newRNAllie

I feel exactly the same way. I have a BA in an unrelated field and went to a community college with a high NCLEX pass rate (that was the only standard I knew to inquire about). We had short "virtual" skills labs, and crowded clinicals only two days a week. I passed the NCLEX in half an hour, but had never started an IV or done other clinical skills except pass meds. I was unemployed for a year between nursing school and being hired for a telemetry floor in a big city hospital, and was supposed to be independent after 15 shifts with a preceptor. I have never had issues with anxiety before, but I am literally nauseous and shaking before each shift and dread going in, feeling that I am not experienced enough to have 4 acutely ill people in my care. The feeling is that if we express concerns, we are "problem nurses". I am considering quitting because I feel so unsafe, and I know from talking to the other new grads at my hospital that my feelings are not unusual.

Thank you so much for writing that..and I agree with the comments as well. I would only add a couple of things. They're based on my experience: I graduated in 2009 - when many of the local hospitals weren't hiring new grads for $$ reasons - and just got my first nursing job, a year later, after a 6 month hiring process. I volunteered at a local clinic meanwhile, but it was still an agonizing year. Anyway... 1) I heard "C = degree" too, but it isn't always true. Two of the best hospitals in our area required a 3.5 cumulative GPA to even get an interview. 2) Some hospitals now will only hire BSNs, because they are trying for, or have, Magnet status. I already had a BA, so opted for an ADN, but in hindsight a BSN would have been better. Also, there are more programs that offer BSN to MN programs than RN to MN. 3) Last but not least, try to choose a nursing program that has an ombudsman or other student advocate. It's one of those things that you never think you'll need, but then when you do, they really help. Good luck, everyone!

and tetorifice...

No but if you find out, post it please!

My start date was changed from 2/14 to 3/14 so I must be in the second batch of new hires....good luck everyone who is starting earlier!

Isn't it funny how emphatic all of us are (who live here) about that commute? We're all screaming "Nooooooo!" I used to commute from Santa Monica to East LA - maybe 15 miles - and it could easily take me 90 minutes... sitting there...trapped on freeway going 10 miles an hour...I swore I would never do that again. ah, life in LA...

OMG don't commute from Orange Co to UCLA on the 405!!!!!

I am very excited...but also kind of terrified!

I don't have a start date yet, but the HR person told me my orientation was 2/14...I guess for me there will be a gap between that week and when I start work. But I haven't heard from the unit director yet (since she gave me the job).

FYI - at my physical they said the orientation classes would be the week of 2/14...one day of general orientation, two days of nursing orientation and one day of computer classes...

Several of my friends from nursing school got hired there last year. They all had GPAs over 3.5 had done clinicals there and three of them had second languages (two Spanish, one Russian) which probably also helped. Cedars is also Magnet, so wants BSNs.

sdnewgradnurse, i'm so sorry that you didn't get a position at ucla. please keep us posted about where you do wind up working, because we all feel like friends at this point, having gone through this process together! i wish you the very best, and know you will find a job that is a perfect fit...

sdnewgradnurse, did you call them to check on your status? This whole process made me realize how big the UCLA bureaucracy is and how you have to check and double check. My physical is tomorrow...I will try to get more info on start dates for the classes, etc.

Thanks for posting that...I received a job offer last week but haven't heard anything, even in reply to repeated emails, so was wondering what was going on. I guess I'll just keep waiting. This has been an interesting hiring process. Maybe it's because they're such a large institution?

Congratulations NewGradRN001! So exciting! Best of luck with your new job!