Vanderbilt's Nurse Residency Program

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Does anyone have any advice on how to make a strong letter of intent for Vanderbilt's Nurse residency program? I know they accept a lot of applicants for each cohort but I'm not sure how many people actually apply and how competetive it actually is. If there is anyone on here that is currently in the program, was previously or knows anyone who has gone through the program, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Specializes in Cardiac.

Anyone know anything about the Women's Health residency? I believe that it is only open to current Vandy employees, so I'm assuming experience only?

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Hey everyone! I have been following this thread for a while, but have never posted. I am from Michigan, and I interviewed for the Adult Track/Critical Care all the way back on March 1st. The anticipation has been excruciating, as I'm sure you can relate to. They said we should hear back the beginning of April, so not much longer... :eek:

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Hey guys...

Just got an offer for an OR program up in Minot, ND, compliments of an agency with an incentive offer of a sign-on bonus. I think I'm going to pass and hold out for this position, or obviously other nursing jobs that arise. Do you think this is a good idea?? I want that ICU/critical care experience that will help me be more marketable for the future. I feel working as a scrub nurse/circulating nurse I'm going to lose a lot of nursing skills/critical thinking. Its only a year commitment so its really not that big of deal...but then i'll miss out on this program which I really want more. Then again it seems if I don't get it I could be screwed seeing as NO place hires recent grads for an ICU position. Well if all else fails I'm doing the army thing, 30,000 sign on, tuition paid, critical care program, and the fast track to a CRNA program, and they love guys lol...Does anyone know what a nurse makes about once there finished with this residency program??? I wish I could call vanderbilt now and ask if I'm in lol...

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Tough decision, OR is REALLY hard to get into even with experience. But I see what you mean having some type of floor nursing experience would be more marketable for you. But then again if you want to be a CRNA anyway what does it matter? I can't believe places are even offering a sign on bonus these days! Just make sure CRNA will take only or experience first. Congrats!!

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I can't wait to hear back from Vandy!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

hey guys! good luck with the interviews! I hope you hear soon. I'm in the winter cohort with AngelRN... so I'm sure we'll be seeing some of you guys around! I think I saw a lot of you guys taking the tour. When does everyone find out and when does the program start?

The OR opportunity sounds good - and like someone else said, it is very difficult to get into an OR setting. Though, I am not sure if the CRNA schools out here consider OR nursing for experience or if it is primarily ICU. I'd be careful with sign-on bonuses. So far, I've seen that a lot of those come in places (right now - in this economy) where it is hard to get people... and it is hard to get people for a reason. Otherwise, it sounds like a good experience and I doubt it'd be difficult to get into an ICU with OR experience? Can't quote me, though. Is there a way to delay your decision until you hear from Vandy? Not sure how long away that is for y'all...

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There are hundreds and hundreds of applicants for every residency program. It's just a crap shoot. There really ARE other places to work and to learn as much or even more than Vanderbilt.

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Thanks for the imput...I turned it down..I spoke with my uncle who is a critical care nurse in New Orleans, also my peers and professors. I think the general thought was to hold out for a better patient care experience. My uncle thinks the OR isn't really the best choice for a NEW GRAD because you don't see a lot of variability, and don't use a lot of critical thinking seeing as your not doing a lot of hands on patient care with skills and such. Really too I'd be doing it for the 5000$ incentive, which if they didn't offer that I prob. wouldn't take it -which means I'd be doing it for the money haha and I'm not about that. Also it was in North Dakota, town of about 35,000, so I figured I wouldn't want to live up there alone. At least Nashville is huge ya know? I'm just hoping for the Vandy program now. I've also applied to the Parkland residency in Dallas which seems good, and a few other positions...about 30 lol. Ofcourse like I mentioned before if all else fails the army, you can't really go wrong with that. Oh and yeah to apply for a CRNA program you need AT LEAST 2 years of experience in a critical care setting -which ONLY means an ICU, or ER, CCU. the operating room is not critical care. But hey good luck everyone only a few more more weeks and we find out! Vanderbilt is such a sweet campus too...wasn't their courtyard cool too, the one with that little mcdonalds in it haha. Wow there childrends hospital is really neat too. Not to mention for lunch a buddy and I went downtown and grabbed lunch at a great restaraunt, live bands during the day it was crazy. Such a cool atmosphere.

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Specializes in ICU, CVICU, Surgical, LTAC.
Thanks for the imput...I turned it down..I spoke with my uncle who is a critical care nurse in New Orleans, also my peers and professors. I think the general thought was to hold out for a better patient care experience. My uncle thinks the OR isn't really the best choice for a NEW GRAD because you don't see a lot of variability, and don't use a lot of critical thinking seeing as your not doing a lot of hands on patient care with skills and such. Really too I'd be doing it for the 5000$ incentive, which if they didn't offer that I prob. wouldn't take it -which means I'd be doing it for the money haha and I'm not about that. Also it was in North Dakota, town of about 35,000, so I figured I wouldn't want to live up there alone. At least Nashville is huge ya know? I'm just hoping for the Vandy program now. I've also applied to the Parkland residency in Dallas which seems good, and a few other positions...about 30 lol. Ofcourse like I mentioned before if all else fails the army, you can't really go wrong with that. Oh and yeah to apply for a CRNA program you need AT LEAST 2 years of experience in a critical care setting -which ONLY means an ICU, or ER, CCU. the operating room is not critical care. But hey good luck everyone only a few more more weeks and we find out! Vanderbilt is such a sweet campus too...wasn't their courtyard cool too, the one with that little mcdonalds in it haha. Wow there childrends hospital is really neat too. Not to mention for lunch a buddy and I went downtown and grabbed lunch at a great restaraunt, live bands during the day it was crazy. Such a cool atmosphere.

I have never heard of any schools that will accept ER as critical care either for CRNA.

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Has anyone heard back from Vanderbilt yet about the residency program yet? I interviewed over a month ago and this waiting game stinks.

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No, not yet. The wait is very difficult!!!

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Not yet. I thought they had said mid april. Good luck everyone! Let us know when you hear!

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