch out for, OR is it specific to LGH?

Thanks for the info and words of caution. I will tread carefully! I am going to take a look at their website and see what positions are currently open.

Can anybody provide any information about Christ Medical Center such as working conditions, pt ratios(peds), acuity levels of certain peds units, pay scale, union?, recruiters, etc. Any information would be helpful!