chitownbound

Is your childrens hospital really named "Sick Kids Hospital"??? That's, well, kind of weird!

I believe I already mentioned in my above posts multiple times that I found success in obtaining an RN position by actually going to hospitals, dressed professionally and with multiple copies of my resume, and introducing myself to nurse managers on floors I wanted to work on. Sometimes I was met with skepticism but all it takes is confidence and being able to think on your feet in order to make a good first impression. And, as nurses, these should be some of our most finely honed skills. If there is only one hospital that you have to pursue a pediatrics position, you may want to consider expanding your search. You graduated in June, you dont want to be out of the game too long.

In school, you didnt rotate to different areas in the hospital like med/surg, labor and delivery, psych, etc? If you didnt have at least a pediatric rotation, it may be difficult to reason to a nurse manager why you want to work in pediatrics and why you would be a good fit. Have you worked with pediatric patients at all in the past? Its extremely challenging and taxing, it takes a special nurse with a very special skill set. Did you have any clinical rotations at a hospital? If you developed a good relationship with the facility, perhaps you can shadow a pediatric nurse for a shift? When it came to finding a positiin after graduation, my clinical instructors were very supportive in assisting me. Have you reached out to them for help? Have you done any networking to meet people in pediatrics? Meeting nurse managers, visiting them on the floor, making yourself known will be a big help. When they are thinking about hiring for a position in which a fresh grad would be accepted, you will the first person that comes into their mind. Good luck!

During your pediatric clinical rotation, did you establish a relationship with the nurse managers on your floor? I am a recent graduate in the US and was able to obtain a position in the field I wanted within 2 months. I think the key to my success was actually going to hospitals armed with my resume and recommendation letters and introduced myself to nurse managers in person. They appreciated the extra effort that I was taking above and beyond just sitting at the computer and applying online. I ended up getting hired on a floor that didnt even have an open position. Going to hospitals in person, dressed professionally, may help you get your ideal position.

I am a recent graduate, just got my license a month ago today. I have an interview with my top choice hospital in the Pediatric Oncology and Hematology unit. I am very nervous! I adore kids, I'm very confident interacting with them and oncology is my area of choice. Does anyone have any advice about interviewing for this type of position? I am going to brush up on my developmental knowlege, leukemias, Sickle Cell disease, etc....is there anything else specific that might help me? Any bit of knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

I am currently in nursing school and have not faced the struggle of finding a new grad position yet. I say YET, because I'm sure I will be there with you guys soon. However, I do have experience recruiting and placing nurses, NPs, allied HC workers and physicians. Regarding the questions for unit managers, I think these are great questions and will be sure to make a copy of these for future reference. Regarding the questions for recruiters, be careful when and how these questions are asked. Questions regarding salary and benefits should only be asked further along in the process when you feel that you will probably be receiving an offer, not on the first interview. I especially would not ask a recruiter I'm first meeting with if I would be getting a sign on bonus. I think this question should be held until an offer is made, especially in this economy, and especially for a new grad. And if you do ask for one, be prepared with an excellent answer if you're asked, "Why do you think, as a fresh grad with no job experience, you deserve a sign on bonus?" And also know what other hospitals in the area are offering sign on bonuses and how much they average. Regarding the cover/introduction letter, the word "I" is used 5 times. Whoever is reading this letter doesn't care what you want. People want their own problems addressed, not what other people want. Try to imagine the problem the unit manager or recruiter is having (having to spend valuable time and energy filliing a position for which they've received hundreds of resumes for), and focus your letter on how you can solve that problem for them...a brief summary of the clinical experience you have that would benefit the unit, and basically, in a sentence or two, how you will be an asset to them. If I received that cover letter, I would put it in the NO pile immediately. I know applicants are interested in a position with my company, that's why they're applying, and I don't care that they want an interview, this is also obviously implied. A good cover letter is the hardest thing to write bc 99.9% of them are exactly the same and say nothing. Be creative and think out of the box. Try to show the receiver how you can help them, don't tell them what YOU want. Good luck everyone!

Have you spent any practice time in the lab? All the instructors do is walk around and assist in demonstrating and practicing skills. And that's in addition to the live demos we get the second time when we break into small groups with our clinical instructor. Also, we have unlimited access to video demonstrations on Blackboard we can watch a thousand times if we want. So far, I've found the skills portion to be the most comprehensive, well-taught aspect of the program.

The older gentleman that works the Central campus bookstore showed me what's in the lab kit. It's just a TON of gauze, bandages, etc. Basically, it looks like an assortment of all the disposable stuff we'll need to treat patients. It's $120 and it might be worth it just to pay for it all put together instead of hunting down every item in it and putting it together piece by innumberable piece.

I got the 4th edition.

Quest will send the drug test results to BC, all we need to turn in is the original of the white copy that Quest gave back to us. Also, just an FYI, I was able to get all the required textbooks, as well as one or two that are not required for about $600. I believe the total for all the books new from the bookstore on campus was over $900. Also, I mentioned in a previous post, Amazon.com has a student membership which allows free two day shipping on everything for a year.

I have already started reading the Test Success book. It seems like it will be very helpful. It's full of practice tests and analysis of all the questions and answers...why some answers are wrong, why other choices are the best choice, and I imagine it's geared to helping us ultimately do well in nursing school AND pass the NCLEX. I got it used in excellent condition from Amazon for less than $20. Seems like a sound investment. Thanks alisonelizabeth for giving us this info, now we all don't have to e-mail K and bug her. You rock!

I've heard that Professor K is one of the best teachers at Broward, he's supposed to be awesome. I wanted to have Thursdays off from class but took his Thursday class anyway because I heard so many good things about him.

Professor K teaches pharmacology at Central.

On the first page of this thread, it says we do not need the book for Pharm if taking Prof. K, he just uses his Powerpoint slides. I heard the same goes for math. I have all my textbooks in hand already. Kind of an intimidating pile, but the texts are very interesting. I love the clinical companions, they seem like they are going to come in very handy. I'm only taking Micro right now, so if you do get your hands on a syllabus, PLEASE POST it. I'm dying to get started on the reading!

I was told by someone in the program currently, who has the same teacher for Proc 1 and 2 lecture that we will have, that we need to have all white, leather shoes with no colored markings at all. And, if they have laces, they must be washed and kept immaculately clean, just like the shoes. I was also told that we need to wear our uniforms the first day of class. I bought mine already. The cashier at the bookstore said they sell out VERY QUICKLY. This is just stuff that I've heard. We will also need badge holders for our IDs and CPR cards. Got my textbooks on Amazon for pretty reasonable prices. On our Broward schedules, it says clinicals are Tuesdays and Wednesdays 6:30-6:30. Are they 2 days a week? Why did I think they were only one day a week?