Juliwithoutane

I started directly from nursing school in a pediatric ICU. BIG MISTAKE. I think it was a mistake for a little bit of many reasons. I could have benefited from some fundamentals in a more med surg like pediatric unit. My school could have/should have provided more hands on experiences (I did not have an immersion). I had preceptors that were woefully unprepared to teach a new grad. And I really probably don't have the right personality for the ICU. I lasted 11 months in the picu and now I'm at 11 months in a level 2 nicu. I STILL feel I could benefit from some basic hands on skill training. So I don't think there's an easy answer. I don't think everyone should start in med surg across the board. I think people need to learn to properly assess their skill and comfort level, and schools need to do more to adequately prepare us for the 'real world'

Holy cow that's a long time! I'm barely sieving at less than 2 years

Thanks for sharing APN! Unfortunately I have no interest in being an NP (or really a bedside nurse much longer) so I can't make the same escape as you. What's funny is I AM a night owl. I have no issue staying up all night and sleeping during the day, but it's messing with my head

I'll attempt to figure out how to send y'all private replies :)

Brief background, I graduated in 2013 with my BSN, and it was my second career (I'm in my 30's) My first job was so awful I almost quit nursing. My second one is 100% better but I still question my career and future goals basically every day. The point of this post...I don't have a lot of RN friends to talk to and non RNs can't imagine my work/social life. I work nights and feel fairly socially isolated. There are so many great people that post and give advice on this site, I figured it wouldn't hurt to reach out. I want more people to talk to, about nursing or whatever. We don't have to meet in person, we don't have to be best friends. But I think it would be useful for all of us to have someone to share experiences with that understand where we're coming from. So....yeah. This seems desperate and I might regret it when I wake up tomorrow afternoon but oh well :). Get in touch if you want a new friend, virtual or otherwise, or just a sounding board. I give great advice though I never take my own.

I'm not sure what they're doing exactly but as far as I know my unit is the only unit that's even started interviewing internal candidates. They're really taking their time :). Good luck!

The positions for new grads for August haven't been posted to the public yet, but were up internally last week so any time now! Just keep checking. October jobs won't go up till August-ish

Congrats! It's a wonderful place to work

I don't how many they hired on any unit other than the ICUs but they interviewed around 30 and hired 22ish

Don't know about units other than mine but they interviewed around 30 and hired 22ish

Yes I know a few people that work there. I think that's the only reason I got a job. But there were a few hired that didn't have any connections!

I didn't have any prior experience, but I had connections. It all took quite awhile, I don't remember exactly how long.

I work in the CCU and I LOVE it. Where did you apply?

Sorry for the delay! I suppose there's a chance they changed it but last year we had the group 'interview' which was more of an orientation process. They then called is and set up interviews with the individual units.

The group interview for the SNA program (is that what you're talking about?) is nothing. They go over salary and hourly requirements and that's it