NVRN2008

Thanks so much for replying Reno1978! Ah, so you started off as a new grad in ICU at Renown. For the 12 week orientation are you with a preceptor the entire time? That's great to hear that you felt supported on your unit. That's soooo important. Would you say that was specific to your unit or are the staff and administration generally supportive of nurses throughout the hospital. Do you know anything about the nurse-patient ratios on the step-down or med-surg units? The pay you mentioned is comparable to Las Vegas. I wonder if the cost of living is lower in Reno? I would assume it is because it's a smaller city, which would be great to have the same pay yet live cheaper Of course, there is no other city like Vegas, but I wonder have you lived/worked in a city larger than Reno? How would you say it compares? I'm trying to get an idea of what kind of change or culture shock I'm in for when I move up there. (I grew up back east, so I know all about the weather compared to Vegas ;-) Thanks again Reno1978 :heartbeat

I thought meditech prompts you for both of these things?? When the patient is newly admitted to the floor, the first things you complete are your admission H&P. Depending on your answers to the H&P questions, meditech will determine whether your patient is an at-risk MRSA patient (e.g. pt transferred from long-term care facility, hx of MRSA, etc) and will automatically notify you that your pt requires the screening. How you actually go about it is a question for your charge nurse, but I think Meditech takes the guesswork out of it as to whether or not you should complete it. As for the thrombosis protocol, with every documented assessment (the initial admission assessment and each shift assessment) you are required to answer the Thrombosis Risk questions and one of the questions asks whether the protocol is already on the chart. If it's not, you have to print out the paperwork (I forget exactly where to find it, but you can ask one of the other nurses). You just go down the form checking off the number next to each risk factor that applies to your patient and then tally up the score. Depending on the score, your patient will be considered high, low, or moderate risk. You sign off at the bottom and scan the paperwork to pharmacy so they can enter the standing thrombosis orders into eMAR. Then you flag the standing orders for the doctor to sign and place it in the chart. I hope that helps

Hi All I'm a new nurse (May 2008 BSN) with a STRONG interest in both Pediatrics and ICU (PICU would be ideal, but either works for me ;-) and have been considering relocating to Reno from Vegas mainly because I've heard that nursing is much more pleasant in Northern Nevada (better pay, staffing/ratios, and more opportunities for nurses interested in specialty areas). I'm told Renown is the better place to work compared to St. Marys and other places in Reno. Does anyone know whether Renown is currently accepting new grads (already passed NCLEX and have ACLS) in their ICUs? Anyone have any information about the length and type of training or preceptorship offered for new nurses? I checked out the Renown website and applied/posted my resume, but I didn't see anything specific to new nurses. Any information you have would be greatly appreciated. Anyone who works or has worked in Reno and would like to share general information about nursing and living in Reno, feel free Thanks in advance y'all

Yep you'll do great on that floor. It's a busy floor, five-patient assignments (they lie and tell you it's only four, but trust me you WILL have five patients almost all of the time), demanding doctors, but the rarity is that the nurses truly work together and help each other. You won't feel completely alone working there. Take notes in the Meditech class because I promise you won't remember a thing once you get on the floor. Once you learn to navigate the computer, you'll find that Meditech actually makes things a lot easier. Scanning meds can be a pain in the butt. A little trick I learned is to take a patient label off each chart and carry them with you (in your pocket) on a sheet of paper during the day. It's like having each patient's armband right in your pocket all day ;-) The charge nurses on IMC are really knowledgable and always willing to help, esp on night shift. Hope you'll be okay

Bumping this thread because I'm interested in the responses. How do people feel about whether it is wise to enter the Air Force as a relatively new nurse?

Wow, so many replies to my rant...LOL. Well thanks for the advice everyone and just to update you, I FINALLY found a job in Vegas! Yay! I contacted the manager for the unit I wanted and went in for an interview. She walked me right down to HR so they could get my paperwork going and I start orientation soon!! I agree with all the advice to just bypass HR and try contacting the managers directly to schedule an interview. HR is just If anyone wants contact info for recruiters or my new manager, feel free to PM me

Hey Usf07, I dont know about the entire state of Nevada, but I know BSN new grads are starting out anywhere between $25 and $29/hour in hospitals here in Las Vegas. The $29 was for a new grad in ICU. The state psych hospital here in Vegas is starting BSN new grads out at $28.35. Experienced staff nurses I know are around $35/hr. I know one staff nurse with 25+ years of experience who makes $41/hr

Thanks everyone. I think I just needed to vent. Deefromlv thanks I will definitely try out the nurse manager for those units at Sunrise. It's not my preference, but I don't mind med-surg. Sunnyb714, I'm glad to know I'm not alone. I'm from your part of the country too. I'll definitely give you the heads up if I find something =)

No wonder the nursing shortage is awful here. I graduated three months ago, passed the NCLEX-RN four weeks later, have current BLS and am ready to work, but I can't even get a call for an interview from these hospitals in Las Vegas! And it's not just me! I have friends who graduated with me who just can't believe how few openings there are for new grad RNs here. For a state with the WORST nursing shortage in the country, you would think the hospitals here would embrace an eager energetic new grad with open arms. I guess nurse managers don't want to take the time to precept and nurture a new nurse because they don't realize what an investment it is. Give us a home and we're appreciative and likely to be loyal over the long term. Perhaps moreso than seasoned nurses. I just think it's ridiculous that I have gotten dozens of call backs and several job offers from California, Arizona, Texas, etc, but only two measly callbacks in Las Vegas. I get a lot of "thank you but we're only hiring experienced nurses" I actually want to live in Vegas, begin my career here, and make this home, but it looks like I need to start packing my bags just like most who graduate from nursing school in NV. Good luck with your shortage