heatherp

note to those reading this- the question above was in response to my post about being hired at UC Davis Medical Center even though I did not precept there. There is no official "new grad program." They just post new grad positions. There were 5 new grads in my hospital orientation (2 in NIUC, 2 in Vascular/GI, and one in Trauma.) I know of 2 more that will be in the September hospital orientation. They also posted 4 or 5 other new grad positions 2 weeks ago. So, there is no official new grad program, but they ARE hiring new grads! (THANK GOODNESS SOMEONE IS!!!!) I HIGHLY recommend signing up for alerts from them.

Orientation is going well. It's a lot of LONG days, and TONS of information! I keep catching myself saying OMG, I'm a NICU nurse. LOL! So, obviously, I'm in the NIUC. :) I totally know what you mean about it being so long! I graduated in December, and really only had 1 one on one interview, and another paper interview in that whole time. I studied too! I'm SURE you're having done your preceptorship in a CVPCU helped get you an interview! I did mine in the NIUC :) I live 2 hrs away from UCDMC, but I made it very clear in my interview that moving was NOT a problem. My husband can transfer his job as soon as there is an opening in the company, and my BFF lives in Sac. I made sure they knew those details about me. :) Though they are not new grads, there are 2 other nurses from San Diego in my orientation (there were 18 of us the first 3 days...after that different units have different orientations, but most hospital based units do 7 days). GOOD LUCK on your interview!!!

I think every unit is different. For the NICU they said it was going to be a panel interview, but then it ended up being just the assistant nurse manager, and the unit manager at the end (she was going to be there the whole time, but got called away for a meeting). I applied in June, 3 or 4 weeks later they called on Friday to set up the interview. I interviewed on Wednesday, and just about 3 weeks later I got the call with the job offer. It took a LONG time, but SOOO worth it! GOOD LUCK!!!

I have to disagree with this about UCDMC. I am currently in orientation as a New Grad, and I did NOT precept there. I'd never stepped foot in the building prior to my interview. I will say however that at least one of the other 4 New Grad's in orientation with me did do her preceptorship there. All I can say is keep trying!

I'm right there with you! I start on the 17th. I'm SO nervous. I graduated in Dec. It feels like forever since I've done anything "nurse." I hope I remember how :wink2: GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF US

I'm in northern California. It's very hard to get into ANY job as a new grad. The things that I think helped me were: 1. Doing my senior preceptorship in a NICU 2. I took NRP and STABLE during school 3. Volunteering in the NICU after between graduation and finding a job 4. Being a NICU mom (not exactly something you can, or would want, to plan or do, but I think it helped. LOL) GOOD LUCK!

For me hospital orientation starts on the 17th, and it's a full 7 days. I then do 2 12 hr shifts in the NICU on the 26th & 27th (I think they said these are classroom and competency check offs and such). That's followed by 2 weeks of 4 10hr days. I then get some time w/ a preceptor (Not sure how much...they said the total orientation is 12 weeks.) Wow, I'm impressed that you guys got jobs w/o having any (or much) NICU experience. I did my senior preceptorship in a NICU. So I did 180 hours, and often was taking a full patient load (which was 2 babies 'cause there were only 4 on the unit due to low census.) I have taken STABLE, so that helps too : ) Even with that, I feel totally unprepared and SO nervous. Again due to low census, a lot of my experience was with growers and feeders. Only occasionally would I have a baby on oxygen, or needing a lot of other assistance. I ordered a book to read up on things, and I want to review my STABLE and NRP books. I'm not sure I'll have time to read much of them though. I too am trying to move (sort of...getting a room or apartment for the nights after I work) Plus I'm trying to get my kids prepared for school, and I have a medication exam on my first day of hospital orientation. Good luck to you guys. I look forward to sharing this experience with you

Well, it took awhile before they contacted me. I applied to two positions the same day, and watched the little updates and saw that position get filled while the NICU one still just said resumes had been sent to the managers. I pretty much had given up on the position, when all the sudden I got a phone call to set up an interview. WOO HOO! That was Friday July 3. Oh, and it was the department's assistant manager who called me. Went in to the interview the next Wednesday (though it could have been scheduled for Mon or Tues, but I chose Wed.) They told me that it would be 2-3 weeks before I'd hear anything. Almost 3 weeks later (Monday), I got the call for the job offer. I went in on Friday to sign papers and have my physical. Orientation starts on the 17th of Aug. LONG process, but worth it! : ) I have a feeling that each department works a little different. They did not say ANYTHING to me about living more than 30 min away...'cause I live 2 hours away! I'm POSITIVE it helped though that I told them that my hubby could transfer his job to Sac, and that my best friend lives near there. I also told them I'd be renting an apartment in Sac for my work nights until my hubby's transfer happens. GOOD LUCK!!!

When do you two start? We should keep in contact and compare experiences and notes...Support each other Are there other new grads that were hired at the same time? They told me they were hiring 2 new grads, but I have not met the other one yet.

The things that I did between graduation and find a job were: 1. I volunteered (in the NICU, which helped in landing a NICU job) 2. I took PALS and ACLS (I had taken NRP before my preceptorship) 3. Applied to ANY and EVERY RN job that would accept a new grad, regardless of the unit. With each application I fine tuned my cover letter and resume. 4. Tried to keep up a good attitude. That was often hard, but I tried :) That's about it. Just keep keepin' on...

I don't really have any adivce, just wanted to say that I'm in the same boat as you :) I was just hired into the NICU (though I graduated in Dec.) I start orientation on Aug. 17th. When do you start? Good luck! We have so much to learn! :)

I was just hired in the NICU! It was my first choice, but I would have taken anything. I start orientation on Aug. 17th

Where/when did you hear that? I was just hired in one of the new grad positions in the NICU. I got the call offering me the job last Monday. I think they have temp. freezes, then lift them periodically for a few positions. I could be wrong though, just my guess. Since they just posted a position last week, I would guess they would fill that position. GOOD LUCK to all of you!!!! I know how heartbreaking this whole process is. It took me 9 months to finally find a job, I was really about to give up. Try to keep up a positive attitude, and know that it will all work out some way. It has to! Again, good luck!!!!

1.) Once you complete the prereq's roughly how long is the wait? Is the length of your wait influenced by your grades (people with better grades at the top of the list?). There is no wait really. As it is a lottery, either you are in, or not. They may have a wait list now for if people drop, I'm not sure though since they just started both a fall and spring entry (this January is the first group of spring entries). Grades only count to see if you qualify for the lottery, after that it's the luck of the draw. 2.) How do those of you in the program like it? I can't answer this as I got in, but did not accept the position, as i got in at my first choice school (SSU...see your other post) 3.) Is there an interview process to get in? No interview 4.) How do withdrawals affect your application? Withdrawls only count in if you qualify for the lottery. I think only withdrawls affect it if they are withdrawls (or repeats) of the 3 science classes (Anatomy, Physio, Micro) Good luck...my advise is to apply everywhere you can see your self going, then pick from where you are accepted.

I agree it's a "where you're going to school" thing, not an ADN vs BSN thing. I'm in a BSN program. We've had a couple of short lectures so far. We will never have an entire semester class.