nicurn96

Congratulations! I'm so excited for you!! It's the best job in the whole world. I started in the fall of 2020 so I finished orientation almost a year ago (March 2021). It was absolutely the hardest thing I've ever gone through but you learn SO much and it really does prepare you for being on your own. My advice is to ask ALL of the questions- the preceptors are all amazing and everyone wants you to learn. So don't be scared to ask questions, ask for help, ask for particular experiences, etc. Orientation is what you make of it so just learn as much as you can and write things down! You might think you'll remember something but I promise, you'll be given so much information that you can never remember all of it, so keep a little journal in your work bag and write down everything! If you have any specific questions feel free to message me!

Hey! Sorry I'm just now seeing this! I've been in their residency program for almost 7 months now and absolutely love it. I just came off of orientation a couple weeks ago so I'm on my own now- it's scary but amazing!! Basically, there are four total phases. Phases 1-3, you work every shift with a preceptor. Every phase is one week of class, and then three weeks of days followed by three weeks of nights. At the end of the phase, you turn in all of your assignments/quizzes and take the phase exam. If you pass, you move on to the next phase (if you don't, you just have 1-2 more weeks on that phase while you remediate and then retake the test). Each phase gets more challenging- phase one is basically all room air, vapotherm, CPAP with basic lines (TPN, lipids, med line, that kind of stuff). You're really just learning the basics. Phase 2 is all NIPPV and ventilators, with more pre/post-op, admissions, discharges, and really just focusing on everything about vents. Phase 3 is the most intense (but the most fun in my opinion). It's all nitric, oscillators, ECMO, complex lines, pressors, etc. You have a meeting with the educators every week where they just ask you how it's going, ask your preceptor her thoughts, what you need to work on, etc. So that's a total of six months, and then you take your final phase 3 exam and you're off on your own! Phase 4 is the last 6 months (the residency program is a total of 1 year). You're working completely on your own (though you have LOTS of resources and everyone is super helpful), but you still meet with the educators like once a month and do an EBP/change project at the end. Sorry for the novel LOL but that's basically it! It's very challenging, I'm not gonna lie, but I can honestly say that after 6 months I feel very comfortable caring for our patients and know 100% that anyone I ask will help me with anything. Everyone is so supportive and more than happy to help you! If you have any other questions, let me know ?

It's really not too bad! For the NICU residency specifically, we do 3 weeks of days and then 3 weeks of nights in each phase. After you're done with all 3 phases and are on your own, you self schedule so you can do as many days and nights as you want (just not 100% days until you have like 2-3 years). It's definitely an adjustment (especially the first few night shifts LOL) but it's really not bad! Also just a side note, in the NICU we're allowed to take an hour long nap during night shift which a lot of people do (I don't because I'm not a good napper LOL). So that's always an option if you get tired!

Hey! Congratulations on your offer (and everyone else who's gotten an offer too)!! It's an incredible hospital, I absolutely love working at Children's and I'm sure you guys will too! So keep in mind with the $29 an hour, you also get ICU pay (an extra 3 per hour I think) plus differentials. To give you guys an idea of what it's like, my rent including parking, utilities, etc is around $1500 per month, and my paychecks (depending on if im on nights or days) are between 1800 and 2300, so 3600 to 4600 per month. So it's very, very doable! Like everyone is saying, Arlington is for sure a great place to live. I actually live here now (in the Ballston neighborhood) and it takes me 20-25 minutes to get to work, even with traffic. I would 100% recommend arlington over other places just because it's the most like DC (lots of big buildings, restaurants, bars, young people, etc) but a little bit more affordable and still close to work. If anyone has any housing questions (or any kind of questions!) please let me know!

1. I was local! I'm not sure that that makes a huge difference though, I'm pretty sure around half of my cohort was local and the other half wasn't (they were from all over the place!). 2. I did get my capstone in the NICU (at a different hospital) but I only got to work 3 shifts because everything got down from covid. I think having your capstone in the NICU is a leg up for sure but they also know things are still a little crazy right now so it's not a deciding factor! 3. As for your application/resume, I don't think it's required to submit rec letters (I could be wrong) but it's definitely a good idea. I submitted one from my peds clinical instructor (they LOVE anything pediatric) and one from my boss at my internship at Children's. If you can get a letter or two, I would say absolutely submit them. The more the merrier!! To stand out, I think rec letters help, any kind of volunteering, and especially anything NICU related (or whatever unit you want to be on for anyone else). Even if you didn't get your capstone there, try to at least shadow at a unit or two just so they can see that you're really interested in it. I would also say a good cover letter will make you stand out- just highlight all of your best stuff and be yourself, write it like you really want to be there! Don't use one of those automated, robot sounding ones, they'll know. Also, call/email either the managers or the nurse recruiter and ask about the process, your application status, if there's anything else you can do, etc. They LOVE people who take initiative and reach out to them, it shows you really want it! That's probably my biggest piece of advice- I don't know that I would've gotten the job if I didn't email the managers asking questions and thanking them after the interview (and also sending a handwritten thank you card). 4. As for the interview, don't be nervous!! They know this is a very scary process so I promise they're super nice. I'm not sure about other units but for the NICU, I only had one interview but there were between 5-9 people on the zoom call (some came and left during). It was probably about an hour, maybe 10 questions and then they explained the whole residency program. They LOVE "tell me a time when" questions like when you went above and beyond, had a difficult patient/family member, your favorite memory from nursing school, things like that. They also asked my pet peeves, how I handle stress, what I do for fun outside of work, and what makes a good NICU nurse in my eyes. All pretty standard questions! Make sure you ask a question at the end too- I always asked if there was anything I could do to prepare myself ahead of time for working in an ICU/high stress environment because it shows your initiative. I hope this helps! Sorry for the novel LOL. If you have any other questions, I'm happy to help! I promise you'll end up where you're supposed to be so don't be nervous, you got this!!

Hey everyone! I work in the NICU at Children's (I just started their new grad residency in September) so I'm more than happy to help if anyone has questions! Every unit is different but just for reference, I applied in early March, interviewed in early May and got my offer on May 27th! It's a long process (the NICU gets ~500 applications and hires 10-15) but so worth it. So yeah, just wanted to pop in and encourage all of you that you will get through it, it's a tough process but you'll end up where you're supposed to be. If anyone has questions I'm here!

Thanks so much! You'll definitely need the standard stuff- resume, cover letter, letter(s) of recommendation (I think I submitted two but I don't think they had a required number). I'm pretty sure that's all you need! Feel free to message me if you have any other questions, I'm more than happy to help. Good luck!

Base pay is $29 an hour plus differentials. This is what they emailed me: · Mon-Fri days (regular base rate) · Mon-Fri evenings = +15% · Mon – Thursday nights = +20% · Sat/Sun Days = +10% · Sat/Sun Eve = +20% · Fri/Sat/Sun Nights = +25% If you have any other questions let me know! hope this helps ?

@sendhelp It was almost exactly 3 weeks! I interviewed on the 7th and heard back on the 27th. Is anyone else interviewing or has already interviewed with the nicu? @amar2 thank you! I'll message you right now with the info.

hey guys! just wanted to update again- I got the email with my offer letter from the NICU yesterday (September 21st start date)! So I really think that things are picking back up and they'll get back to people soon, so don't worry!! If anyone has any questions about salary, benefits, etc let me know, I'm more than happy to share so you know what you'd be getting into LOL Also @cc1234567 where are you from? I would suggest either living in Arlington (that's where I live and where most "young professionals" live- it's a little safer/nicer than DC but only a 20 min drive/a few metro stops) or pretty much anywhere in NW or NE DC. NW is typically the nicest part of DC so more expensive, but obviously safer and all of that. I've lived here my whole life so if anyone has questions or needs help with stuff like this, pm me or I can give you my number! I'm so excited for all of us!!

Did you guys get the email from Jill Board last week? I got an email on Thursday saying that they weren’t moving forward with the application process but that they hoped to resume the process in the coming weeks. One of my friends that works there said that things are starting to pick up again and they aren’t asking nursing to take off so I’m hoping this will be over soon!

They asked all the standard interview questions! Why do you want to work at Children's, why the NICU, what do you do for fun outside of work, what are good qualities of a NICU nurse, what's your biggest pet peeve, tell us about a time when you dealt with a difficult patient/family members, and a couple more "tell us about a time when" questions that I can't remember. I think they asked around 8-10 questions and then told me all about the residency program and all of that. I was so nervous but honestly it really wasn't too bad, and everyone who interviewed me was so nice so don't be stressed! You've got this!!

It was on zoom! There were a couple educators and a manager. Originally 11 people were on the zoom invite and I was freaking out LOL but only 4 people actually interviewed me so it wasn't too bad! I've heard a lot of people's statuses are changing so I'm sure you guys will hear soon!

hey guys! just wanted to update again- I just had my interview, everyone was SO nice!! They asked all of the general questions like strengths, a moment that stood out to you in nursing school, what you do outside of work, a pet peeve that you have, etc. Nothing crazy so don't worry. They said that they can't give any formal offers until the hiring freeze is over but they also kind of said (without actually saying it LOL) that they would give you some kind of verbal confirmation that they wanted to hire you. But for all the NICU people, they said they fully intend on having the residency start September 21st and they're hiring around 15 people! Hope this helps- if anyone has questions let me know!

thank you! I'm super nervous but really excited, this is literally my dream job so fingers crossed LOL. I'm interviewing for the NICU! Also side note- I talked to the NICU manager on Monday and she told me that they're getting in touch with people who are reaching out to them, so call HR or do whatever to get in touch so they know you're really interested!