ICUKeesh

Go to the interviews, don't pass up those chances! Best wishes :)

Yes, the pay is lower during training for the StaRN program. Right before you are completely done with training, your hospital will make you an offer as a FT nurse with your starting pay, which was pretty fair compared to new grad pay for surrounding hospitals. Hope that helps!

While I agree that all nurses whether floor nurses or specialty are equally important-ICU nurses where I work are paid a little more than floor nurses. We had to complete critical care training and be ACLS certified as a requirement of course but there is a little (about $1-2/hr) pay differential.

A few of my classmates are with HCA they started out at 23 base pay. I'm in critical care so the starting new grad rate for that is $24+ base pay. Then don't forget about all the shift differentials ( usually about $4-5 more an hour) and weekend differential. I have another classmate with Baycare and starting pay was $23+ for her! That's only my input from myself and my other classmates!

$23-24 here in Tampa for hospital pay

You're very welcome! And I can't credit for Mary J. Blige's beautiful avatar, thank her lol! Best of luck to you :)

Hello! In all honesty, I would just prepare to take my boards if you're already approved to take the NCLEX. In my experience, it really doesn't matter if you have prior health care experience when applying for a nursing position if it isn't an actual licensed "Nurse" position. You will still be considered a novice nurse with or without prior health care experience. Also, while you're preparing to take the NCLEX you should start looking into graduate nurse residency positions in your area. I'm sure you'll make the best decision for yourself and for your family, but give it some thought! Good luck with everything :) BTW I had 4 years experience as a CNA and 3 years experience as a lead medical assistant and employers still looked at me as a brand new grad nurse because I lacked "nursing" experience.Thankfully I was hired into a graduate nurse position!

Hello All! I am in Florida Graduated April 10th. Passed Nclex May 31st Began first job at Home Health Agency on 6/4/14 Accepted ICU Graduate position in a local hospital on 7/21/14 ?

Congratulations PiccolaRN! I'll see you there :)

Hello! I would just like to say it's very possible! Make connections and be very active with job searching and also stay on top of openings for residencies. I am also a new grad as of June and I was hired into ICU. I will receive 7-8 weeks of classroom /simulation lab training and the 7-8 weeks of floor training with a preceptor! If this is your goal, go for it because it's very possible! Also, I DID mention the fact that I wanted to continue my education for CRNA during my interview and it was not a factor for me, but I do agree that some facilities simply don't like to hear that! Good luck with everything

You're very welcome, glad I could help! Now I can't wait to start :-)

Congrats hun!! I'm so glad to hear that! Maybe I'll run into you :-)

That's great! I start the ICU track August 25th!! I'm so excited :-)

Hello! I am a new grad who was just hired in ICU. My orientation is 7 weeks of didactic training in a classroom/simulation lab (Mon-Fri 8-5), then 7 weeks of floor training with a preceptor.

First day of nursing school, let's see how long that energy lasts!

Congrats to all of you!! I just accepted an offer for the StaRN program here in Tampa bay area. I have a classmate who is currently in the program and she also loves it!!

Just curious, have you thought about home health nursing or private duty nursing?

Thank you all for your responses! I feel much better knowing I did the right thing and that it will be best for the children for the right authorities to intervene! I think my initial sadness came from worrying about the children, especially since I was a kid who was taken from my mother at the age of 7 and it was very hard to deal with but I knew it was best. Thank you all again :-)

It's possible! I did it as well, and when I started my child was 5 and in quite a few extra curricular activities and sports! I got so good at studying and completing task on the go that I eventually was able to study at Chuckie Cheese's EASILY! Lol, you will find ways to make it work for you. I wish you the best of luck :-)

Hello All, I am a newly graduated and licensed RN who recently started in home health. My agency also has PDN cases and I had one particular case that I felt needed to be reported to CPS. This was my first time coming across a situation where I felt the patient (less than a year old) was in an unsafe environment and unkept, as well as the other children in the home with a parent who was non compliant. It was really the worse 12 hours I have ever done and I did what I felt was right and went to my supervisor. Long story short, this was reported to CPS. Although I KNOW I did the right thing by advocating for my patient, why do I feel so bad? I cried all the way home, is this normal? Is it because I am a mother?! I felt torn although again, I know I made the right decision. Has anyone else ever felt this way??

I also did both Hurst and Kaplan and I felt very prepared! I loved Hurst for content, it really drilled in easy to forget content and I loved Kaplan for strategy! If you honestly feel weak on your content then Hurst will be a good investment. Don't change your test date, you have time to study and be sure review all rationales! Best wishes to you, you WILL pass!!

Lol you're welcome & a happy wife = happy life:D

Awesome!! Congrats Nurse, I was praying for you!! Go enjoy your day with your family :up:

Thank you!!

Thank you and best of luck to you on your boards! U got it!!