ICUSkeenRN

I have no idea what kind of house you could get here for 450k! Maybe a cardboard box! Lol

It's not BS. I have one part time job (24 hours a week) and 3 Per diem jobs. I work an average of 60 hour weeks. Hourly rates for HS in this area are 55-80/hour

It's not BS. I have one part time job (24 hours a week) and 3 Per diem jobs. I work an average of 60 hour weeks. Hourly rates for HS in this area are 55-80/hour

I've been a house sup since 2012. I've also been a charge RN as well as a unit director. I have an MSN as well as CCRN. I make close to $175k and I live in SoCal. Hope this helps.

I passed the CCRN on the first try. I used Barron's CCRN Review book as well as Kaplan CCRN. I read the overviews and took a bunch of practice questions. I found the best predictor of success was the CCRN practice exam supplied by AACN. You can purchase it for $50. I have taken both PCCN and CCRN and the practice tests from AACN for both of these tests were extremely similar to the real thing. Hope this helps.

Just curious if you all started out wanting to go into management, or if you wound up there. When did you realize you wanted to go into management? I have a background in ICU/CCU, Psych, ER, and Tele. Primarily my background was ICU. I did relief charge night shift in ICU and then was promoted to FT Day shift Charge RN in ICU. Loved being charge. Then an opening for M/S Tele Director came about in my hospital and the ICU director recommended me. 6 months later, here I am.... Director of a 35 bed M/S and 28 bed Tele unit.... Was sad to leave ICU, but knew opportunities like this were rare, so I took it. I've been working on my MSN and will graduate next summer. Planning on doing MBA after the MSN. Although I find myself missing the 3 12 hour work week, I feel I've really found my niche in management. Love my staff, love what I do. Some days I feel like I have no clue what's going on, and other days I feel on top of the world. I've made my share of mistakes and my motto is to try not to make the same mistake twice. I learn from them. I've seen some small improvements (baby steps) since I've taken over. Most of all, other employees say they see a huge difference in the staff morale. I am fair but I treat them as family. I'm firm but supportive. Just wondering how everyone else feels. I truly love my role. My ultimate goal is CNO. One step at a time....

What do you mean by clinical ladder?

TELE for sure!!!!!! No weekends!! Hello! But seriously, it all depends on the ultimate goal you have for your NP. IMO, hospital work will give your better opportunities in the long run! And congrats on navigating this scary new grad market and coming out with not one, but TWO job offers!

I was a new grad in the ICU. Our unit hired many. And some sank, others swam. I swam.

How long is your orientation? How long have you been on orientation?

Did you want to work in ICU? ICU is not for everyone. Which particular areas do you find you're struggling with?

Usually you can go ASN-MSN in about the same amount of time you could go ASN-BSN. MSN will pay off way more in the long run and set you apart from others.

I'd go with the 300 bed M/S. You can network with their ICU and possibly transfer after you've been there a while

I took wound care through a nursing education company in OC called AANE consultants. The EKG class I took through California School of Health Sciences. It was $150 for a very intense 3 day class. Well worth it. You can always google "wound care class" or "12 lead EKG class" and see what you come up with. Good luck to you! Skeen

Please keep us updated! We care!

I graduated in May 2010 from a college in Georgia, and I moved to Orange County a few days after graduation. I didn't go to school in California, did not yet have CA endorsement (had a Georgia RN), and knew no RNs in the area, and had no clue where to start looking, yet I managed to find a job by June 2010. Here's what I recommend: Think of where you would like to work (particular unit, ie: Med Surg, Tele, Oncology, ICU, ER, etc) and target your resume and skills toward that field. For example, I always knew I wanted to work in ICU, so I did the following: (And I was hired in ICU) -ACLS -BLS -PALS -EKG Cert -Basic Wound Care (just a one day class) -IV Starts/Blood Draws (another one day class) -Joined ANA (American Nurses Assoc) -Joined AACN (American Assoc of Critical Care Nurses) -Joined ENA (Emergency Nurses' Assoc) 1) I didn't really waste my time applying to countless new grad programs for several reasons. One, I didn't go to school here. Two, I had NO connections (these days, it IS who you know). Three, THOUSANDS of new grads who went to school here were applying, some of whom had probably even done clinicals at those hospitals and therefore had connections. 2) I went where the crowd of new grads didn't go: Community Hospitals (200 beds or less). I called those hospitals (direct number), asked to speak to the unit manager of (insert floor here). I did not immediately blurt out that I was a new grad. I would instead discuss my certifications, goals (MSN, CCRN, etc), and skills. Inevitably, the question of how much experience I had would arise. I would answer honestly. I got interviews that way. I interviewed for one ER job and one ICU job. I chose the ICU job. Although I work for a local community hospital, I went through an awesome residency. They supported me, gave me an awesome preceptor, and told me to take as much time as I wanted. They also agreed to pay for any education classes I wanted to take, such as a Critical Care Course, etc. Although they told me it would probably take me 3 months of orientation, they told me I could take as much time as I wanted. It is an amazing opportunity. Having worked almost a year for them, I have been oriented in ER as well as Tele so I periodically float to both those floors, so it is great experience. Being a small hospital, there is a small number of employees and therefore I have a HUGE opportunity to advance very quickly if I want. I also work beside some nurses who work PD or PT and some FT at other huge hospitals, so now if I wanted to, I could work for a big hospital. Also, because this is a small hospital and our care is limited, my residency was not a really overwhelming experience. I got the basic skills to build on in order to be comfortable without going through sensory overload. BEST OF ALL, the hospital is THREE MILES from my house! No freeways! My particular hospital has hired numerous new grads in different areas in the hospital, though they don't advertise a formal new grad program. Many community hospitals operate this way. KNOWING WHAT I KNOW NOW, HERE IS WHAT I'D RECOMMEND: 1) Join your local AACN, ENA, or other specialty area, and ATTEND A CHAPTER MEETING. You WILL meet people 2) Attend a Magnet meeting 3) Take a lot of classes (nurses attend those, and it's a great way to network!) 4) I have not had any luck applying online to job applications (this is just my experience) 5) I did have luck calling floors directly 6) If there is not an opening currently, KEEP CALLING the unit director every week. Send a thank-you card. Send a Holiday card. I still actively follow these new grad threads because I feel your pain. Though I was fortunate to not spend months and months looking for jobs, I understand how hard it is. I hope this helps someone. Skeen

There are other ADN programs out there, but none that have an nclex pass rate like GPC. GPC is a rigorous program which will prepare you for nursing like no other.

I am a 2010 GPC grad and can honestly say it was a fantastic program albeit tough, but I truly believe I was way more prepared than any other programs' graduates, ASN or BSN. Go for it! I have my dream job and thank GPC for preparing me for it!

3 miles. Free parking I park right in front of the side entrance to ICU, so it takes me a whopping 36 seconds to walk from my car to our unit

Stay away from Northern California, probably best to steer clear of the entire state actually

Atlanta. Of course, most of my class had jobs immediately after graduation, but we all did clinicals there and had an 'in'

So sorry to hear about this. Breathe. Know you are not alone and you have MANY people praying for you and thinking about you.

Been there, done that. I feel your pain. Do all the practice tests for all the semesters and then review things you may have forgotten (ie: I reviewed OB/Peds with Reviews and Rationales Series Books before I attempted the practice tests)

It would depend on your program's requirements. I don't think a 3.47 is likely to be rejected in most instances. This is nursing school, not med school. Of course, you still have to take your entrance exam......

Never wrestle with a pig. You get dirty and the pig loves it