youngRNstudent

:chuckle yesssss......a 2bd 2 bath apartment will cost you $1600 a month, and I don't think they even sell houses less than $400k This would be why I still live w/my parents!!!

new grad pay in california (LA area) is $27 w/full benefits and around $35 w/o benefits. I agree with the previous poster....WATCH OUT for the sign on bonuses! There is a reason that hospitals offer them (hmmm....maybe b/c nobody WANTS to work there!) I was offered a $10,000 sign on bonus if I signed on for 2 years but the hospital/staff totally sucked. (we did our clinical rotation at a couple different floors in that hospital). There definately is FINE print...that 10k turns into 5k real fast after taxes, and of course you get stuck working the crappy shifts/floors, etc....look into it.

California, $16.67/hr per diem (no benefits). This was my starting salary (no experience)

there are alot of threads that already discuss this subject, but here's my $0.02 If you are only interested in being a staff RN there is no difference in pay (at least not at 99% of hospitals) The benefits of a BSN: more opportunities (management etc), you need this for your MSN obviously so if you are interested in being an NP, teacher etc you need this, and its also good just to further your knowledge base in nursing. I have my ADN and I will be getting my BSN only b/c I want the MSN Basically, if you are not interested in management or other positions, and you don't want to further your education by being in school for 3-4 years (is it REALLY that long?!?! I will only have 1.5 additional years to get my BSN) and if you are perfectly happy with a staff RN position, then an ADN is perfectly fine. In the end, it is all up to you. You can always have that option to go back to school when the time is right, which is nice. :) Good luck!

At my hospital anything over 80 hrs/ in 2 weeks is considered OT So technically you could work 80 hours in one week and not get any OT if you didn't work at all the next week.

My patient had a glucose level of 11. The problem was that she was so fluid overloaded that her blood was practically pure plasma (so the glucose reading was false). They ended up having to do her accuchecks by drawing blood from a vein and having the lab run it.

WOW $200 off?!?! Thats a good deal!

I just signed up for the Kaplan Review Course online. I have heard it is really beneficial to help you w/the NCLEX. (We shall see!!!) $418 is a LOT of $$ but like what a lot of nurses say, it will pay for itself when you pass the first time!

It is hard to choose "where you want to work" but always remember if you try ICU and hate it, you can always go to the OR, and vice versa. Personally I think the ICU would be more patient-interactive and more like "caring" for the patient. I think its more nursing whereas being an OR nurse would be more like you are the assistant to the surgery. I once thought about being a scrub nurse, but after my ICU rotation I knew I felt my career would be more rewarding if I actually took care of the patient. Not that OR nursing is bad or anything, its just so different. Do whatever you feel most strongly about! (I know...easier said than done!)

I will be in the PICU!

Yes you get paid for orientation (god i would hope so!!!!) And yes you can also specialize right out of nursing school (we have a shortage luckily!!)

HEY everyone! I finally finished! Pinning ceremony December 17th!!!!! I have been hired in the PICU starting mid February!!! :) This is AMAZING I can't believe I don't have to study for anything anymore! (well, except that NCLEX........) Anyone else graduating in Dec '04?!?!?!?! :) TIME TO CELEBRATE!!!!!

I also have the Dell Pocket PC and use the Davis Drug Guide for Nurses. Same basic setup as the book we all used in nursing school. Such a time saver! Good for you that you want to get one! verrrry smart!

Since you feel like this (I feel you on this one)....dont do med-surg, because you don't have to. There are plenty of hospitals that will hire you into any specialty as a new grad. You just have to do your homework and shop around. Look for a place 1st off that offers a new grad something other than med-surg, then look at the hospital itself (is it nice? is it run down? does the staff seem happy?) ask the staff members how they like working there (if you can). Just do a quick assessment of the unit. If everyone seems upset/stressed/burned out, then turn the other way. There IS a nursing shortage and you should not have to SETTLE!!!!! I know it is hard as a new grad to think like this, but you have that option.

I am going to have to go "against the grain" on this one... This is basically "do you have to have 1 year med surg experience before you do a specialty" type of thread I think if you are VERY interested in critical care, and you really really want to do it, then DO IT!!! There are tons of hospitals w/excellent new grad programs, that you can definately succeed in. However, it seems that you may not be confident in your ability to start as an entry level RN in an ICU setting, which in that case you should start on the peds general floor. If you are really concerned about being able to succeed in a critical care area, then do general peds. On the other hand, if you are like me and really thirst for an ICU setting, then go for it! Just be sure to find an orientation program that will support you. I will be starting in the PICU at a teaching hospital in January as a new grad. They have a 3-4 month orientation program and will not let "go of your hand" until you are READY. This is crucial, especially in critical care. I am very excited! Hopefully by the time you finish nursing school, you will know where you would feel most comfortable starting out. GOOD LUCK!!!!!:)