Sflowerssweeney

First of all, nursing school is the most stressful thing any of us can do in my opinion. The instructors seem to want you to fail, whether they do or not, I'm not sure. Maybe they are trying to weed us out. But don't compare yourself to anyone else. It doesn't matter what someone else got on the test. It just matters that you passed. Your GPA doesn't matter as long as you are keeping a 75 plus on everything. If you have a passion to be a nurse you will succeed. If you don't you won't. It takes alot of studying, and alot of commitment. It has to be number one. Once you get through it you won't regret it. Hang in there.

Wow, no good deed ever goes unpunished. What an ungrateful snot! She is in the wrong, not you. Don't every help this one out again.

Wow, good to know. I start Monday orienting with a Home Health Agency. I'm excited but scared at the same time. Not really knowing what to expect. But I'm up for it. Wish me luck!

I graduated from CSM in 2007 but since then the program has changed alot. I think it's a great program and I still miss all the girls I went through school with. Alot of them I still see. Alot of the instructors are different now but all in all I'm sure it's still a wonderful program. School is nervewracking no matter what, but nursing school -- 10 times more! So you're not alone. Just know if it's your passion you will be so happy you did this.

So are you still at Southern MD Hospital? I tell you it is a challenge -- the place can be a zoo. Good luck to you.

I don't think you can apply until you get an address in MD. Then just go to the MD Board and apply for a temporary license while you wait for your license by endorsement. That's what I did. They are very unorganized and hard to get in touch with so you have to stay on them. I would definitely recommend going there in person and getting that temporary license first when you know where you will be living. That will be good for 90 days I believe.

Civista is in a little turmoil right now. I work PRN at St. Mary's -- about a 35 min. - 40 min. drive from Waldorf. Very nice hospital. I also started Agency at Southern MD (not as nice for sure). You can go into town (D.C.) in 45 min. or Inova Mt. Vernon in 45 min. It just depends on shift for traffic problems.

I have only 7 months experience in Med Surg in a large metropolitan hospital and took a job in the ER in a community hospital 4 weeks ago. Oh my gosh, I can't tell you how challenging this is. You definitely are scared to death at first and I can tell you I have dreams about work every single night. But I do feel better about it every week. I know its going to take me quite some time before I feel comfortable with my skills and my speed, priorities, etc. I don't think you're ever really ready for it until you just plunge right in. Good luck to you, you will learn something new or do a new skill every day. I can say it's soooo much more interesting than Med Surg and I'm glad I made the move.

Janette, can you tell me what area you have worked in the Country? I have an interview Monday in the Southern MD area and wondered what it is about FMS that's a problem.

quote=CraigBSN02;2402150]From a traveler's point of view. You'll get a good experience at GWU - better than, say, WHC. The reason being patient vareity. GWU means you'll see infants with bronchiolitis, chronic undomiciled EtOH abusers, drug addicts, multi traumas, GSW, CHF decompensations, the works. Places like WHC will only give you straight adult major medical patients: no pediatrics, no multitrauma, and only the GSWs when they're dropped off/hobble in the front doors. That's a real narrow slice of the world of nursing, and does you newbies (I mean that with a lot of love!) a disservice this early in your career. Ultimately, you need to go with what makes you happy and what makes you feel comfortable. However, my vote is for the well rounded experience. Good luck in your choice. Perhaps we'll meet up, since I work in both places. :welcome: Craig BSN, I totally agree with you regarding George Washington's diversity of patients. I am a new grad and am just finishing up my internship in Oncology/Med Surg. We get all types of patients and I'm seeing everything. Not just oncology. We also have Pulmonary Care, Hematology, general Med Surg, Telemetry patients, etc. We have homeless, lots and lots of AIDs patients and every sort of population. We work with a lot of central lines but also have alot of peripheral IV's. So I'm getting a great overall experience with these patients. I plan on getting chemo certified as well. It's very very hard. The patient ratio is generally 1:4 OR 1:5 depending on the acuity of the patients. Our manager is absolutely wonderful. The part of town is beautiful and I feel very safe. I feel like I made a great choice. But believe me, if I can get through this experience, I can do anything say in a year or two.

It's true, sorry. New grads in D.C. (I am one) get $25.00 per hour. The highest I have seen is $26.00 per hour at Washington Hospital Center. Experience will pay more, but the new grad rate will stay the same except for nights -- you get paid maybe $4 to $5 more per hour.

Findurpassion -- thanks for your post. I also live in Southern MD and am impressed to hear this about VA Beach. Relocating in a couple of years and looking for a good job market and am hearing great things about VA Beach. Are you in a doc's office or hospital?

Wow, I got an electronic and I'm a new grad. (It was a gift). Glad I won't be working with you girlfriend. I guess I'll really have to make sure I got my self-esteem up before I carry it around.

I'm starting tomorrow at George Washington University. They pay $25/hr and you commit to 2 years with their new grad internship. You get $4,000 bonus for staying a year after the first year and every year after. They get raises based on merit. Everyone I've met so far at the hospital seem very happy to be there -- A big plus for me!

I am also starting on July 23rd. What dept are you starting in? I'll be in Oncology Med Surg.

Thanks for your help. I'll be interviewing next week on the Cardiac Med Surg floor. I'll see where they send these patients, either to ICU or to that Cardiac Med Surg dept. Anyway, thanks to everyone for your responses.

Thanks for the info Dinith88. I appreciate it.

I just went there for an interview with ICU for their new grad program. Maybe the problem was you were in HR and they have only "HR knowledge" -- I'm not sure. I went to both HR and the Unit Manager. The Unit Manager was very informative and I met with the training supervisor, a recent new grad who just finished their internship as then I went and met with HR to talk about HR issues. If I were you I would definitely interview in the Oncology department if that's where you want to be and I think you will definitely get what you need. I'm sure that Georgetown is a wonderful hospital as well. Although after talking with a few nurses that worked there I didn't hear such good things from them. I guess it depends on who you talk to.

I'm a new grad and just interviewed for an internship in the Critical Care Dept of a large hospital. I am interested in getting into a Cath Lab eventually. What I need to know is what is the best type of experience to have for this? This critical care dept has Open Hearts as well as every other type of patient on an ICU unit. Is this the best place for me to start?

Really, we need to hear from current employees. Anyone out there? Anyway, I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow. I have an ICU interview tomorrow (Friday the 16th at 11:00). I know a couple of us that are interviewing in the ED on March 8th as well. I have talked to a couple of nurses who did their new grad program in the ICU and said it was incredible. That's all the info I have so far.

That's the same day I'll be there Mike. Are you from the area? I'm from the Southern MD area.

Thanks for the luck! I'll need it.

I have an interview there next Friday for the ICU dept. I have another one for the ER in March. They are both new grad positions for their new grad internship. Has anybody done their new grad internship? And if so, which dept. do you prefer? Any help would be appreciated.

You know, I didn't have any problems with their contacting me right away. In fact, they were very informative. I was told by Yomi Lawal the following info: I am excited to hear about your interest in the George Washington University Hospital. The nursing internship for the summer starts July 23, 2007, so you have plenty of time. You will need along with your application two letters of recommendation from clinical instructors as well as your official transcripts. I would suggest you apply around mid to late April and start to work on the letters of recommendation now, since that can take a while. Once the application is received we will set up a time for you to come in and interview. I hope this helps. Yomi Lawal, M.S., CQIOM Manager, Nurse Recruitment and Retention The George Washington University Hospital 900 23rd Street, NW Washington, DC 20037 1-800-715-0032 202-715-4402 (fax) [email protected] http://www.gwhospital.com I would be interested in hearing from people who actually work there. Nice to know the inside scoop!

I agree, I'm very interested also. In fact, I just did a search for this and found this Thread. I don't see any response so I just thought I would also tell you guys my interest.