Sand_Dollar BSN

Hi ivyleaf, I am currently a CDI in a level 2 trauma hospital. I have been looking at other positions and haven't found one that doesn't require at least 1 year of acute care nursing. The big hospitals want you to have at least 3 years in an ICU or E...

We work 3-12s for full time status. We can schedule anything above that at 1.5 pay, which are called incentive shifts. No mandatory OT.

Hi there! I am a student and was on the CVCU last week. I saw my first code and noticed the doctor doing compressions was going at least twice as fast as I thought we were supposed to (had the song Staying Alive going through my head). I asked a nurs...

Normally it's about 12 weeks in my hospital for the critical care units (8 for adult care). I was hired as a critical care float, so did 11 weeks on my 'home' unit of CVCU and got a week or two on the other critical care units (IMCU, NTCU, ICU). Beca...

A few months ago I got my first acute care job and was hired as a critical care float through my hospital's new grad residency program. My end goal is to be a traveler in critical care. Here is the situation; My 'home' unit where most of my training...

Take a look at Salem Hospital, south of Portland. It has the busiest ED in Oregon. It's where I work and I absolutely LOVE it. There are many people who have been there 20+ years, the people and culture there are fabulous.

Look for residency programs. They vary as far as experience goes. For example, in Colorado you can't have any work as an RN, while in Oregon you could have up to one year of experience. If you can, I'd look at moving. I took a clinic job for about 6 ...

1) Oregon 2) 33.00 +shift diffs 3) New grad 4) Critical Care (starting $ applies to any dept)

I am in the most recent Salem residency cohort, as an adult critical care float. I applied through their careers section when I saw a listing up on the page. Don't forget about Legacy and Adventist new grad residencies. I am not sure about pediatric ...

I just stared in a residency program in Oregon. On the west coast you can have up to a year experience and still be accepted into a program (in CO, you have to be fresh from school). You have to sign an agreement to work for them for 2 years after th...

I graduated in May of 2013 as well. It took me until Sept to get my job at a clinic. Barely anyone would look at me. And acute care, forget it. So, I took what I could get because student loans were coming due! Here in the PNW you can work for up to ...

I would make handwritten notes next to the lecture powerpoints which I had printed out. Once I got home I then made a set of study notes on my computer. This was the best thing for me... I would often reorganize the lecture notes into something that ...

I am working in a clinic right now. I want acute care, but in this market I'm just happy to have a job. I have to admit the 8-4:30 M-F is nice but the work is not challenging for me...at all. Much of my time is spent refilling meds (have to make sure...

I am a new grad and got my first job in a non-profit clinic in WA. I do med refills, manage the anticoagulation patients, do DM education, phone triage...stuff like that. I work 8-4:30 M-F and I have to say, it's a snap. I make about as much as a new...

On the first day of my ICU Sr Practicum I got to participate in my first code. The patient came into the ED as a code and I got to go because my preceptor was the ICU charge. Not only did I get to assist throughout (it went on for 3.5 hours!) but bec...

Critical care for me too. :) Good luck everyone!

Okay, I'll bite. I applied again. I live in the area now so will be doing my interview in person.

Sorry, I don't know what the market is like up north, but it looks like Jenngirl34 has some good tips! :)

I applied to about 20 jobs before moving. The rest I have applied to since I've been here (late June).

Hi Whaleluver33, First off, welcome to Allnurses!!! I have been a member since before I started pre-reqs and it's a wealth of information, glad to have you on board! :) Now to address your post. I graduated in May and moved to WA from CO. I too am a ...

I'm in the same boat. I thought I would have an easier time than I am finding a job. I graduated with my BSN, had an excellent GPA, and worked concurrently in a tech type position in a University Hospital. I graduated in May and have put in 80+ appli...

My daughter just turned 19 and is at the end of her first semester of nursing school. She did dual enrollment (started at 15 1/2) and will be 20 when she graduates with her BSN.

I think it went okay. I am an optimist, but being that there are only 1-2 critical care spots and so many applicants, it's hard not to be worried.

Just got off the phone. The interviewer told me they are trying to finish up the calls this week and then the unit managers have 3 weeks to make decisions on who they will bring in for the interviews. So, she said, it will be around the end of July w...

First phone interview. :)