flowerchick

I' m a graduate and I (as well as 90% of my classmates) used rolling backpacks for all two years! A tote bag is ideal for clinical, but for on campus, the rolling backpack is the best. Plus it was good to stash some snacks in for the days you stayed over to go to practice lab, study, etc. Good luck to you!

Thanks for the input! This really helps me make my decision (Banner!). I just mailed my fingerprint card yesterday, so hopefully the State of Illinois won't take too long sending my license certification. (Fat chance...I mailed it the same day I mailed my endorsement application and they haven't even cashed the check yet.) I don't want to apply until I have my AZ license in hand. I love waiting.

Thank you so much for your responses! I've talked to people in the community as well and they say the same things as both of you. Even from a community standpoint, most people I talk to would drive the extra few miles down I-10 to go to Banner as opposed to West Valley for their care. Plus, I'm pretty happy that I figured out I don't have to take "Death I-10" and that I can take Indian School all the way in. I'd rather have it take a little longer and not need anti-anxiety meds to drive in

Hi All! I've moved from Illinois to Buckeye a few weeks ago. Both of the above hospitals are somewhat near me and I was wondering if anyone has any experiences or opinions of the atmosphere, ratios, working conditions, etc. I graduated last May and have worked 6 months in Med/Surg. I sent in my application for endorsement last week, so it will be a while yet. I'm looking to start in January,(give me time to get to know the area, settle the family, get my license, etc) but I'd like to start my research now so I end up being happy with my decision. Any input would be great and appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Well, it's 78 in Chicago right now, but it is still humid. So, the windows are open and the air is still set to click on at a moments notice (aka: 76 degrees). Anyways, we leave 7/30 and will arrive 8/2. We are very excited to relocate and I will definitely post updates once we are there. Thank you again, everyone, for your help and input! Investing in sunscreen, Collin Edited because I cannot spell!

Howdy! We are back. We did bid on a home, then they proceeded to counter-offer with their LIST PRICE! Argh. We decided today to buy a spec home that is all ready to go in our favorite neighborhood, Verrado (Buckeye). We'll be moving soon and I'm very excited. BTW, we were out there for the "1 degree below the record high" and it really wasn't too bad...dry heat, no humidity, stay out of the sun. Also, of the 3 allergy sufferers in my family, none of us had issues!

Again, thanks for all your input. Hubby went out last week and really liked Verrado in Buckeye. We are currently 'in the middle of nowhere' here in Illinois, so driving 30/45/60+ mins to get places is our norm. We are going out Sunday and hopefully finding something we'll all like. We've made the decision (much to my elation) that I will take off the first half of the school year to help settle the house, kid, get to really know the area. Then, I'll start looking after Jan 1 for a job. I'm still working now and probably will right up until we move. I'll report back next weekend! Wish me luck. Oh, BTW, he sent me pics of the dashboard showing 113 degrees. Although, coming back to Chicago to 96 and humid, he said AZ was much more comfortable, you just be sure to stay out of the sun during the day this time of year! I figured I could just put my crockpot in the back of the car before work during summer and Voila! Dinner comes home with Mom!!

Wow, you guys are very, very, very helpful!!! Well, we started doing some research in Peoria and were very pleased with the existing (not new construction, which is a totally new for us) houses we found online. We also are still sending DH out next weekend for three days on his own to do some really hard-core searches without the females in our family (me included) clouding up the big picture. He'll come home Monday, then we all leave together the following Sunday for 6 days. Hubby found Buckeye during his research of communities. I believe it was Verrado that caught his eye initially. Well, I work the next three straight, but I wanted to say thanks again for all the fantastic input. This was exactly what I was hoping for! Collin

Thanks for your input! I will definitely research Peoria. We are looking to stay within the 250-350 range. We finally decided to send hubby out next weekend on a reconnaisaince (sp?) mission. We'll all go out together the next weekend as planned. I know I want to get/have a pool and I would love to be able to see the mountains. I don't have plans on working anywhere specific. Right now, I live 45-60 mins from my job depending on traffic and that's fine. I won't focus on where I will work until we are moved, settled, daughter is in school, etc. Once I get settled, then I'll start asking the questions about hospitals! Thanks again for the info.

Hi all. I'm an RN in Illinois. I graduated last May, so I just am finishing my first year. We sold AND CLOSED on our house here in record time (just over a month) so we are in an apt with all our stuff in storage waiting for our pre-planned visit to AZ the first week of July for house hunting. We've narrowed down three major areas: Gilbert, Chandler and Buckeye We based this on what we can find data-wise about house prices and types, (We want new construction and prefer immediate delivery as we'd like to close in 30 days or by the very beginning of August to get our 9 year old in school on time) school districts and all the basic info one can gather. We've been out every year for the last 5 years and stayed in Tempe/Scottsdale/Flagstaff. Anyways, I have seen lots of good info here over the last months about Chandler and Gilbert, but none about Buckeye. I really love what I've read/seen about some of the new subdivisions, such as Verrado, but I'd love some first hand info about neighborhoods, schools, traffic, oh, and hospitals. (Although, I will not be starting my job search until we are settled..hubby can transfer with his current position, so the heat's off me, thankfully.) Thanks a ton in advance! Collin Never Moving AGAIN! :beercuphe

No advice, but I'm in the same boat. I'm actually becoming obsessed! Today I was watching Barefoot Contessa on FoodTV and I was checking out Ina's veins on her hands while she was mixing ground beef. I was thinking, "Oh, I bet I could get an 18 gauge in there..." :doh:

Please don't be admitted for abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, then proceed to ask upon admission to my floor from the ER when you'll get a dinner tray........:angryfire

Woodstock must be your nursing home rotation (1st 1/2 of the semester) then NIMC would be your 2nd half. I work at Lake Forest Hospital. Again, good luck!

Pigpen, first off, congrats! I wouldn't get too stressed out about reviewing beforehand. Just look through the handbook and have your modules separated in a binder and organized before you start. It would benefit you to do the reading for your A module before the first day so you have one less thing to worry about. Biggest and most used book 1st semester is the Fundamentals of Nursing. Don't buy all your books in the beginning (like I did ). Get the main one and work from there. Also, the books and modules were never ready on time when I was in the program, so being as I just graduated in May, I doubt it's changed. The bookstore will get to know you, so you'll walk in and they'll see you and say "Nope, print shop says tomorrow..." Do you have your schedule yet? Do you know where your first semester clinicals are? Usually 1st half in a nursing home, 2nd half in a hospital. Maybe I'll see you at my hospital! Good luck to you!

Just a guess here, but how about his pancreas? What was his amylase/lipase?

Sorry, correcting my error. I now see 35 DOLLARS an hourm not 35K.

Wow, why so quick to jump to a negative stance? I'll rise above your snotty inflection to add my two cents, therefore showing you that the nursing community is NOT as you seem to believe. (Although, a well-timed look in the mirror might be warranted...) So, anyways, I'm in Northern IL and the job market is fair and housing is reasonable. Most school districts are above-average in our area, there is also a large contingent of private schools. Taxes vary by county and are on the high side in my area (about 7K a year for a 250-ish house) but services reflect that. As for 35K+ am I misreading this? Most new grads in IL start around 22.00 an hour which is just over 45K a year without differentials. Is it that much of a difference elsewhere? If so, wow!

It's 9:30ish central time and you can be confident that someone in IL is praying for you in advance of your 11:00 interview!!!

Just to clarify, it's not where you test, it's the state Board of Nursing for which you are testing. I tested in WI for my Illinois license and I can tell you that my license is most definitely from IL. When you apply for the NCLEX test w/Pearson, you had to specify which BON you were applying to/testing for. Good luck!

I used the ARCO review book and I found it helpful. I had been out of school over 10 years when I took the test, so I needed a review. I got a 91% composite the first time and I believe the practice tests were helpful. This was 4 years ago, so the edition has changed, but here's a link to the book: http://www.amazon.com/Nursing-Health-Entrance-Academic-Preparation/dp/0768911958

Wow! So I guess that the hospital that's an hour drive isn't too bad after all! Thanks again.

Hi all. I'm a new grad RN (May 2006). I resigned my first job as an RN at a small community hospital close to home at the end of my orientation period (7 weeks). Without going into detail, I'll just say that it was crystal clear that 'we' were not a good match and that my license would be in jeopardy if I continued to work without appropriate training/preceptorship. So, here I am looking at other hospitals (very closely!) and I'm wondering how far people commute to their jobs. Many of the hospitals that I find attractive and seem to have good reputations for training and development of new RN's are pretty far away. Thanks!

Once I had my ATT (even before testing) I was working as 'RN License Pending' which is basically the same as GN. I had to do everything under a preceptor (RN) and have him/her sign off on all my charting. I also couldn't take verbal orders from the docs. So, the answer is yup, you can work RNLP until your paper license is in hand. Congrats, BTW!

Hey Jaylene, it's me, Collin! Congrats on the pregnancy! When are you due? BTW, I loved IC and Dr. Thrower. (That's where I met Jaylene) As for other comments I know my opinion about the program is unpopular. I guess my thought is that like anything else in life, attitude is key. I went in with the attitude that it was going to be hard, I will have instructors (lots, actually) that I didn't like or click with and some (few) that I found to be exceptional. Performance Exams are ridiculous and literally sucked the life out of me and my family, but after two years of them, I'm done with only minor PTSD. :wink2: I guess I just don't want new students to feel intimidated before they even start.

I second, third and fourth what everyone has said. TAKE THE DAY SHIFT!!!!!!!!! I precepted on days, then went to nights. I have an 8 year old and a tremendously supportive husband, but nights stunk. It's very hard to sleep away the day after being away all night, esp on weekends when everyone is up and about. It's hard physically and mentally. In my perfect world, I would make new grads work days for at least the first year. You learn SOOOOOO much. I think I learned one new thing since switching to nights.