NurseMiri

I start my first job on July 23rd as well! I prepared by purchasing my scrubs, a new stethoscope, and getting things like Sharpie pens, penlight, scissors, and hemostat ready. I also cleaned up my nursing shoes and bought a few new pairs of compression stockings. I also purchased an accordion file to put all the new hire paperwork and benefit information in one place and keep it organized. Maybe get a small notepad that will fit in your pocket to keep notes, especially things like passwords if you aren't someone who memorizes things quickly. Grab a few examples of "brains" off the internet to see what you would like best for keeping track of pt. charting. And get a water bottle with a lid so that you can have your beverage at the nurses' station. As far as what to expect, be prepared for just general employee orientation for the first day, then they will most likely split you off into RN orientation. Your director will have gotten in touch with you about a schedule and you will probably receive that on your first day of orientation, if you haven't already. I am going to be on nights so I am not sure if I will do days for a few weeks or start out immediately with nights. Since my position isn't classified as a "new grad" job, I will not have new grad classes. I will be with a preceptor for as long as I need. Good luck and congrats on the new job!

Denver, CO area I am starting at $24/hr but will have evening differential of $2/hr and night differential of $4/hr, plus an additional $1 for weekends. My shift is 12 hours, so 4 of those will be at evening differential and the other 8 at night differential. I don't know if my starting salary is typical of the area, or even the hospital. Two of my classmates who were previous nurse externs at the same hospital are starting at $22.50/hr.

Hi, I graduated with my BSN in March, passed the NCLEX first time in May, got an interview 10 days later, but it took another month before they offered me the job. I had one interview with the director of the unit and another with some of the staff and the assistant director. Be patient, these things can take time. I was lucky. Out of 34 graduates, only 5 have jobs so far, including me. Best advice I can give is to USE YOUR CONNECTIONS! Don't be afraid to hit up the people you met during your clinicals, especially if you happened to get to know the director of nursing education. The Director of Nursing Education referred me to a position after hearing from a unit director looking for people. That is the ONLY way I got in. If I didn't have that connection, my name would be in a pile with 500 other new grads instead of being printed on a badge for one of the best hospitals in my area. Good luck! Don't get discouraged!

My advice would be to use ANY and ALL connections you may have. I did my Med-Surg II and Senior Practicum at the hospital I want to work at, and I got to know the Director of Clinical Placement very well. Since department directors come to her to ask for recommendations for new grads, she has been able to put my name out there and I got an interview for a Medical Telemetry unit this past Wednesday. I had only been looking for about 10 days when I got the call for the interview, so connections can make all the difference! Don't be afraid to drop names or call and email frequently.

I just completed an interview on Wednesday. Some of the questions I got were: Why would your previous coworkers be sad to see you go? Why would they be glad to see you go? (Weird one!) Why should we choose you over the hundreds of other new grad applicants? Who is your favorite superhero and why? (Strange, huh?) What has been your most difficult patient? Give me an example of a patient you had to monitor frequently due to changing patient condition? I was interviewing for a Med/Tele position, not specifically a new grad position, but I am a new grad. Hope this helps! Good luck! :)

I already am ACLS, PALS and NIH Stroke Scale certified. My main concern is that if no positions open up in the ICU, and I don't take the Tele position, I will have lost out on a new grad job which are so hard to come by. I know Tele is better than Med-Surg for experience and possible tranfer too.

Hey everyone, I am a new grad RN, BSN who has an interview on a Med/Tele floor next week. I did my senior practicum on the ICU and really want to have a career in critical care. I am ACLS, PALS, BLS and NIHSS certified. I talked to the ICU director today and she said she would love to hire me but that they don't have any openings right now. She said that they probably would later in the summer. I was offered an interview by another department director for a position on a Med/Tele floor and have the interview next week. My question is should I take the Med/Tele position if offered or hold out for the ICU? I know that hospitals frown upon transferring between departments before at least a year, usually, and especially since I am a new grad and they will have to invest time and money into training me. I plan on working for this hospital for a long time, and I don't want to damage any relationships. Should I hold out in hopes that I will get my dream ICU job later in the summer or should I take the Med/Tele if offered? I am in Denver, too, so the job market for new grads is virtually non-existent. Thanks!