ekr15

Hey all! I posted in here a while ago... I am an RN II and I will be working in the PICU. I moved here from Pennsylvania, and my god, getting my CA RN license was a PAIN. I submitted my application for licensure in November, and still didn't have my license when I moved here in the end of January. Every time I called the BON, their reply was the same: "We are still waiting for your fingerprints to process." Then, a week before I was scheduled to start my job, someone from the BON informed me that they were actually MISSING my fingerprints. So, I had to do a livescan the day I moved to California. Anyway, everything has FINALLY processed and I have my license, but my start date has been pushed back because of all of this. Luckily, HR and the managers in the PICU have been so sweet and understanding through all of this. I am starting work tomorrow! I will be attending the general new hire orientation day March 11th, and also critical care class sometime in March- a bunch of you will probably be there! Is anyone else here in the PICU? I'll have to update you on how my first few shifts go.

Also... does anyone here have any experience with transferring RN licenses via endorsement? I currently have my RN license in the state of Pennsylvania and need to transfer it to CA. Not sure how long it's going to take :/

@babyrn88- I'm not sure if my interview was similar to yours as mine was for an RNII position.... but as with any RN interview, know your strengths and weaknesses (and be able to turn your weakness into a strength! For example "I am a new nurse, so I understand that there is a lot that I don't know yet... but I am an avid learner and I always ask questions." Also, be able to explain how you deal with difficult patients/families, how you are an advocate for your patient, where you see yourself in five years, etc. As a new nurse, I would say read over your resume before your interview and be prepared to talk it up! Have a few experiences from your clinicals in mind to share.. and throw around the words "team" and "team work".

THIS IS SO EXCITING. I have not formally accepted yet... I am figuring stuff out because I need to move all the way across the country and get my CA RN license, so I need to figure out exactly WHEN I could start. But the HR lady was so nice! They said I could start basically whenever I want. Plus they're offering a sign-on bonus for relocating. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!! I'd probably start in February, so a little before you guys!

I got a job offer too!

Houseblew- Woo good luck. ----- and --------------, the unit managers, were great and the interview was super casual. No curveball questions. Then I got to roam the unit for a while. Fun day!

Just interviewed for the picu today (not for the residency, but I am still a baby nurse with only a year's experience!). I thought it went so well! The managers and the nurses on the unit seemed awesome. Hope to hear back soon. Maybe I will end up in some orientation classes with some of you guys :) Good luck to all!

Hello everyone! I am a fairly new nurse (1 year experience in the PICU) currently living in Pennsylvania and planning on moving to LA this winter. I applied to the PICU at CHLA last Tuesday, got a call back from HR on Wednesday, and just scheduled and interview *today* for the end of the month. This is so very exciting, considering it took me months and months to get my first job after graduation. I am planning on moving to los angeles with my boyfriend, who is from Palos Verdes and knows the area quite well. I could really use some insight on CHLA and the Los Angeles area, as I have only been out there a couple times! First off, regarding CHLA: Does anyone here work in the PICU? I was just curious about the interview... whether the questions will be more behavioral or clinical-based? Any tips? Any info on the unit? Also, payscale. I have heard that CHLA pays significantly less than other hospitals in the area, but am not sure if this is true. Does anyone know what the pay is like? I am trying to figure out where I will be able to afford to live.. Any recommendations on areas to consider living in? I really don't know much about the area. All I know is that traffic is a pain, ha. Thank you in advance for any information!

Holy crap! I got an interview for the PICU! So excited.

I'm a fairly new nurse working in the PICU. I usually get to the unit a little early before my shift to look up my patient's meds and diagnosis if I'm not familiar with it. Not everyone does that, but I'm a little OCD and I like to look up my info before getting report. Not a bad idea if you're new to the PICU :) Most hospitals have a drug formulary on the computer for looking up meds. As far as illnesses, etc... just use the internet! Oh, and I have this clipboard thing as well that has normal vitals for different age groups, normal lab ranges, info on interpreting blood gases, cranial nerves, etc. I don't really look at it anymore but it's nice to have as a reference! That might be helpful for you.

Awesome! And how lucky you are to have your practicum in the PICU. I had zero ICU experience in college (mostly because I never thought I'd become a critical care nurse!) Then my very first job ended up being in the PICU. I like it a lot now, but my god, it was very tough for me at first (especially never having stepped foot in an ICU before). So see and learn as much as you can- senior practicum is what you make of it. Talk to the physicians/respiratory therapists/physical therapists, etc. Listen during rounds. Familiarize yourself with the ventilators. Watch during codes (especially pay attention to the responsibilities of the nurses). Maybe review some stuff on respiratory failure and sepsis before starting as there is a lot of that in the PICU. Have fun and good luck!

Hello everyone! I am not a new grad resident applicant, but I am in the application process for CHLA and figured I could get some great info in this thread. I am a fairly new nurse (graduated with my BSN in May 2011) and my experience has been in the PICU. I actually applied to the CHLA residency in college but did not get in.. I assume it largely had to do with the fact that I live in Pennsylvania and did not include "will relocate" in my resume. :/ Anyway, now I have a year of PICU experience under my belt and am planning on relocating to CA! I applied to the PICU and 6 West on Monday and got a call back from HR on Tuesday saying that they are interested and are forwarding my info to the nurse managers. I don't want to get too ahead of myself, but I am really excited considering it took me SO LONG to get a job after I graduated. I'm hoping job number two will be easier. So to those of you who have interviewed, what was the interview process like? Behavioral or clinical questions? Anybody interview for the PICU or 6 West? Thanks for any info and good luck to everyone :)

Also, is there any kind of differential for nights and weekends? Here in Pittsburgh I only make $23/hr as a BSN prepared nurse in the PICU. The cost of living in pittsburgh is way cheaper than LA, yes, but it still sucks. I also work a lot of nights and weekends and there is no differential. Most of the other hospitals in the area offer a differential plus time and a half for nights/weekends..

Thank you for your reply! If you don't mind me asking, what is the payscale like at CHLA? Which unit do you work on? Thanks!

Hello everyone! I have been reading posts on this site for a while now, but have just decided to make an account to get some advice. I graduated with my BSN in May 2011 and have been working at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in the PICU for a little over 1 year now. I am planning on moving to Los Angeles around February, and could really use some input if any of you guys have experience in any hospitals out there! I definitely want to stick with peds and either stay in the PICU or try hem/onc.. but I am open to anything, as long as I get a job! I have been researching CHOC, Children's of LA, and Mattel Children's. I actually applied to all three when I originally graduated from nursing school, but did not get an interview with any because I was out of state and I assume that they did not take my application seriously. I am hoping that this time, with over a year of PICU experience under my belt, I will have a good chance of getting in to one of these hospitals. I will also be sure to include "relocating to California" on my resume, heh. So, has anyone worked or had clinical at CHOC, CHLA, or Mattel? If so, could you tell me a little about the facility? The other nurses? Payscale? Any tips for my applications or interviews (if I get any!) Thank you!