XelaRN

I would love for another new grad thread to be started! I thought about starting one but wasn't sure how receptive others would be to it. It seems like there are quite a few of us who have either stated in the last few months or will be starting in the next month or so. I start tomorrow and think it would be great to have another thread that we can share tips and info in. Especially if anyone else is going to be on night shift! I'm typically an early to bed early to rise kind of person, so i know that transition is going to be rough on me. Can't wait to hear how everyone else is doing!

I'll be starting on Monday! I'm super nervous haha, but I'm thrilled to be starting in a NICU! This is definitely also my dream job. I'll be at lurie children's hospital in Chicago. I'm not sure when we'll be on the floor either, but hopefully they'll let us know on Monday or Tuesday what our schedule is for the first few weeks.

Kriggs19 - Hey! I remember you from one of the other nicu threads. I'm glad to see that you'll be starting in a nicu soon! What state are you in? I'm trying to keep track of some of the users here that are starting soon or have started recently so we can share information and tips with each other.

Start with respiratory issues since a lot of your patients will probably be on ventilators. Definitely look into which meds are most commonly used and look up why they are used and the major side effects. I can post a list of some of those meds a little later today, but i don't have it on me now. I did my senior practicum in a nicu as well and was just hired in a level iv nicu, so let me know if you have any other questions!

One of the girls interviewed with the resource team. I don't know what unit the other person interviewed for though. That one i only heard about through my career services counselor at school.

I got the call with the offer and then my email yesterday. I'll be in the nicu! I know two other people who applied who already received their rejection emails. So hopefully you will get the call next week if you haven't gotten a rejection email yet! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you guys!

I got the job! Anyone else hear anything yet?!

Sort of. So, I initially applied to my two preferred units when the new grad positions were first posted, but checked the Lurie site about 2 weeks after positions were pulled and noticed that the ER had reposted their new grad position. I thought I could improve my chances of getting a new grad position by also applying to that one since it was reposted, allowing me to apply for thee units total. I was never called for an interview for the ER, but did get my rejection email from that unit about 5 hours ago. Still haven't heard anything from the unit I interviewed for though.... : (

I touched base with HR and was told that offer letters are being sent out this week. Anyone get that email yet?

I'm sorry, RNdreams7. It can definitely feel defeating when you had your hopes set on something. I know it can be hard to hear it in the moment, but things have a way of working out the way they should sometimes. I have faith that you will still get to your dream job! It may just be a different path than you initially envisioned. But keep us updated with your progress!

I am a new graduate living in Chicago and applied to several hospitals in or around the downtown area and I would say that $27/hr is indeed a fair starting point. Base pay may differ by up to a dollar an hour but most comparable hospitals and units, especially the downtown ones tend to even out with the amounts they pay for night shift and weekend shift differentials. Hope this helps!

Nope. I've been glued to my phone like white on rice. I was told the earliest we might hear would be the end of this week.

I know I'm a little late to the party, but congrats on the interview! Let us know how it goes and what you were asked!

Best of luck to all those interviewing tomorrow! Keep the rest of us updated on how it goes!

Does anyone know how long Lurie usually waits before alerting the interviewing candidates about whether or not they've been hired? And are candidates alerted based on each individual units timeline, or is the whole new grad cohort informed around the same time?

Hmm different. Well congrats on being selected for an interview! Keep me updated!

I just received the email saying that I'd been selected for an interview, but I was asked to provide dates of availability. Did they provide you with the interview date?

Hi everyone! I know this thread hasn't been terribly active recently, but I had a question about the interview process and would love some feedback. I am a new grad and applied for a position and had my phone interview with HR right before the holidays. A few days before Christmas, my application status transitioned to "interview". Unfortunately, I didn't receive an email or phone call from HR or a manager with any details about a time or date or even a unit selection, and I haven't been able to reach anyone in HR, but did leave a message asking for details. Today I recived a voicemail from a member of HR stating that she could clarify any questions I have about my interview scheduled for today. This was the first I had heard of it though and this individual didn't return my phone call after calling her back. Has this ever happened to anyone before? I would love to interview at this hospital and I would hate to think that I might have missed the opportunity because someone dropped the ball before they went on Christmas holiday. I checked my email, junk email, missed call list and voicemail, but never received any contact from anyone at NMH after my initial phone screen. Are they likely to hold this against me if I was scheduled for an interview today but had never been given that Information?

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond! The application states that it wants letters from the two most recent clinical instructors, so I just wasn't sure how strict recruiters might be on that issue. I also wasn't sure if I even want to ask my capstone preceptor since she is a nurse at a different hospital that I plan on applying to in just a few months. I'm not sure if it would be weird to ask her for a letter of recommendation to a different hospital system when she already knows that I plan on applying to her hospital as soon as their residency program begins. I will definitely be asking my critical care instructor for one though. I'm just not sure why this residency program specifies that the letters of rec should come for. The two most recent clinical instructors. : /

Hi everyone! I'm getting ready to apply to a new grad residency program and had a quick question. The application checklist states that two letters of recommendation are required and that they need to be from my last two clinical instructors. My capstone clinical "instructor" was a BSN preceptor at a major hospital (not the one I'm currently applying to) that I am hoping to also apply to when their new grad residency program opens in several months. My community clinical instructor was a lady that I saw for maybe a total of 2 hours during my 8 week clinical at a retirement facility and who probably wouldn't even remember me. I would rather save the recommendation letter from my preceptor for when I am applying to the hospital she works at, and my community instructor doesn't really seem like she could provide a strong letter of rec. So what am I supposed to do? I have a great relationship with my OB clinical instructor and my Critical Care didactic professor. Will letters from those two individuals be seen as me ignoring the application instructions?

I know this is an old post, but I really like the idea of writing either the x, check mark or question mark as you come to each answer. I've always struggled with the Hesi exams at the end of each course and am nervous for my upcoming exit Hesi in 2 weeks. I'm hoping this technique will help!

I have been making myself a medication reference document with some of the most common NICU meds (found on one of the previous allnurses threads), their indications, dosages, things to watch out for, etc. The Neofax for the unit has been missing/misplaced since I started and that book is, unfortunately, waaay to expensive for me to afford right now. One of the meds I had a question about was Zemuron (Rocuronium). I know from the -onium ending that it is a neuromuscular blocking agent/paralytic. However, several sites I have looked at state that Rocuronium isn't recommended for the pediatric population. I have seen at least two of the babies in my NICU on this med though. Does anyone know more about how common it is for Rocuronium to be used on neonates?

Don1984- Congrats on having finished your capstone! I'm glad you enjoyed the experience. I'm obviously a little biased, but I can't imagine anyone not loving a NICU rotation. Keep us updated on the job hunt progress! Bear1001- Thank you for the advice! I originally purchased the Merenstein and Gardner book, but my preceptor has lent me her copy of Core Curriculum and I am finding that to be a much easier and more helpful read. This experience has definitely been humbling! There are so many disorders and poor prognoses and so many of the babies I have worked with have been sooo very tiny! I think 4 out of my 6 patients so far have been micropreemies. And I am beyond grateful for this experience. I am definitely hoping that this preceptorship opens the door for a possible job once my hours are over or when this hospital posts openings for their new grad residency. I would be over the moon to work on such an amazing unit! My preceptor hasn't yet introduced me to the unit manager yet, or if she has, she hasn't referred to her by that title. Is it okay to ask to be introduced to the unit manager so that my name and face can be familiar to her? I am about 60 hours in to my practicum so far and only have another 70 to go. Bortaz, RN- I was hoping you might comment on one of my posts! I have followed many of your postings on this site and have always enjoyed the posts you have created and the advice you have given others. I also downloaded your brain sheet and have found it to be very helpful! I was so nervous performing my hands on assessment of the 500 gram baby. Moving her head was so very unnerving because i could feel the split fontanels and it felt so....strange. I made sure to be very careful though while doing anything with her. Working with her was by far the most humbling experience I have had so far in the NICU.

Hi everyone! I just recently (only 2 shifts in!) started my senior practicum in the NICU and am loving it! The unit is top notch, the nurses are wonderful and my preceptor is great! I started this thread to ask a specific question, but am also considering using it as a running "dialogue" of sorts for my time on the unit since I'm sure I will have many questions. I was told by my preceptor that during our next shift we will likely be taking care of a patient that is 500 grams. I believe 503 grams was the exact weight when I was last on the unit about 3 days ago. Is this considered micro preemie status? Also, what should I read up on regarding care for an infant of this size? What are my preceptor and i likely to do with and for this patient during a 12 hour shift? I wasn't given any other information about the patient so I won't find out diagnoses until I am back on the unit. Additionally, I Would like to show my preceptor that I am taking the initiative to learn about our patients before the start of shift and to illustrate my current level of knowledge, especially the things I am learning during my time spent reading on the unit (even though I am aware that as a student nurse what I don't know could fill a book.) I have heard and read that it is important to remain humble and to not act like I think I know everything, which I definitely don't think I do. However, my preceptor doesn't ask questions to test my knowledge the way other nurses during my clinicals have. Instead, she just tells me everything she thinks I should know about the diagnoses, pathology, or treatment plan. I'm sure part of this is just me trying to jump the gun and impress her since I would absolutely love to work on this unit, but the other part is that I genuinely like being tested on the information. It lets me know where I stand and, depending on the types of questions asked, I feel that it helps me to develop my critical thinking skills. Is this something I should mention to my preceptor or should I just wait and see if she is simply waiting until I've had more time on the unit? thanks in advance!

Babyrn- Thank you for your response! Great to know about the neofax! I suppose the best approach will be to see what my first few days are like and then decide if I will purchase the online version. I definitely will refrain from mentioning my hopes for a job for a while. I am just excited to get my first taste of NICU experience and see how the nurses at this hospital and on this unit functions. I have heard that NICU nurses tend to be very nurturing and I also imagine that the nature of the environment in a NICU encourages a strong team mentality. I will definitely look into other NICUs, however, if an employment possibility at this unit is not possible once my preceptorship is done. I have heard that having a senior preceptorship in a NICU can be a hindrance when applying for other units if I am unable to find employment in a NICU. Does anyone else have any experience with this? Hypersaurus, RN- Thank you for your response as well! Did you feel that 90 hours was sufficient for you to achieve what you wanted to during your practicum as far as learning and experience. Obviously, it takes years to gain a good amount of experience in such a specialized field, but for being a student nurse and hoping to become a NICU RN, was your time there satisfactory? I'm definitely ready to jump on whatever experiences the nurses are willing to offer me, but, this is a little embarrassing, I've never changed a diaper before. Will my nurse find it annoying to have to show me how to properly perform such a basic task? Are there certain tasks, like swaddling and changing a diaper that I should youtube or find a friend with a newborn to practice on? I do feel adequate with a typical newborn assessment even though I am sure I won't be completing any on my own.