NatalieM22

I just moved to the suburbs near Chicago, from Miami, 3 weeks ago. I am also a new grad, I just graduated with my BSN this May (2014), but I graduated with my ASN and passed my boards in 2012. I worked at a pediatric office from 2006-2014. Anyways, I applied to countless positions here over the past month. The only positions I applied for though were NICU, PICU, PEDS, and L&D. The first, and only call, I have received was just last week to come in and interview for an L&D position at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, IL. I was surprised they called so quick, and I have no L&D experience except for clinicals. I am very excited and hope to get a job offer. If you really don't mind moving, I would suggest checking out some Hospitals here in Chicago. It was really easy and quick to transfer my license here too (just $$$ and paperwork). I have also found a few hospitals with RN residency programs. Here is my list of places you should check out: 1- MacNeal Hospital (Berwyn) 2- Adventist Midwest Hospital (Hinsdale) 3- Edward Hospital (Naperville) 4- Advocate Christ Hospital (Multiple locations) 5- Loyola University Medical Center (Maywood) 6- Rush University Medical Center (Chicago) 7- Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago) They all advertise hiring new grads! Good luck wherever you end up!

I definitely did not mean to insinuate that I wanted to become an "expert" before I step foot inside a NICU. I am just looking for some educational material so I can read and learn some things about a field I am interested in working in. I know from my leadership experience, the material that newly hired nurses had to learn was a lot and it was overwhelming to me. I am just trying to get a head start. I know that expertise comes with experience. I just wanted to learn somethings before I start going on interviews and working.

Hello Everyone, I am very interested in pursuing a career in the NICU field. I am a fairly new graduate RN. I graduated in 2012 with my ASN and passed my boards right away and then recently completed an RN-BSN program this past May (2014). I have worked at a private pediatric office as a medical assistant, lab technician, and RN throughout it all (2006-2014). I chose to complete my BSN leadership hours in a NICU and I absolutely found my calling. I wont stop chasing my dream job of becoming a NICU nurse. I learned a lot during my leadership but no where near enough. I don't want to be that new nurse, in an ICU, struggling with all the new info that comes during orientation. I am trying to find educational information to gain knowledge in the field while I job hunt. Anyone have any recommendations? Thanks!

I am revising my resume and need some help...Are there any Miami-Dade College ASN grads out there? I graduated from the Generic Part-time program back in April 2012, and the BSN program this past May (2014) Here is my question: How many clinical hours does Miami-Dade's ASN program total? During my BSN practicum I shadowed a clinical nurse specialist and had the opportunity to observe her conduct some new grad RN interviews. I noticed that many of these applicants had their clinical hours on their resumes. (I have had my clinical sites and dates on my own resume, but not how many hours I completed in each area.) I thought this looked professional and especially smart for a new grad nurse without any hospital work experience. I tried to go back and figure out how many hours I would have completed based on the amount of credits each clinical was worth, but I just don't know how accurate these numbers are. I read online somewhere that the credit to clinical hour ratio is usually 1:3 (so every credit is about 3 hours of clinical time a week) This is what I came up with: Fundamentals (Spring Semester) 2 credits = 6 hours/week x 16 (weeks in semester)= 96 hours Medical Surgical (Summer AND Fall semester) 4 credits = 12 hours/week x 28 (12wk summer term + 16wk fall term) = 336 hours Pediatric (Half the Spring semester) 1 credit = 3 hours/week x 8 weeks (half the spring term) = 24 hours Obstetrical (the other half of the spring semester) 1 credit = 3 hours/week x 8 weeks (other half of the spring term) = 24 hours Psychiatric (Summer Semester) 2 credits = 6 hours/week x 12 (weeks in semester) = 72 hours Advanced Medical Surgical (Fall Semester) 3 credits = 9 hours/week x 16 (weeks in semester) = 144 hours Leadership (Spring Semester but only 1 month?) Now this I remember was SATURDAY and SUNDAY, 12 hour shifts, for 1 month? (can't remember exactly) So lets say 8 shifts (2 a week for 4 weeks) x 12 hours = 96 hours Can anyone confirm these numbers???? If you attended another ASN program what were you clinical hour totals like??? Do you agree with adding these numbers on your resume???? Thanks for any input!

Wow what a great idea! Thank you, I can't believe I didn't think of this I have wanted to join a professional organization for a while... I already emailed my local AACN chapter AND local NANN chapter...Thanks again!

Hello everyone, I am new to this site so I am not sure how this all works. I am looking to make some connections, get some advice/insight, and ultimately receive some assistance in finding an RN position in the Chicago IL suburb area. Here is a little background about myself: I recently relocated from FL to IL at the beginning of this month (June 2014). I attended nursing school in Miami and graduated with my ASN in May 2012 and passed my boards right away. I graduated from an RN-BSN program this past May (2014). I worked at a pediatric office for almost 8 years (2006-2014). I started there as a medical assistant and was quickly promoted to a lab technician. After passing my boards my title in the office changed to RN and I continued to work there while attending/completing my BSN program. I completed my BSN practicum hours in a NICU and would really love to acquire a position in this field! In about a months time (May-June 2014), I have applied to 10 different hospitals and over 30 different positions. Again I am most interested in working in the NICU but I would also be interested in any L&D, PICU, or peds positions. Here is a list of Hospitals I have applied to: 1-Loyola University Medical Center (Maywood) 2-Silver Cross (New Lenox) 3-Adventist Midwest Health (Multiple Locations) 4-MetroSouth Medical Center (Blue Island) 5-Little Company of Mary (Evergreen Park) 6-MacNeal Hospital (Berwyn) 7-Ingalls Memorial Hospital (Harvey) 8-Advocate Christ Medical Center (Multiple Locations) 9-Edward Hospital (Naperville) 10-Palos Community Hospital (Palos Heights) Right now these hospitals are in order with the one I hope to MOST hear back from at the top of the list. This is based on location and the position(s) I have applied for and/or I am still being considered for (I have already received my share of automated rejection emails So....I know these hospitals are hiring (or at least their websites show positions available) and I want to make something happen! Does anyone work at any of these locations and know if specific units are in fact hiring???? Who do I need to contact to get my resume in the right hands and land an interview???? Thanks for taking the time to read this post and if anyone can help me out I would appreciate it! -Natalie