NICUnurse91

I was hired in Reno, NV at Renown as a new grad!

Update: We started doggie day care and he LOVES it. It's only about $14 a day because I bought a package deal and the local hospital employees get a discount. The downside: I'm going to nights after orientation. Nights at doggie daycare mean the dogs are separated for sleeping, so no point in taking him there when he can sleep at home in his own bed. Trying to decide if I should take him during the day when I get off work, so he can play while I sleep! The downer is it would be a lot of driving around because the daycare is right by my work, and about 15minutes from home. That means if have to pick him up after work, drive to daycare for drop off, then drive home again. But that's the plan at the moment! The complicated life of a nurse/puppy mama [emoji28]

Thanks for the opinions! Yep, I would never crate him for 12 hours. He has a 5 by 15 kennel in the garage with about 500 toys, food, water, and music playing. He's only been alone for 1-2 days a week since I graduated and then started working about 3 or 4 weeks ago. My boyfriend has been home almost every day I've had to work, and vice versa. I found a doggie daycare that he'll go to when we both work!

Wow! Thank you for all the awesome recommendations! I don't have any family in the area, or I would love to drop him off with them. I'm going to look into a dog walker (on care.com maybe?) and I would definitely give the walker a garage door opener and deadlock the door to the house. And tomorrow I'm also going to check out a doggie daycare that another nurse on my unit recommended. I feel much better about it after hearing that some of you have had good experiences. My pup is pretty well potty trained, I would just be hesitant to leave him alone in the house in case he decides he wants to chew up the furniture. And, I would LOVE to adopt a rescue! But not sure if I'm ready for 2 dogs just yet 🤔 But thank you all for the great advice!

Hi all! I'm a new grad and recently started working (in the NICU, yay!). I am working three 12 hour shifts a week, and I have a young border collie. So I'm wondering what other nurses do with their pups during these long shifts! I currently have a kennel set up for him in the garage, and it's a decent size for him to run around. I put plenty of food and water out there when I'm gone and it's warm enough in the winter. I try to take him for a walk before work, and play for a while after my shift. But, I'm feeling so guilty leaving him in there for my long shifts! I've looked into doggie daycare or having a dog walker come by. But I've heard doggie day care can cause your dog to learn bad habits from other dogs and they get pretty smelly and grimy after being with so many other dogs for 12 hours. And I'm hesitant with a walker just because I'd have to allow someone into my house while I'm not there. Or possibly getting another dog so he can have a friend while I'm gone? If anyone has any thoughts or has dealt with this with their own dog, please share your experiences and advice! Thank you :)

I just graduated from a direct entry generalist masters program with my MSN. I took my boards in November, and yes my license transfers to other states. I am qualified to get CNL certified. And having my MSN was so helpful when applying for jobs. I'll be working as a floor nurse in a NICU, and hope to do this for many years and eventually end up in a CNL position or some kind of leadership position. As for advanced degrees after, you can look into post masters programs. A large portion of people in my program went right into post masters programs, and it should take you less time if you already have an MSN! I agree that getting another bachelors felt like going backwards! Good luck!

Yes definitely call! I have no ties to Reno except for my boyfriend recently getting a job here. I'm from California and actually moved to Wisconsin and ended up going to nursing school there. So looks like it's not the case now!

@hilbub they have a few residency programs I think! I'm pretty sure the pediatric residency rotates between the NICU, L&D, peds ER, post partum, peds acute, and the PICU. I was told about it during my interview for a specific unit. I'm not sure where info would be online though! Maybe call HR and ask about it?

Hi! I was in the 2014 cohort, and I received my acceptance email on February 13th. Hope that helps, good luck!

For those in California who are having a hard time finding a job, Reno is definitely hiring! I moved here right after graduation due to my boyfriend's job, and got quite a few interviews and job offers in medical and psych hospitals. And Nevada can get you a temp license pretty quick! Just an option, especially for those in Northern California. I ended up taking a position with Renown, and there are a lot of other new grads in my orientation. Good luck!

I used Kaplan's Qbank and practice tests, and the Saunders book. I passed this past November!

Good luck with the other schools! That will be an easy transition if you're already going to school there! How do you like it? And I would definitely love some input on housing and where the good places to live are. And any other advice you may have :) thank you!!!

Congrats Lkwood12! I'm pretty set on Marquette. I'm hoping to make a trip out to Milwaukee next month sometime to get a better idea of good areas to live. Where are you waiting to hear from?

Not sure yet! It depends in when I get a place to live and when the lease starts. Hopefully around the beginning of May. Hopefully you hear back soon!

congratulations! And I dot think there is a Facebook group yet, you should start one! :)