runningguy19

Thanks for the advice. I've thought of picking up a PRN NICU if one becomes available in addition to my two current jobs, but I have a family to spend time with. Always wanted to try NICU, but I'm sure adult ICUs are more favorable in application process.

I currently work part-time in a STICU/Neuro ICU at a 400+bed facility and PRN in an ICU at a 100+bed facility. Should I drop my hours at the PRN job and work full-time at the busier unit? Does it matter? I work 24 hours at each job at the moment. I enjoy my PRN job more, but I started the STICU job to get more experience for CRNA school. The certain CRNA school I want to attend does not state specifically whether full-time ICU experience is required. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks ahead of time!!

That may be the rate of pay in Indy, but Fort Wayne is different. The cost of living is lower in FW then Indy, and there are more nursing schools in FW then Indy. I work for Lutheran Health Network and I also interviewed at Parkview. The starting hourly rate for unexperienced RNs is $16.50 (Lutheran Health Network) and $17.87 (Parkview). This information is when I started at LHN in May 2011, and my interview with HR at Parkview in March 2011. Hope this information helps in your job search.

All I know are starting RN rates with no XP. Parkview Health (Eight hospitals in northeastern Indiana) starts at $17.87 an hour base rate. As far as I know they still do bonuses and such. They are non-profit and have a huge regional medical center opening spring 2012. Lutheran Health System (St. Joe, Dupont, Lutheran, etc) starts at $16.50 an hour base rate. They don't do bonuses anymore, and they are currently owned by CHS. Each system has pluses and minuses. Lutheran is more popular OB wise (Dupont), has regional NICU (Lutheran), burn center (St Joe), children's hospital (Lutheran), and as far as I know the only perinatologist (Dupont) and pediatric surgeon (Lutheran) in Fort Wayne. Parkview, being non-profit, isn't as worried as CHS about units being fiscally responsible. They worry more about customer service (Although Dupont is also customer service oriented and a very good place to work). They will probably remain Parkview owned while I've heard CHS is trying to sell Lutheran Health Network. Parkview Regional Center is gonna be the newest provider for northeastern Indiana. Good luck on your job search. Hopefully you have job XP because Fort Wayne has way too many nursing schools. It took me about eight months to get my first RN job. That is why our starting rate of pay is so low.