tinyhands4Him

I don't work in L&D, but my roommate is abt to start there next wk. I have worked at Vandy for the last 3 yrs though. It's a high-risk unit for sure...I think the current push is the higher-risk, the better....it supports our 76 bed NICU for sure! it's definately the place in nashville for any complications or high-risk, especially if you're worried abt the infant....it's not really considered the well-baby hospital of choice. That being said, I've heard good things. I'm single, so the family question isn't my alley, but I can start you off in the right direction. In town....off 40W is bellvue area-good prices, good schools, very safe, abt 15-20 min to work....off 40 E the percy priest lake area abt an exit before the airport or so is safe, gorgeous, and affordable 15-20 min to work. I don't know much abt the north side of town. Downtown you have the vandy, greenhills, bellemeade, westmeade, westend parts....GREAT places to live 0-15 min to work and very safe...i run at 10pm by myself and never feel unsafe....but most real estate in this area is insane....on the southside you have nippers corner (65S to Old Hickory Blvd east abt 5 miles)-safe and affordable. then there's brentwood and franklin (not city limits anymore) down 65...travel time increases 20-40 min but is relatively affordable and safe with good schools. Springhill is very affordable, safe with good schools and is expanding by the minute however, the drive will cost you at 45 min or so. Most people who can afford it ignore metro schools and put their kids in private school, unless you get further out (ie bellvue) or out of nashville (brentwood, franklin, or springhill) Hope that's a start. Good Luck!

so vandy does have a GN program but will hire new grads without going through this program with the one exception of their children's hospital....all new grads MUST go through their GN program unless you have 6mo min. in peds beforehand (as a RN). their peds GN hires on 2x a year and have them start in july and jan. the classes are getting bigger each go round, so it's getting easier....warning it is highly competitive to get a spot....that said, it's a great program and you get to try out many different areas before committing to a unit. their website should be helpful, but i think they do interviews a few months in advance. also, about pay...nashville is horrible, but so is most of the south....b'ham abt $1more, and ATL and New Orleans rocking the top pay awards. Vanderbilt is the lowest paid in the city....so if this is important to you....you will be astonished...however, if you're a newgrad....it won't seem as bad to you! :) it is a great place to work.

Vandy starts its new grads out at around 17.50/hr and then there's a critical care diff. if you go that route. I have heard that other hospitals in the area pay a little more, but pay in the south in general is a lot less than in California....even Atlanta starts new grads out at around 21 (And that's prob. the highest in the south as I recall when i graduated almost 2 yrs ago and was looking around). Vanderbilt's new grad program for anything in peds and the critical care units is 6 mo of classroom and unit based experience and its wonderful. You have to apply specifically through this program and they start it twice a yr. There are a limited number of spots. In the adult realm, you can go straight to most floors without going through the program.

I just started working at vandy a few months ago and have run into a lot of nurses and NPs that went through the master's entry program and at first it did seem super wierd. But, if you think about it....MD's don't have previous experience or an idea of what they want to go into either....and residents don't know much when they come out either. Vandy will not let any of these graduates work straight as a NP...they have to complete at least 1 yr of staff nursing before they can practice with them. Most of these girls have said that it seems to be the same around nashville.....and i do have to say that they have an incredible amount of knowledge, but no practical experience as a nurse so they're kinda like a new grad in that respect, but vandy has an excellent orientation program.

i like to try this method when i am faced with unruly parents (I precepted in Peds and I work in the neonatal ICU....so its usually the parents).....take a deep breath before entering the room....and slowly blow it all out....all your thoughts, angers, preconcieved notions....everything...remember we don't know anything about these people except their medical situation...even if you think the family/pt's background is shady...we can't judge......then put a great big smile on your face and go in there with as much energy and happiness as you can muster up (harder sometimes than others, i admit)...i say...kill them will kindness....usually they come around and realize you are just there to help them and that they are being a little too overbearing and demanding at times....it helps them trust you and relax if they know you aren't judging them and going out of the way to provide them with the best care you can.....I know that it is hard.....overprotective, freaking out moms win the award, esp. when their child is thrashing about in the bed, screaming at the top of their lungs and tries to bite and kick you and they are just laughing about it....and sometimes you have to be firm and stick up for yourself...othertimes....keep smiling...they will get the message...you will feel better...and remember...it will never help anything to be nasty back! sorry about your day.....be sure that many are soon to follow...find a way to vent about it, otherwise the stress will get to ya!

I just graduated and let me tell you what I found the most helpful...the nursing made INSANELY easy series by Sylvia Rayfield...she also does NCLEX reviews....she has one for pharmacology and one for general nursing, plus a review book....she walks you through everything you need to know and especially for the NCLEX. She uses mnemonic devices, acronyms, and pictures to help you remember all the important information, meds, drug/lab values, and body systems...it is absolutely wonderful and completely easy to read through in no time. I definately reccomend checking it out!

I thank God every day that He made each of us different with very different talents, personalities, and likes/dislikes......someone has to take care of everyone.....babies, kids, adults, elderly, and even kids with developmental problems....I have always known that I wanted to do something in peds and my clinical experiences in nursing school confirmed that. I felt just as I think everyone taking a NICU job felt....med/surg isn't for me....I hated every minute, but like they told us in nursing school....you don't have to like everything, you just have to do it....and I made it through looking foward to graduation and being allowed to do what I know God has prepared me to do. I start as a new grad in the NICU at Tulane in New Orleans on the 21st of July. I know this is the place for me, especially after reading all that ya'll have posted...Thanks to everyone....ya'll have been a great source of encouragement b/c lately I have been feeling really nervous. Good luck to everyone else that is starting out.