newbie12

I'm currently doing my last rotation of my new grad year in PICU, and am really enjoying it and look forward to work everyday. I was pretty set on staying in PICU, however I've been advised by a senior nurse on the unit that I shouldn't... And she was quite adamant and harsh on some of the things she said about not staying on the unit after I finish my year. I know a few people have the same view on this as her - that you should go back to a normal ward and develop your time management skills, consolidate your learning etc. Just wondering what the PICU nurses on this forum did? Did you start working in ICU soon after you became an RN or did you develop your skills in another area and then come to ICU after a few years?

Would you recommend it to other new grads if they really enjoyed PICU? Or would you advise them to go back to a normal ward and consolidate their learning etc?

Thank you! :) best of luck with your postgrad studies ! I always looked up to my tutors and lecturers at uni - I miss uni!

Going through high school, I was the student who probably had potential, though never really made a huge effort academically. I would always give up before I made an attempt, thinking I couldn't do it anyway. I can be a very indecisive person, however nursing had always been at the back of my mind. Even before I had been accepted into uni, I already knew I wanted to become a paeds nurse, working at a particular childrens hospital in my state. And here I am now, doing my new grad year as a paeds nurse, working in that very hospital I had my heart set on. I'm proud to be a nurse, and really cannot imagine doing anything else. The unit which I'm on at the moment challenges me very much, keeps me on my toes, and while I do feel that I don't know anywhere near enough, I know I just have to keep at it, study in my free time, and that it will get better with further practice and experience. It's too bad that some people just look down on us, thinking all we do is wipe bums - not my problem though!

Hi guys, I am a new grad who has been in PICU for less than a month. I wanted to take this challenge and do my second rotation here, but at the moment, I am feeling really down. At times I really just miss really ward nursing, no matter how much I think "at least if I don't like it by the time I finish, I can take this experience with me anywhere".. Other times I just think that I am useless. Both my unit and facility are very supportive, I just haven't really spoken to anyone about this yet. Does anyone have any tips or word of advice for me? I'm still being preceptored for a couple more weeks, and would like to make the most of this time (both being preceptored and working here for the rest of the year, regardless of whether or not I stay in PICU). Any advice would be appreciated :)

Thanks for the reply Kara. I am quite sure it did not go in my eyes or mouth, it was just my cheek. Thank you again, and certainly will do next time!

Hey guys, just have a question about the possibility of the spread of MRSA. This is going to sound so silly to many people... I had a little infant the other day with MRSA (it was found on a routine swab, so found in either the nose or groin). While I was preparing her feeds through her NG, I took out a syringe from her Milton (antibacterial tablet dissolved in water) container and squirt the water out of it.. Incidentally it sprayed in my face. It was only a 3ml syringe, and there wasn't even much water in the syringe to begin with, but I am a bit worried. I washed my face shortly after. What would the chances of me now having MRSA be?

I'm sorry to break it to you both, but you've been put on the waiting list because all 8 facilities you chose on your application do not have any vacancies. As those applicants who were offered positions yesterday have until Oct 16 to accept/decline, there are bound to be vacancies in various facilities, and you may be offered a position at any one of them. I heard second round offers happen in December, but I'm not too sure of this. Please don't lose hope, because some applicants simply apply for new grad and attend their interview but don't intend to do nursing after they've finished their degree, so they decline.Also a word of advice for the private hospitals, make sure you address everything in the selection criteria in your cover letter - they cull dramatically.Please feel free to PM me with any questions about any of the above, or if you'd just like to chat :)

I'm so sorry to hear that Mopples. I know its hard to take it in, but don't give up, there is still second round offers.

Good luck Mopples! I've started to beat myself up all over my interview again... I'm so scared for this email, but I just want to know.

Thank you Annie07, all the best for tomorrow :)And yes Mopples I really hope so. I was told by a nurse educator who was the new grad coordinator of an area health service last year and he said it all depends on what time that specific AHS decides to send them out.

Thank you ceridwyn :)

It truly is. I only hope that we get what we want. I was told by a new grad that the emails were sent to applicants at different times.

4 more days...my heart will skip a beat every time my phone tells me I received an email on Friday until I get an email about new grad.

Annie07, the new grad year is not a compulsory year. You can be accepted as a first year RN without doing the program, you will just need to find a facility and unit willing to take you on.

I just checked them out, it says you need at least 1 year post registration experience, and also be employed in the appropriate clinical setting to do a grad cert course and distance education subject.

So what you are saying is that they only contact the referees of those candidates who scored the highest? It makes sense to me that they'd do this, but I didn't know if the public system had a specific process for the recruitment of new grads, where the hospital the person was interviewed must call the referees regardless of their performance.

Yeah true, everyone has been saying that...my lecturers have been saying that to us since they mentioned new grad to us. And you're correct, because after all, new grad is just another stepping stone. We'll just have to be patient and hope for the best :)

Mopples, I applied and interviewed at SCH as well! I know I shouldn't think like this, but it's the only hospital on my application that I want, and I don't even want to think how I would feel if I didn't get it. Arghh still so many more days till Oct 5 !

Hey guys, I was just wondering if anyone knows how these are done? I mean, we interviewed at our first preference hospital, but do they only contact our referees if they want us (i.e. if we scored high enough in the interviews)? Or do the hospitals call the referees of everyone that they interviewed? I'm just very curious to know, because I had an interview at one of the private hospitals, and they said they only call your referees if they're interested in you; just wondering if this is how the public hospitals do it as well. If anyone has any insight to this, please share :)

Sorry, this was a double post.

Hey rachelgeorgina, not sure if you still go on the forum, but I'm just curious if you got the position, and how you did following the completion of your RNs? My heart lies in paediatrics as well, I'm currently in my 3rd year and can't choose between the 2 hospitals for my application!

Hey Rach101, sorry I'm bringing this old thread back up, but I was just wondering if you ended up at SCH?

Thank you Ashley. I did all of that, and as for what came over me when I put that stethoscope on his radial artery...I don't know. I've never seen it done before, not even in adults

I am aware that there are tips on this forum, as I remember reading some a while ago .. however I cannot find them anymore. I would just like to share my story, and would very much appreciate if anyone can give me any tips I can employ. I recently started a CNA job at a Children's Hospital, and had my first shift on a ward this week. During my shift I stayed with a 2 year old for some time, and couldn't help but feel a little awkward around him as he was very shy at times and didn't talk much. I thought after 6 weeks of clinical experience on a peds floor/hospital throughout my course, that this would not happen... My dream since the end of high school has always to become a peds nurse, and I just feel very very disappointed in myself. edit: Also the RN I was buddied up with throughout the shift must have thought I was lying to her when I told her I had done placements in peds. When I attempted to take a childs heart rate, I placed the stethoscope on his radial artery instead of the apex of his heart... and then after she had corrected me, I got the heart rate wrong! (I had never done vitals manually on a child before)