UCI Medical Center New Grad Program Summer '09

U.S.A. California

Published

Specializes in SICU.

Has anyone been hired at UCI Medical Center for the New Grad RN Program starting July 20, 2009?

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Specializes in Critical care.

Hi,

I'm starting at UCIMC on July 20th!!! Which unit are you going to??

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Specializes in SICU.

I will be in the SICU. I am so excited, especially seeing that so many new grads are having such a hard time finding jobs!

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Specializes in Critical care.

Hey I am also going to the SICU! We should chat!

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Specializes in SICU.

I couldn't believe it when I got called for an interview! I had sent my application months prior with no response. The NM said they opened up 8 new beds in the SICU and made 4 new grads. They just referred to the prior application process. You probably already know all of this! I just can't believe they picked my application out of the sea of hopefuls. Are you going to be working nights? I am. That will be an interesting adjustment. I am so excited, but I am a little scared too! I guess we are jumping into the deep end of nursing! Have you taken the NCLEX? I haven't even received my IP yet. I am holding my breath that I get it in time! Have you worked at UCI or done any clinicals there? I haven't, so I am going in blind!

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Specializes in Critical care.

I could't believe when they called me either. NM said there were what...something like 120+ apps to go through?! I feel so lucky to have been picked for an interview from all of those candidates, let alone that I was chosen for one of the new grad positions. So YES I know exactly how you feel!!

I will be on nights as well. I think all of us will be to start. Where did you go to school and what unit did you precept on? I didn't do clinicals at UCI, but lots of friends have and say it is amazing and unlike any experience they have ever had. I also have lots of friends that work there and love it! SICU should be awesome, but definitely a challenge!

Just took my NCLEX yesterday...ARGH still waiting to find out I passed! Keeping my fingers crossed! But you have time to do that or get your IP. Just need it by July 20th. Have you done your physical and all that? I'm soooo excited to have found someone else that is working there too! :D

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Specializes in SICU.

I am glad to hear that you have heard good things about UCI. I know no one there. I went to CSUDH. I was in the MEPN program. I precepted at St. Joseph's in the MICU. I also did clinicals in the ICU at the VA in LA. I asked the NM how the heck she picked my application out. She said she saw that I had been a school speech pathologist. She said her son needed speech therapy throughout elementary school and she really admired the profession. Wow, what luck I had. I think it also helped that I had over 300 hours experience in the ICU and had letters of recommendation from my critical care theory instructor, critical care clinical instructor, and my MICU preceptor.

I am waiting for my IP and ATT. My school didn't send my transcripts (I just found this out yesterday! argh!). AND I have a terrible criminal past ;-). I got charged with a misdemeanor 9 years ago for an unpaid traffic ticket. Long story. Mean judge. I guess my application has to be reviewed further. So I pray and cross my fingers that all works out in time.

I did my physical and peed in a cup. I just need a second TB test tomorrow. Do you know anything about scrubs? I think they have uniform scrubs in the departments. Do they pay for them? I was also told I would get paid $31.27 per hour with a differential for nights. Do you know what the differential is?

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Specializes in Critical care.

Wow how cool is that?! Well, congratulations! I went to Saddleback and did my ICU rotations at Hoag and CHOC and my preceptorship in the CCU/CVICU at Hoag as well. AWESOME experience!! So excited about SICU! :yeah:

I have heard great things about CSUDH, but what's the transcript holdup!? Once you get that all taken care of you should get at least your IP in time to start on the 20th.

As far as scrubs go...I have no clue. I do notice the uniform scrubs but not sure if we pay for them or not. And also, I think the night diff is about 3-4 more an hour. You should check out the union contract. Go to the California Nurse's Association web page and go through the UC contracts. It outlines the pay scale pretty well and I think it might have the differentials on there too.

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Specializes in SICU.

Thanks for the info. May I ask...how did you go about studying for the NCLEX? I have just been doing practice questions from Saunders and I am wondering if it is enough. I am starting to doubt myself.

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Specializes in Critical care.

All I did to prepare was lots and LOTS of questions. I feel like it helped, but don't know my results yet. Will keep you posted. Just keep doing those questions! Good luck!

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Specializes in SICU.

Thanks for the encouragement. I will keep plugging away. I think it is medications that I am worried about the most. Did you study a set of meds?

I went to get my last TB test today. I asked about scrubs. We will get three sets of light blue scrubs. That is fine with me...I am broke! Ha!

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Specializes in Critical care.

For pharm, what I studied were mainly the drug classes. I tried to have an idea of the most common SE/AE of each one, as well as any pertinent teaching, labs, etc. I feel like that helped. And honestly, all of the drugs on my nclex were pretty familiar, except one, but since it ended in "pril", I figured it out!

I still have to get my final TB test done. OH and thank goodness about the scrubs because I'm broke too!!!! :chuckle

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