natsirt21

Thank you for your comments! I know that its a difficult situation with few options. I ask about the Peds office because my daughters pediatrician is actually hiring an RN right now but they need someone with flexible hours, not that I would be qualified anyways. I may apply just in the off chance that they like the low salary range and want to train anyways. Worth a shot even though it is unlikely. They also have a IBCLC associated with the clinic. I'm hoping that I will be able to continue working with the clinic that offers the Lactation Medicine program itself since they implied that they often keep their students. Just as an FYI, there are a few IBCLC/Pediatrician run (and OHIP covered) Breastfeeding clinics in the GTA and one is actually looking to hire. Interesting and helpful to hear your thoughts. Cheers!

Question 1: Do you feel a need for Lactation Consultants in the GTA? Question 2: Would an RN with one year of experience (New grad program in peds/NICU) and also having a newly acquired Lactation Consultant certification be desirable/hirable for a part time position at a pediatrician office or maternal/newborn unit? I am deciding if I want to do a Lactation Medicine program since I can't find part time work as an RN. I have been at home with my little one for 3 years after working in the US at a primary care/urgent care clinic. Prior to that I did a 4 month New grad program, focussing in Peds/NICU, in Toronto. I want to have options for part time work while I mostly stay at home with our second child (not yet conceived). Any suggestions for finding work as an RN? Thanks

Me again. I have a few tips for finding a hospital job and maybe it will be helpful. 1. Try hospitals furthar away and not the big down toen teaching hospitals....they may be more desperate but still have a quality program. 2. Call the HR departments and find out the names of the unit managers that are looking for people/new grads. Then go with a resume to the unit and introduce yourself - it seems pushy but in this market you need to stand out (advise to me from my ACLS instructor). 3. Take a few extra certifications that will make you stand out....ACLS, PALS, diabetes educator, online CE courses, practical review courses etc...4. Make sure your resume looks good and you have stellar references....even get a written reference to attach to applications. 5. Don't get discouraged (I know I am). 6. See if one of your school clinical instructors will call someone at one of the hospitals with New Grad programs and give you an inproptu reference. As for signing a contract at the urgent care center....make sure your training is in writing.... at leat 1 month with a precepter and extra certifcations paid for etc... Don't sign on for a year or something....try to make a deal saying after the preceptorship if you aren't a good match then your contract can be broken or something. Then, you will have a preceptor, who's liable and a built in support until you know if you're in a good situation or not. I don't know if you've ever been employed before but once they give you the job offer then make some reasonable demands, which you're allowed to do. Good luck! And keep looking for hospital jobs if you're employed elsewhere. And get out if its not for you. Cheers, Tristan

Hi there, Yes, it looks like we are in similar situations. I do have some experience though, a 4 month New Grad program, but I've also been out for 10 months. The urgent care clinic in my situation has already given me the job offer. I got the job in June but when I went to the US boarder to get my TN VISA (I'm Canadian), I was rejected because I didn't have important documents that noone told me about. Now I have them and the clinic still needs me. I actual spent a few observation periods there. This clinic didn't seem too acute...just a few fevers, sutures, referals to specialists because of severe long term injuries and 1 chest pain that ended up not being an MI. My worry also is that the training period will be short and I'll miss subtle assessment details that will endanger patients. But, the MDs do see the patients quickly at the clinic and I won't be the only RN. I'm worried about the crapy pay and hours. In these small clinics and new businesses everyone wheres multiple hats and does everything, so I feel like I may be over worked too. How busy and acute is your potential clinic? Because if it is more like an ER setting, I'd be concerned and take the experienced nurses advise. To make ends meet you could take a CNA job somewhere or something like that. Hang in there. Cheers, Triss

Thank you for the reply. I respect your comment and that's why I asked, but I'm curious if you would feel the same way if the urgent care clinic was less acute and my assessment skills were pretty solid? Thanks, Tristan

That's what I was thinking....busy med/surg units = lots of experience. Your input is super helpful. One more question though...how would an urgent care clinic look on a resume? Its still a tricky decision because I don't have the Grady job yet and this urgent care clinic really wants me. I do have some quality experience under my belt but in many ways I'm still green. Do you agree with the previous person's post? Thanks a million! Tristan

Hello everyone. This is a long one, but I'd love the advise. I'm in a complex situation where a community urgent care clinic wants to hire me but I'm worried that I won't get the experience I need and I may not be experienced enough for their demands. Plus I'm planning on starting a family soonish. I'm BSN trained having graduated in June 2008 in Toronto, Canada. I did 4 month New Grad program where I rotated units for 1 month and was in Peds/NICU for 3 months. My pre grad was at Sick Childrens Gen Med/Infectious disease for 3 months (high acuity). So I have some experience but not alot. Since then I moved to the US, became licensed and looked for jobs. I've been off from active nursing for 10 months now. I missed all the New Grad opportunities because of the timing of my licensure and then the timing of my August wedding. Plus its highly competative here in Atlanta and I think the fact that I'm Canadian doesn't help. So, the only job I found was this Urgent care clinic which sees anything from sprains and breaks to chest pain and dehydration in all populations. They probably do see some clients who should be at an ER and eventually are sent there. From my 3 x 2 hours of observation periods, it was very brief assessments, meds, phlebotomy, wound care, X-rays, EKGs. No lung assessements, GI assessments etc... My question is....do I have enough experience to be thrown into this (yes there's a training period but I'm guess it will be brief)? And, will it give me enough experience to take a pregnancy leave 1 to 1 1/2 years from now. I want to raise my child with me at home and the US pregnancy leave does not allow for that so I would have to be off for a year or so and work part time after that. I want to set myself up so its not a problem to find work at that point. I don't know if I should try to get into a New Grad program at the down town general hospital "Grady" or take this job and try to get as much experience as possible....maybe take a prn /PT possition on a med/surg floor after I have a little more experience. What do you think? Help! I have to decide ASAP! Thanks a million! Tristan

Wow. I can't believe that! We covered everything with a demo and then practiced on eachother in lab....our favourite was the boob and balls lab as they called it (the subject was self exams). We even had silicone breasts and testes with different kinds of lumps. We had a full sims lab too with heart sound and lung sounds. But we always had alot of support from our professors and clinical instructors. It sounds like your school is not very focussed on its students. My suggestion is to take leadership and start a study group in the lab where you practice on eachother. Maybe even ask one of the professors/senior students if they will join you. Take initiative and make an anouncement in class and everything. That kind of lack of support is unacceptable in my opinion. It is just the beginning of the program so just keep verbalising your concerns and seek help like you're doing. Whatever the case, it will all come together when you're in clinical so for the practical reason of knowing your stuff for later on the job, don't worry just yet. Good luck! And let us know how its going! Tristan

Hello, I'm looking for some advise on weather I should take a job at a small urgent care clinic or wait for a New Grad Program at a hospital. I want to get the most experience and build up my resume so that I can start a family a year or so from now and be able to return to nursing 2-3 years later or work part time. It looks like I would get alot of skill experience but not much actual Head to Toe assessment experience. The clients and theit ailments are diverse but it is community and not hospital. My idea is to look for a part time job in a hospital after the 6-8 months experience I need to complete the 1 years experience requirements of most hospital jobs. What do you think? Thanks Tristan

Hi, I'm Canadian and I believe that if someone is passionately against abortions then they should chose an area of nursing where they wouldn't be faced with participating in them. We as nurses are faced with many ethical dilemmas...if you are in a position where you feel you cannot choose to not be apart of abortions then you should talk to your employer/nurse manager and see if you can change your nursing position to where you would be less stressed by this question. Good luck!

Its far from ideal, but I've been out of work for 10 months and I need a job....any RN job...that will give me experience. Any ideas? And what do you mean by be careful? Thanks

I have no idea about the pay, but I applied for a job at Atlanta Med Center and the pay was 20+/hr. Maybe you can help me though. Did you get a job at Grady as a new Grad? Who were you talking with there, and how do you think I could go about getting a job there. I've applied for several with no interviews! Thanks

I'm in Atlanta, Georgia. But I'm from Toronto. What kills me is that if I was in Toronto I'd have a job in a second because I've proven my skills there. But, my husband is in Atlanta so I want to be there. I've also applied for 50 or so jobs....on the internet mostly but also by delivering resumes to clinics etc... All the big hospitals here are starting the New Grad programs in Jan/March. Rrrr.

I'm in a similar situation. It sucks and I'm rreally frustrated. I was told that I need to do a New Grad program even though I have 4 months of RN experience. Maybe you should go that route! Good Luck! My Advise....be pushy, foward and deliver your esume in person everywhere. Tristan

Hi, I'm sort of a New Grad and I'm having a lot of trouble finding work as an RN. I was wondering if you could give me the names of the unit managers at CHOA's NICU, Medicine and Burn units. I'm applying for the January New Grad program and I need to make contact before so I stand out. My situation is different to most peoples because I graduated in June 2008 in Canada, did a 4 month New Grad program there and then moved down to Atlanta with my husband. I missed the Jan/March New Grad programs here because it took so long for my licensing documents to transfer and then I couldn't do the August New Grad programs because my Wedding was right smack in the middle. So, now I've been unemployed for 10 months and people still don't want to hire me because I'm too inexperienced. My RN job was in Peds, I did my pre-grad internship at the CHOA equivalent in Toronto and not to sound too high on myself, but I'm a good nurse! Any help would be awesome. Thank you so much! Tristan