Disneyfan

That's good to know. I'm orienting nights and will work nights.

Yea!!! :heartbeat

My first shift is TONIGHT (had 2 days of hospital orientation). I am so nervous!!!

OMG! I start tomorrow too! Are you doing orientation tomorrow? I am on nights and my 1st shift is Wednesday. I worked at Northside 8 years ago in Mother-Baby, but quit when I had my kids.

Is your license still current? If so, does Piedmont have any Nurse Intern (NG) programs? I am starting back at Northside on Monday in the NICU after being out 8 years. I interviewed for their Intern program and was hired. I do not have to do the formal "re-entry" program through KSU, and I earn my full RN salary! They said it would work since the program is 16 weeks of clinical and 92 hours of classroom. Worth a shot! It's saving me a ton of $$ and time. Good luck!

I have a friend who did it, and she said it was great. She did the clinical hours in the ER at Northside and then was hired there FT. Good luck!

If you want a Level III in the biggest delivery hospital in the US, then Northside Hospital is it. It has an excellent reputation. I worked there in Postpartum and start on Monday in the NICU there. Other choices: Piedmont Hospital (downtown Atlanta), Gwinnett Medical Center (Lawrenceville, GA), Wellstar Kennestone (in Cobb County), DeKalb Medical Center, and Grady Hospital NICU (downtown Atlanta with Trauma Level I, Research, and staffed with Emory doctors). My top 2 choices would be Northside and Piedmont. If you want surgical NICU (non-delivery) then Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta has great NICU (Scottish Rite-all surgical and Egleston- surgical, cardiac, ECMO). I would just search each hospital's website for contact info.

Thank you all for the info. I have just emailed the Clinical Education Coor (she's in charge of my Internship) to verify if I can carry my Dell Pocket PC PDA and/or my Blackberry. If so, then I will definitely download Neofax. Which other nursing software, calculators, etc should I get? Can you give me specific names or websites? Once again, thanks for all the help. I'll be on the floor a week from Wednesday!

Thanks and I sent you a PM.

They give you a study guide with the meds and math (has formulas and practice questions). You can use 2 nursing med books they provide and your study notes for the test. I am glad I still studied as you have about 1.5 minutes per question which wouldn't be enough to look up all the meds, etc without being familiar with them.

Thanks for the info. I want to buy what will be the best for the NICU.

Good luck! And I agree about calling Tuesday morning.

I start in the NICU a week from Monday. I do not need scissors or stethoscope (each bed has their own). Is there any equipment/gadget/tool I should have or buy? Also, would you recommend getting a Nursing Drug guide for my Blackberry or PDA (I have both)? If so, which one? I keep seeing the Davis one mentioned on the Mobile Nursing board. Any other tips or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

well, i was a post-partum rn, got pregnant with my triplets (huge surprise with no fertility), ended up on complete hospital bedrest at 16weeks for 12 weeks. made it to 28.5 weeks and delivered my bbg. they weighed 2-6, 2-9, and 1-15. spent 12, 16, 12 weeks in the nicu and ran the gamut of issues including all 3 having to be transferred to the children's hospital for emergency surgery in the same day. was told my 2nd ds wouldn't make it. it was the most stressful time of my life. well, my dh and i are truly blessed as today we are the parents of three, fantastic 8 year olds! 2 are completely healthy, but our middle ds does have a myriad of health issues (pan hypo pit, severe gerd with 2 fundos and gastric volvulus and g-tube, add, anxiety, mild cp, learning disabilities, pvl, etc), but he is amazing and in a regular classroom at school, has tons of friends, and is on grade level. they are all my inspiration every day and have taught me more about faith, acceptance, and living each day as it comes joyfully and to the fullest in 8 years than i learned in the previous 30. well, i owe more than i can ever repay to the nicu. so a week from monday, i return to work in the same nicu where my kiddos were born. i cannot wait to be there. i feel that it is a calling. i know it won't be easy, but it'll be worth every second. once again, i'll be truly blessed. i wrote this about why i love the nicu. and i don't think it matters if you have personal experience or not. if you truly love your job and the nicu, then it will shine through and you will be a blessing to those families. i love that the nicu enabled me to bring my preemie triplets (one micro) home when i was told it would not happen. i love that the nicu has allowed me to have 8 years of magic, fun, excitement, tears, and laughter. i love that the nicu has given me a chance for 3 times the hugs and kisses every day. i love that the nicu fulfilled my dream to be a mom. i love that the nicu helped my children to come home so we could be a family. i love that the nicu was filled with doctors, nurses, therapists, and staff who truly cared for my children, me, and my dh. i love that the nicu has given me the chance to love more than i knew possible, to be loved more than i deserve, and to have more joy than i ever imagined. i love that in less than 2 weeks i get to go back to the nicu as an rn and offer other families the same chances. i love the nicu.

It was 60 questions. 10 math, 38 meds, and 12 nursing implementation. Had to score 80%. I made over 90% and was thrilled.