indreams84

no personal information, no patient info, no sex, no race...and all hiring done by HR is confidential. i just happened to know X amount of RNs in my orientation, etc. but i definitely can understand where you are coming from so thank you.

***FROM A 2 YEAR NURSE WHO JUST GOT HIRED INTO A MAGNET HOSPITAL OVER 18 BSNs :)*** As a new graduate nurse from with an associate degree I MUST respond in kind to the above statements. I was selected from an applicant pool of nearly 25 new nurses to work at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. This hospital is the PREMIER teaching hospital associated with Medical College of Wisconsin, and largest magnet institution in WI. I also was a new-hire, meaning I had never worked or had classes there while in nursing school. I WAS SELECTED OVER 18 OTHER NEW RN GRADUATES WITH A BSN DEGREE. Why? I was told I had more desirable characteristics outside my degree aka personality, references, background, etc. This is not to say I am not pursuing my BSN (I currently am enrolled in RN-BSN program after just graduating 2 months ago!) but there is much more than a simple degree that gets your foot in the door. Don't always assume a 4-year nursing degree grad is sharper than a 2-year, as our college has some of the higher NCLEX pass rates over 4 year schools, and we have more clinical time, and this was reflected. Also, I have $0 in school loans or debt and am getting Froedtert pays me to get my BSN! According to Nathan King, some ADNS did not appear as "smart" etc. etc. but who is the smarter one to use their employer to cover their 4 year degree with NO DEBTS?

Just thought I'd see who else is all in a new RN program at a magnet hospital? I was only 2 of 16 nurses hired on at a level 1 Trauma/Teaching hospital (Froedtert, Milwaukee WI) that has a 2 year ADN. Seems as though the other 14 couldn't beleive me and a classmate were picked up (her in ICU, me in Trauma), when there were many more BSN applicants. Anyone else with similar luck?

I just called in sick because I partied on the weekends during nursing school. Duh.

Kaplan, Kaplan, Kaplan. I passed on first attempt and it was Guaranteed. Though I would caution to be very serious about studying very hard and thorough before 2nd attempt as I believe the % passing drops another quarter (at least in WI)..in other words the test WILL be more challenging next time. Best of luck!

Um, no one knows what you would truly enjoy except YOU. Those are such two different areas that there is no comparison. Advice from people who don't actually know you isn't going to be very helpful. You just have to try one area, if you find yourself not liking it, SWTCH. I am a male RN, knew right away in nursing school I wanted to be a critical care nurse in preparation for nurse anesthetist school and had no interest in L&D...it never changed from start of school to end. Best of luck

No I did not. All kenosha.

As a recent new grad who was a nurse intern at kenosha memorial hospital aka kmcc, I can tell you that interns make about 14 an hour and then 23.75 as a GN/RN. I would recommend united over wheaton/aurora personally though as I found the staff and professionalism to be higher but there are NO plans I know of that St Cats or kenosha campus will be level 1. I worked briefly as an ER new grad nurse last month at kmcc but left because I accepted a position @ Froedtert Hospital in trauma !!!! If you're lucky enough to get an interview TAKE IT. I graduated a 2 year nursing school and make much better money than united, do the 7/70 one week on and off schedule, better benefits and work in a level 1 trauma/ magnet hospital associated with medical college of WI. It is awesome!

This is exactly why I stayed in Wisconsin for my one year experience at a Level 1 Trauma/ teaching hospital before moving out west!

@ luv2b_a_nurs, I was a Kenosha graduate with experience in a critical care unit as a SNI. I was told that this is a reason I was considered over other 4 year nursing grads.

Actually you sound like the racist one here. Its minorities that come in with an attitude and defensiveness that feel 'persecuted' that tend to fail (at least acouple did in my program)....I think that as a male in nursing, I am considered a minortiy, but I never use that as a cop-out to get ahead. It takes hard work, studying, and dedication to suceed in nursing. Period. You are correct, opportunities are available for EVERYONE, not just minorites to succeed.

Hi, so I just thought I'd let those wondering about the job market, etc. that things may be looking up! I am a Dec 10' graduate from a Gateway Tech and just completed my second follow-up interview with Froedtert and was offered a job on the spot! Granted, it took about two months to hear back (I applied in December) but I think this is a good sign. The bad news: I work as a new graduate nurse in a ER already :/....any suggestions how I can let them know that I am going to be moving to milwaukee without upsetting them or giving them the 'finger'. so to speak???

I disagree....I worked in a CCU as a student nurse intern and we had a former ER nurse that was always on TOP of the code situations. Not to detract from ICU at all, as I intend on going back once I get my 1 year experience as a brand new ER GN :) but I wanted to be able control emergency situations like that ER nurse could, as she had been well-versed in it!

I must respectfully disagree with the comment regarding ADN's not being hired. I just graduated with an ADN @ Gateway Tech in Kenosha Dec. 17th and was offered a new grad position at Aurora-Sinai ICU, United Hospital System ER, and have an interview at St. Jospeh's ICU next week. Granted, I assume you teach for MSOE, UW-Milw, etc. and I have friends in those programs but in terms of a new graduate hire, it did not sound as though the managers/HR reps placed that much of a premium over us ADNs regarding 4 year schools. This includes Froedtert and its magnet status, where we a grad starting ICU right out of the gate. I think with the economy hospitals can be pickier, but in the end its the candidate and what they bring to the table over the degree. Just my 2 cents!

I graduated with my ADN a week and a half ago and have a friend who got hired STRAIGHT INTO their SICU with NO prior acute hospital experience ..pretty happy for her. She must have blown away the manager, HR, etc. or had a great resume. I sent an application in for a ACS- Acute Trauma Surgery position, but have yet to hear back. Its definitely selective, so I am happy I was offered a critical care position at another hospital. Good Luck!

I just got hired into their Kenosha Camus ER as a new grad last week! Im excited, but now I just also got called back for an interview at a St. Jospeh's ICU postion in Milwaukee too....hmmmmm choices.

Hey, I graduate with my ADN in about a month and was just offered a full-time ICU position at United Hospital System-Kenosha, but I had to compete with THREE other Student Nurse Interns for the same spot ! I am waiting to hear back from Froedert, but if I were you, I would definitely look at either St. Mary's Racine, Aurora in Grafton (though I heard other Aurora hospitals have hiring freezes still), or whatever you can get cuz its pretty tight hiring. Though I do know United Hospital does have positions available in Medoical-Surgical and Cardiac Step-down. Good luck!

I was accepted with a 2.9 in pre-reqs (yeah, I was deployed with the Air National Guard and partied alot while doing pre-reqs :)) BUT have a nursing program gpa of 3.6- PROOF that while A+P and Micro may not be everyone's strong suit, if you are passionate, anything is possible!

Which hospital/system are you employed with, just out of curiousity? I just sent a resume/app package to a new grad RN programs in Bakersfield and San Bernadino. I am male, weight trainer, and former USAF/Air Guard for 6 years, so maybe this helps in some odd way. Its insane how in WI I was able to recieve offers at Froedert SICU and Trauma/Surgical and St Luke's Milwaukee ER, but people are scrapping for anything out there. I suppose if nothing else, I can fly to see my gf like every other week or something :)

Hi all, So I am well aware of the current SoCal new grad hiring situation aka 10,000 new grads fighting over 1 position, etc. but is it worth it to move out when I graduate this December and take the NCLEX in California and just give it a shot? I have a girlfiend who is from LA (I am from WI) and wants me to move out post-graduation but everywhere I call seems flooded with the same story. Is it better to just get the golden 1 yr. minimum experience here (I have 3 offers, all from level 1 trauma center ICU/ERs) instead of being unemployed for possibly > 6 months out there, or does anyone have any experience with getting luck out there? I'll have an ADN, decent grades, nurse-intern experience AND starting my RN-BSN completion this Spring and was hoping to finally start my life out west for good. Thanks!

Do not be so concerned with a low GPA per say, as most places do not have a bare minimum (unless you are trying for very large teaching hospitals in places like LA aka Cedars-Sinai) but as the others said, get a nurse-intern/extern/etc. position ASAP....I work in an ICU as an Student Nurse Intern and I was offered a job in my 4th semester, which Im about to finish! Do not wait and think passing an NCLEX will get you hired, because plenty others have prior healthcare experience, etc. Goodluck!

Patients do not break my heart....that's reserved for the girlfriend/boyfriend/wife/husband :)

Dude, don't buy into the hype about needing 'great grades' or stand out academics to get into NS. I have a 3.1 at a ADN nursing school, set to graduate this December, and can almost assure that I am every bit as capable or more than the '4.0' straight A, calc genius that studied all during school but didn't work a healthcare job or get experience- thus the deer in the headlight stare on the first day of their nursing job. Oh and BTW, Radiology program is sweet, I would absolutely push for that. I am considering being Nuc Med or Rad. RN once I have the 1 year RN experience! gooood luck

There is an extreme difference between bullying and several students vocalizing their problems with a student who monopolizes the class time during class, with with their own 'experience' or 'opinions' or 'feelings' on the matter. Many times we will have to tell 'that one student' who always has to have a say in the matter to ****, because in the end, Im paying for the instructor and education- NOT a classmates 2 cents on everything.

you're screwed in alot of areas....or shall I say we (im 4th semster about to graduate) are screwed, in that the wide open availabilities of multiple job offers no longer exist. I have an ICU offer, but only because I interned for a year and a half. Out in CA where I want to live.....nope