Suggestions on new grad programs in San Diego??

mstigerlily · Aug 17, 2005

I have friends from my class who got jobs at Sharp Mary Birch in the NICU, I applied there but didn't get the job, I went to Scripps La Jolla instead (postpartum) and I'm glad because I love it.

Scripps has a NICU too but it's staffed by Children's nurses. I had a classmate who went to Children's but not NICU - she loves it. Sharp Hospitals are very good and have a fantastic orientation/new grad program. Scripps also has a very good new grad program. If you are looking for NICU in particular, definitely try Sharp Mary Birch and Children's.

Melissa

Hello- I am doing my research on all the San Diego area hospitals that offer new grad programs, possibly in NICU and wondered if any of you have anything great to say about a certain hopsital or maybe even those to stay away from. Ideally I would like to work as a civilian contractor for one of the Navy hositals but have been told you need at least a year experience first- is that true? I already contacted Children's hospital but I will miss the start date and they said they only accept 1 out of 4 applicants anyway. Any help will be greatly appreciated!!!! I am trying to do this research from Phoenix because as soon as I graduate I am out of this dust bowl :)

taapple · Aug 17, 2005

I have friends from my class who got jobs at Sharp Mary Birch in the NICU, I applied there but didn't get the job, I went to Scripps La Jolla instead (postpartum) and I'm glad because I love it.
Scripps has a NICU too but it's staffed by Children's nurses. I had a classmate who went to Children's but not NICU - she loves it. Sharp Hospitals are very good and have a fantastic orientation/new grad program. Scripps also has a very good new grad program. If you are looking for NICU in particular, definitely try Sharp Mary Birch and Children's.
Melissa

Do you know if you get paid your regular wage when you go through a new grad program? Also at Scripps, what exactly do you do on a daily basis in the postpartum unit? Just curious. I appreciate your feedback.

suzanne4, RN · Aug 17, 2005

Yes, you get paid your regular salary when you go thru your training program. That is why many facilties want you to sign a two-year agreement for the specialty training that they will be giving you.

mstigerlily · Aug 17, 2005

Yes, you get paid your regular wage to sit in class/orient with another nurse on the floor, etc. They give you free breakfast and lunch too on the days you have class (once a week), it's great. No contract/time commitment is required.

I posted this on another thread so I am cutting and pasting but I think it answers your questions. We have a busy unit, we delivery 350-400 babies per month and we are in a $$$ area so our moms/families can be demanding.

Hello I am a new grad, I went right into postpartum mom/baby. I LOVE the teaching. Love teaching new parents about what to expect and new moms about the joys of breastfeeding. I think it depends on the hospital how much work is involved. I pictured my floor being comparatively cushy. Not so! We also take care of women's surgeries, gyn surgeries, hysterectomies, etc. So we have a few med-surg patients along with our mom/baby couplets.

We have protocols and policies and procedures on what must be done. Patients must be assessed at shift change, vitals are taken by CNA for mom, but we take baby's vitals and do assessment. We admit new patients - new c-sections get vitals q15 and q30 the first few hours, then q4, new vag moms only q4. Babies are q4 for first 24 hrs, then q8. Our unit manager is obsessed with hyperbilirubenemia, we do transdermal bili tests on any baby who has risk factors: poor feeding, + coombs, previous baby with jaundice and have standing orders to draw a serum bili if needed. We have protocols on blood sugars for both mom/baby, we often have patients on mag, GBS + or who have GDM or PIH so they need extra attention, blood sugars, seizure precautions and/or double antibiotics. I work in a ritzy area so we have a lot of IVF babies and older moms, pretty common to have moms in late 30's to late 40's having their first baby and these moms tend to have more problems.

As for the babies, although most of the time they are healthy sometimes go bad, usually in the middle of the night (I work 3 12 hr night shifts a week). I've only been working since Feb and I've already had at least half a dozen babies go under double bank lights, several more go home with biliblankets, one baby with a pneumothorax, several heart murmurs (all benign) and one baby with a subdural bleed. Pretty scary for a new grad. I can't imagine how stressful labor & delivery must be, I'm glad I started here.

Our unit is very busy, we have 3 floors open right now, they often call me in offering my doubletime.

In addition to working on the floor with the moms/babies/women's surgical pts, we also can train for the nursery. This is where babies who need to be monitored go (but are not yet sick enough for level II), babies whose moms are resting and fresh c-section babies go there directly from the OR for their baths and assessments. Circumcisions are done there and most babies go there for phototherapy, although some moms choose to have the lights in the room with them. I loved working in the nursery but have not been properly trained so the most I've done there is work with another nurse or cover for half an hour while someone goes on break.

We also can float to L&D to do recovery when they are super busy. If we become certified lactation educators or lactation consultants we can work a shift as a lactation nurse as well. I plan on taking the CLE classes next year, right now I'm starting online classes for my BSNl.

Did I answer what I liked? Not really huh? Well, it's busy. And yes, tons of patient interaction. You will do tons of breastfeeding assistance, that is at least half my job. We keep track of and chart each feeding, void and stool so that's a lot of checking back with patients. We do hearing tests on the babies and weigh them nightly. Some of the ladies pop their percocets like candy q3 like clockwork so there is a lot of pain meds to be given. Occasionally you'll give rhogam or another IM injection. Fingersticks/insulin on diabetic moms. Mag sulfate on IV pumps, PCA dilaudid or morphine on PCA pumps. Hanging piggybacks happens often esp with gyn patients and IV push more often still. Not like on a med-surg floor, but you do get some skills practice. I do straight cath ladies occasionally who can't pee after 6 hrs (our protocol) or if their bladder is distended. I have not yet had the need to start an IV so am very rusty in that department. We mostly DC the IVs and foleys on our floor. Foleys on c-sect moms are DCd around 18 hrs after delivery, c-sect & gyn pts must be gotten up to at least dangle (hopefully ambulate in hall) first post op day), vag deliveries we like to get up within the first few hours to pee and clean them up, IVs are dc'd when mom is drinking and has peed three times and ambulated twice. Many rules to remember on our floor and our manager is adamant about these rules. There is much charting to be done but honestly some nights I don't get around to even starting on charting until well after midnight.

We have an antepartum unit and of course labor & delivery and eventually would like to crosstrain there as well.

Melissa

Do you know if you get paid your regular wage when you go through a new grad program? Also at Scripps, what exactly do you do on a daily basis in the postpartum unit? Just curious. I appreciate your feedback.

peaceful · Aug 17, 2005

Excellent overview regarding what are some of the responsibilities of a postpartum nurse. Somewhat new to pp nursing myself (completing a 13 week contract) and enjoyed reading your answer.

mstigerlily · Aug 17, 2005

Thanks! Where are you located? I am interested in doing travel nursing some day probably locally in So. Cal.

Melissa

Excellent overview regarding what are some of the responsibilities of a postpartum nurse. Somewhat new to pp nursing myself (completing a 13 week contract) and enjoyed reading your answer.

lefthander1975 · Oct 17, 2005

So you are looking into getting a job at a NICU in San Diego? My advice is to look into the training programs. That is so important and also what kind of support you will have after your training is done. I currently work in the NICU at Mary Birch and it's been okay but originally I started at children's nicu. Oh by the way the recruiter loves to tell new grads how hard it is to get a job there(children's) but trust me-it is not. I did not have a good experience there and was very dissapointed.Anyways if you want more details email me.

Oh and as for Scripps- I think it's a GREAT hospital. They have really got their new grad program down and have great support. They don't just throw you out there once your training is done. They actually want you to suceed.

I have found that at other places because they are so short staffed, they are more eager to get you trained fast and forget that you are still a new nurse-it's all about the numbers.

eandgsma · Oct 23, 2005

I second Sharp Mary Birch. I worked there in Lactation and I loved it. They have the highest NICU in San Diego. (Level III I think???) I'm not a nurse, yet. They have a great new grad program though.

Good luck!

Ariel70113 · Oct 24, 2005

I went to Scripps La Jolla instead (postpartum) and I'm glad because I love it.
Melissa

Hi! i'm really interested in the postpartum unit! Do they only hire RN's? Or do they also hire LPN's for the program?

TIA!

mstigerlily · Oct 24, 2005

Hello,

Our hospital only hires LVNs as assistive staff, they are used interchangeably with CNAs on our floor. Of course I would imagine they get paid more. But as far as nursing care and responsibility, there isn't much. Occasionally when an RN isn't available or calls in sick they let an LVN work in the nursery.

Hi! i'm really interested in the postpartum unit! Do they only hire RN's? Or do they also hire LPN's for the program?
TIA!

Ariel70113 · Oct 24, 2005

Hello,
Our hospital only hires LVNs as assistive staff, they are used interchangeably with CNAs on our floor. Of course I would imagine they get paid more. But as far as nursing care and responsibility, there isn't much. Occasionally when an RN isn't available or calls in sick they let an LVN work in the nursery.

oh okay! thanks! I really want to get my RN degree. But I might end up getting my LPN 1st and then do the LPN-RN program......