amagann

I have the PASS CCRN book...I have attempted several times to sit down and study but just have not been able to get any quality time in. I will take your advice and use the CD to start. Thanks!

I have been a nurse for 7 years, an ICU nurse for 5, of which the last 2 have been as a float ICU nurse in a large level 1 working in neuroICU, MICU, SICU, burn/trauma ICU). I have not worked in the cardiacICU and this would definitely be my weakest area. I took the Laura Gasparis CCRN review course in April but just can not carve out the time to do much more studying. I have a 2 year old and another due in September, so I am feeling like I MUST get the test over with ASAP. Historically, I have always been an excellent test taker, BUT I have been out of school for 7+years. I would like to take the test in mid August (before my due date of Sept 5) My question is this...anyone out there pass the test without much studying? Will the review class and my experience prepare me to pass the test?? **I can't figure out how to edit my below poll...it is suppose to say "additional studying" at the end not "additional testing".

I am interested on your take on how things are going thus far? How do you feel about transitioning into an ICU made up of a majority of other new grads when the new MSICU opens in September?

Space is opening up in the old buildings, the new MSICU will move into the neuro ICU once the Neuro ICU moves to the Lunder building. Again I said this in a previous post...i agree the pay is not the bigger issue, I have no problem with people taking an opportunity, BUT this is not the opportunity new grads THINK it is. They will not be getting the support they deserve since this new MSICU will be primarily staffed by new grads. New grads will be there to support each other, but they will lack enough guidance from experienced nurses. When I was a new grad at MGH I was the only one the unit had to support for 3 months...the influx of new grads was spaced out so each new grad could get the support and guidance they need. How will 30-40+ new grads on ONE unit get the guidance they need when they all started at the same time? Would you send your family member to ICU level of care where the majority of the staff nurses have only 6 months of experience? And would you want to be the new grad with only 6 months of experience taking responsibility for ICU patients and feeling like you don't have someone to back you up during a crisis? MGH is trying to change the face of nursing based on a budget crunch, not only putting patient safety at risk but putting the satisfaction of new grads at risk. Being a new grad with all the support you need is tough, I can't imagine the stress of being a new ICU grad without support.

those wages are correct or close to correct for past new grads, but obviously as this thread points out, those wages would not come into play until after the residency program is over. and yes it is a M-F internship.

it will not be an ICU of YOUR choice, it WILL be the new MSICU which will consist of a majority of new grads (33 have already been hired)....so it may not be the "Mass General Experience" you thought it was. I work at MGH and I promise you, the new grad ICU positions are ALL for this new "concept" ICU staffed by new grads. I think it is unfair of MGH to offer this "opportunity" to new grads looking for jobs without giving them the whole story...it could be a good experience, but it will most certainly be the most stressful, underpaid part of your profession.

Internship pay aside, I think the bigger concern is the current plan in place for the new grads hired into this program. As many of you know, MGH will have completed the new Lunder building in September 2011. As part of the restructuring of the hospital a new ICU is being formed (a medical surgical ICU) with the intent for a large majority of the employees to be the new grads placed in this “nursing internship”. The initial intent was for the new ICU to be ENTIRELY staffed with new grads, but in response to the uproar this created management has decided to try to get experienced RNs on the staff as well. Has anyone been to the recent interviews for the new grad program? I know they had one last Saturday, I am curious if this was disclosed to you. While the "nurse interns" will be trained in already existing ICUs, they will be transitioned to the new MSICU in September after a mere 6 months of training. As an experienced RN, I feel a lot of disgust with this plan. I do not think it is fair to new grads to place them in an ICU with so many other novice nurses…who will support and guide your practice? How safe will this be for the patient with so many nurses with only 6 months of experience?? It takes years to gain the knowledge to be an expert (remember Brenner and novice to expert?), and part of gaining experience is working alongside nurses of a variety of levels. Would you as a new grad feel like you are getting the best new grad experience working mostly with people at the same practice level as you?

I work in an ICU, MGH is not on a hiring freeze, but have drastically reduced the number of new graduates they take by 50%.

You can get a job without being a CNA or intern at a Mass hospital...i graduated in December, moved from Colorado without a job in February and got a job at MGH in March! It can happen... have hope, be persistent!!!

I am a new grad (12/08 graduation) at MGH, started in March. It was tough to get the job, and the only advice i have is to NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK! Do you know nurses in any hospitals? Do you know anyone that may know someone that can pass your resume directly to HR/Nurse Managers? Start telling EVERYONE you know that you are looking for a contact within any Mass. hospital and maybe someone will pop up that can personally hand your resume over. The job I got was never posted to the public and I got my resume in to HR via networking, otherwise I would still be jobless for sure.

I just got offerred a new grad job at MGH and the salary I was quoted is as follows: $29.28/hr base if you work 50% of the shift in a eve or night shift you get the differential evening diff $5/hr night diff $7/hr wknd diff $4/hr (so wknd nights are $11/hr) I was also told night shift parks for FREE but day and eve shifts do have to pay to park