When is everybody starting work and what unit?

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I am starting orientation on Monday and have to say that I am as excited as the day that I found out I got into NS!

I will be working on MS and hope to hook up with some of the other posters who will be on MS too...........heck, just new grads regardless of the unit!! I know we most likely will have frustrating days ahead but if we can stick together maybe it won't be AS rough!

Ya'll have a good day!!

Specializes in oncology, surgical, ortho.

Hi everyone,

I started orientation for Med/Surg/Tele on June 6th, now I have one week of unit specific orientation (they go into detail on setting up a PCA pump, hanging blood, they have the new GN's pass some meds, do all the IV starts on the floor, etc), then I start the real orientation where my preceptor and myself have 5 patients. I alternate between being excited and thinking I can do it, to being a nervous wreck :chuckle . I orient on evening shift for 10 weeks, then I have 2 weeks on nights (no preceptor, but was told to use the team leader who has no patients for help), then I'm on my own with my regular schedule of 2 8-hour night shifts and 2 12-hour night shifts. I can't wait to get to nights, I hate evening shift! But I feel that the length of my orientation is pretty good, so that makes me feel better (helps make up for the fact I have 4 different preceptors, lol).

Like the OP, I'd like to talk to other new grads too. Really, only other new grads and nurses can understand what we're going through. My other friends, as wonderful as they are, just can't completely relate. I'll give my aol screen name here for anyone who actually has the spare time and desire to talk to fellow new grads- nyte185.

Good luck everyone!

Ashley

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Specializes in Med/Surge.
Hey, Grin! You don't live too far, do you? I've never been to First Monday, but I've heard it's awesome, although somewhat of a madhouse!! Jefferson is a really neat town too, my husband and I spent our wedding night in one of the haunted hotels there.......okay, that was a little scary! I am nervous about tomorrow, too, but it will be nice to actually have a job again and make a living!! I will kind of miss lying around being a bum (as I've been doing for a month), but you can only watch so many Dr.Phil re-runs before you get bored with it!! Good luck to you, hope to see you on allnurses often.....we can keep each other updated on how our new jobs are going!!

Lil

Hi Lil-

They had something on that on one of the local channels last week. We went in there when we went to Jefferson shopping.....been about 3 yrs ago now but I would love to spend the night in it! They have some really neat B&B there too and love the antiques. Plan on making it back down there around Christmas. Don't they have some kind of special thing for Christmas or something? What county is Jefferson in? I would love to take my Mom again and stay the night w/o the kids just to treat her to something special for all the help she has given me the past 4 yrs while I have been in school. We toured some kind of museum there too. Seems like it was an old rail road thing or something. I have gone 2xs but they were just day trips. You will have to come to 1st Monday sometime. Just not during the summer unless you love the heat :rotfl: :rotfl: 50 million people crammed into one pavillion w/o ac...................loads of fun. NOT :chuckle I usually try to go in Oct/Nov/Dec or Feb/Mar/April-somewhat cooler then. They have anything and everything imaginable. Crafts, junk, antiques etc.........you name it, they probably have it somewhere!! I can't wait for Octobers b/c I they have some of the cutest halloween decorations! Actually will be able to shop and buy rather than just look and dream.......... :)

I think what I will miss the most from this past month of being a bum is napping with my 3yo. And being able to make up on all the movies that I have missed the past 2 yrs. Not to mention just surfing the net. I knew the party was gonna end sometime but I truly am ready for it. Excited, nervous, and then some.

Yeah, I definately say we all visit this forum often for moral support............I am sure we are going to need it. Have a great first day!!

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Grin,

Jefferson is in Marion County.....it's about 15 minutes from here and a fun place to go for looking at older stuff. They have really beautiful B&Bs everywhere, that would be a nice thing to do for your mom. They have a lot of historic homes that you can tour......and yes, they do have an old railcar that was someone's home that they do tours of. Marshall has a big thing at Christmas with all the lights & the town makes a big deal out of it. It is really nice downtown, but not so much in the neighborhoods anymore. I think everyone got tired of being expected to put up a bunch of lights and spend gobs of their own money doing so. Still pretty nice in some neighborhoods though. Thanks for the tip about not coming to first Monday during the summer....maybe I will wait until fall to head up that way. Hope you have a great first day, also!

Lil

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Got a job in MS wednesday, will start orientation monday 6/20.

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Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).

Okay, so they did start me on the 13th, and I've just finished my first week of orientation. Classroom stuff and pep talks this week--reminds me of nursing school, except not as hard and I get paid to be there! Next Monday's the real deal. I'm less nervous than I was, but could still puke at any moment.

I know full well that the day will come when I look back on these next nine weeks and laugh, but I sort of wish it would hurry up and get here.

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hello everyone, I am glad to be joining the ranks of the new RN's here. I start on June 22nd in Oncology, I am so excited.

Deb

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Hey Texans -

Just wanted to say hi - my grandparents, aunt and uncle and cousins live in Big Sandy Tx and we visit at least once a year. Hearing about all the places we've visited together (like Marshall pottery) makes me miss them!

I love Texas and I'd really like to move there one day.

Good luck with your new jobs!

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I'm starting orientation on 6/28 for NICU

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You're in Jersey? Any advice on where to work in Jersey? I have family all over that region (Eastern PA, Northern DE, Western NJ) and have considered returning there after I grad, but have no idea where to apply. I have a sibling in a little town over there... Runnemeade!

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Another TEXAN here!

I start orientation on July 18th (hubby's birthday). I have something like 2 weeks of hospital orientation, then anywhere from 4-12 weeks with a preceptor on the floor, based on what i think I need. I will be working nights, by choice. I will be on the surgical/endocrine/epilepsy unit at a great pediatric facility.

BTW, I suggested to Brian that we start a forum called "The First Year" for the new RN's facing all of the experiences that the first year brings. He said they would consider it. If you think it is a good idea, please let him know. It would be great to have a forum for all of us to call "home"

Holli

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Hi- Can anyone explain the numbers that relate to your shift type- some of you mentioned 1.0 full time, or 0.09 full time???? I dont get it. I am trying to learn this stuff before I get offered a contract, and I have no clue what these mean. Thanks!

Maureen

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Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).
Hi- Can anyone explain the numbers that relate to your shift type- some of you mentioned 1.0 full time, or 0.09 full time???? I dont get it. I am trying to learn this stuff before I get offered a contract, and I have no clue what these mean. Thanks!

Maureen

My facility uses a 2 week pay period, so 1.0 FTE (full time equivalents) = 80 hours every two weeks. 0.9=72hr/pay period. Or to go by the week, 1.0=40hrs, 0.9=36hrs, etc.

Multiply the fraction times 40 and you get your hours per week. At my hospital, 0.5 (20hrs/wk) is benefit eligible, and 0.8 is full-time benefits (you can't get long-term disability

There are also differentials for different shifts. We get 10% more for working evenings or nights, and I'm on the weekend program, so I get an additional $4/hr on Sat and Sun--but not on my third 12hr shift, which is usually on Fri or Mon, but can be any day. Last couple of weeks I've worked Wed, Sat, Sun, which is fine with me, but it may be something you want spelled out in advance.

Don't be afraid to ask questions at your interview! As bad as you want the job, they're just as eager to hire a nurse. The more you know what's expected of you, and what you can expect in return, the more likely you are to be a happy, satisfied employee--and they just love happy, satisfied employees. Good luck!

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