elk280

My name is Ellen and I am originally from Philadelphia, but living in DC now where I have been working for almost two years-- I am really excited to get back to my city :)

I'm going to be starting in May 2012 at PENN too :) we should all exchange contact information! Where is everyone from? I am taking Nursing Research and Health Policy before I start at Penn- so those will be the two classes that I transfer in. I am taking them through Liberty University online, which many people recommended. I am lucky that the hospital I am currently working for is paying for those, so it should be a little bit of weight off my shoulders! -Ellen

1. Make sure you always have one port for iv fluids/meds to.piggy back or push. Example:antibiotics, code cart meds to push. All antibiotics ...well most...are compatible with one another and with potassium and mag. 2. One port can be for your pressors. They are all compatible with one another. 3. Your third port can be whatever else...boluses, blood, etc. Always label your iv fluid/med line at the y site so you can quickly locate it to push drugs and dont by accident push drugs through your pressors line...i always label every y site...makes things easier and more safe. As well as the pump. Always have someone double check.your pump settings.

the patient's in a small rural ICU are not going to be the same patients that you will see in a level 1 or level 2 trauma ICU, and because of that, no matter how familiar you are with the equipment (which changes anyway from hospital to hospital), you will learn to deal with more difficult patients in a larger hospital, and that will ultimately prepare you for your goals of CRNA more...

we stray from transfusing blood products at the same time unless it is an emergency... normally we slam them in fast using pressure bags or level 1's (except you cant use those for platelets).

look down south... also, your best bet is to go through new grad programs/residencies because they have to fill their programs, so they have to hire.

Yea, I graduate in July so I'm starting on August 16th- it will definitely be a pretty crazy summer but I can't wait! Do you know anyone else starting this summer, and do you think there's anyway we can find out so we can network a little bit with each other before we all start??

Hey! I was just offered a position in the SICU in Georgetown University Hospital to start this summer... I was wondering if anyone else will be starting in the hospital as a new grad in the summer and what unit you'll be working on. Also, is anyone relocating? How's that going and do you have any advice?

I recently took a position to start in August in Georgetown University Hospital's SICU... The process was easy and moved quickly- I applied online to their posting for the New Grad Program and then took a career battery test and then they invite you to their New Grad Day on which you interview in the uniot you're interested in... I wasn't able to attend new grad day because it was postponed do to the snowstorms, so i scheduled my own day to go and interview. I interviewed with the nurse recruiter, nurse manager on the unit I was interested in, and the nurse educator. Since I went before the actual new grad day, they couldn't tell me their decision on the spot- so I waited and they called me approximately 3 days after all the other new grads attended the special day and offered me the position. Good luck!!

Georgetown University Hospital pays its new grads 26.52/hr plus 15% differential for evenings and nights (anytime after 3pm) and 25% on weekends. You rotate and do half nights, half days and every third weekend. Shifts are 12 hr.