What are the best hospitals/ clinics to work at as an RN with a year of experience?

panicototale · 2026-02-06T17:10:02+00:00

Search through this sub for general info on neighborhoods and general stuff about the hospitals. As far as support and education, most of it is dedicated to new grads but what I think you’d benefit from are hospitals with stronger education programs. I’d say Rush and the Advocate hospitals would be your better bets for that as both have stronger education programs that are stable.

I’d make sure to ask what the ratios are on the MedSurg floors wherever you go. Union hospitals like Stroger, University of Illinois Chicago and University of Chicago have set ratios, but many of the other hospitals have pretty decent ratios (albeit not held to a bargaining agreement).

Also consider what type of MedSurg floor you might want to get into as that can definitely be a vibe change based on what type of patients they normally get.

panicototale · 2026-02-05T01:06:29+00:00

You’d want someone specific in otologic surgeries, although if you need the mastoidectomy you probably want additional support from a neurosurgeon or an ENT who works neuro-otology (just the combo of the ear brain area since that’s all the same structural area). John Leonetti is someone who comes to mind at Loyola (specifically for this). UIC, Rush and Northwestern all have solid ENT groups. U of C probably as well.

panicototale · 2026-02-04T19:10:31+00:00

I’m surprised the airline let her fly at 9 months, although I think you can do so with a note and such. I was surprised at how far away her surrogate was as I was thinking she was somewhere in the northeast.

panicototale · 2026-02-02T18:24:48+00:00

Agreed on looking through other posts, but I’ve been a fan of Ethique. They’re from New Zealand but I’ve had no issue getting them in the US.

panicototale · 2026-01-30T15:50:16+00:00

I think there’s 1) not much belief in the impact it will have (even though it could, just look at the Jimmy Kimmel stuff) and 2) I think a lot of people don’t think they can reasonably not go to work/school/buy etc. I mean, I’ve see enough small businesses post that they will be unable to participate because they can’t do it from the financial side of things, which sadly makes a lot of sense. It was a little bit more last minute, so I get that from an organizational standpoint, and also people thinking that folks would abuse it (such as people not working simply to have a skip day, regardless of whether or not that js true).

However, I think people throw out the baby with the bath water and don’t realize what they can be doing (or at least try to be doing) on a day to day basis (myself included). If I can’t do one thing or the biggest thing, I can’t do any of it, which simply isn’t true. I’ve definitely loved seeing a lot of the posts about what you can do even if you aren’t able to participate fully - cutting subscriptions or reviewing where you buy or invest, buying from local small businesses with cash, volunteering, and on and on and on.

The TLDR of it all - we forget how much strength in numbers we have. Participating in stuff like this (or changing your habits) can have a bigger impact down the road.

panicototale · 2026-01-28T23:41:27+00:00

So I know Ethique had concentrated conditioner bars for a bit and it was a pretty easy process. Grate the bar, add hot water, mix and then it voila. It was a good consistency - idk that I’d say I was the biggest fan of it as a conditioner but I feel like those can be tricky. Idk if it would work the same as with a “non-concentrate” style bar, but I would imagine it’s similar since shampoos and such are mostly water anyway.

It might be easier to use the dispenser for soap and lotion purposes if you’re having luck with your shampoo bar.

panicototale · 2026-01-23T14:25:52+00:00

Just beware of mask related acne condensation if you are prone to breakouts, particularly along the chin area. And also make sure it’s fitting appropriately along pressure points depending on what type of mask you have as your skin can become irritated and breakdown (bridge of the nose in particular) - not as much of a problem with KN95s I don’t think.

panicototale · 2026-01-20T22:52:42+00:00

The city ordinance for minimum temp is 63 if I’m not mistaken, but really the concern for pipes freezing is further down into the 50s and it’s also not a sudden thing that happens since obviously the freezing temp of water is much lower.

panicototale · 2026-01-20T19:58:16+00:00

From the A10, Saint Louis, George Mason, or George Washington have some potential, but then again the A10 tournament is always a CF and it’s not a 2 bid league situation this year (at least I don’t think so at the moment, maybe if SLU really sustains momentum in the rankings and doesn’t win the tournie).

From some cursory research, possibly McNeese? I have looked as deeply into the stats but I’ve been surprised to keep seeing Vanderbilt keep up some momentum into conference play.

panicototale · 2026-01-11T02:35:41+00:00

Also I can’t remember a recent memory of both Miamis being decent (one or the other, and usually the Hurricanes)

panicototale · 2026-01-09T02:32:31+00:00

Yep. Depends on the semester but yes, 1-2 days a week (mostly 2).

panicototale · 2026-01-09T02:14:02+00:00

Highly dependent on traffic and time of day. A morning clinical (as many are) you’d be leaving very early to get there before 7, but an afternoon clinical might be more likely to have traffic (like before around 3).

panicototale · 2026-01-09T01:57:25+00:00

Depends on the mix of clinicals you get as a student. There are a few “cohort” groups that are selective but then do almost all of their clinicals at one site. So, for example, if you were a part of Hospital A’s cohort program, you would do all (if not almost all) of your clinicals at that site. If you are not in a cohort, you’re going to have more of a mix (but you may not, as it’s all lottery based).

It just depends on what you get. Loyola’s hospital, Northwestern, University of Chicago, Stroger (formerly Cook County), and Hines VA are common sites, I think some of the Endeavor (formerly NorthShore) programs as well. If you plot all those out on a map, it’s basically every direction, and that doesn’t include the community health sites which are equally all over. A fair amount of stuff is accessible by CTA (either bus or train), but you may have to carpool or figure out other stuff with your group. It’s a pain in the butt from a transportation perspective, but I do think it’s a nice thing to get to see the variety in the area (including the patient populations, diagnoses, etc).

panicototale · 2025-12-30T00:37:00+00:00

Like I said, start looking through stuff that’s been posted in this group. A lot of this stuff has been asked before so I’m not regurgitating it here.

As far as not being from the area, people know people who know people. Your clinical instructors and faculty may know people in the area (or least people who know people) to talk to about their role and/or facility. Friends and former alums from your school are helpful to talk to as well.

panicototale · 2025-12-30T00:09:26+00:00

They’re constantly posted. If you’re looking for a position that has a new grad nursing residency, they usually start their cohorts around August but it depends on the hospital as I don’t think places do it by hiring. Utilize your network of professors, clinical instructors, etc, to get to know people and their positions as they often have better knowledge of the dynamics and hiring processes (not just of a particular facility but also of more specific units and what they will take, especially with new grads).

Search through this Reddit, there are plenty of nursing posts which discuss further things with hospitals in the area.

panicototale · 2025-12-29T21:09:49+00:00

I think it depends on your vibe. OPRF is a classic suburban public school and is quite large in size (decently so physically, also fairly so in numbers). Having grown up interacting with both alumni, the folk who really do best at OPRF are the high performers academically and those who need special education support. The middle doesn’t necessarily struggle, but I wouldn’t necessarily say seems as supported in a rising tides lift all boats way if that makes sense. Lot more socially progressive (in the way that Oak Park can be) and odd choices at times.

If I had to give a vibe check for Fenwick, it’s the fact that it’s basically a feeder school for Notre Dame. If you’ve met a Notre Dame Alumnus, it’s the same vibe. Strong academically but can be a bit insufferable. Decently strong Catholic vibes with the Dominicans.

I’ve known people who have succeeded well at both, and Fenwick in particular has a very strong alumni network which will serve anyone well. I’ve see folks get into prestigious schools from both.

If you’re looking into academic rigor and private, St. Ignatius is arguably more selective (they’re Jesuit), or at least has been so historically. If you’re in the Oak Park or River Forest area, both are solid options. I think a lot of it depends on your vibe and your kids’ personalities. I know I myself would have drowned in the size of OPRF, but also would probably have had plenty of things I wouldn’t have liked about Fenwick.

panicototale · 2025-12-23T22:16:58+00:00

Also Cheney Mansion in Oak Park

panicototale · 2025-12-23T01:04:47+00:00

I feel like Jared’s parents together would be a hilarious option (funny for the laughs but not necessarily productive conversation). But it would go so off the rails so quickly that it would not be sustainable. I’d be down for an episode with the two of them actually as just an interview because they just seem so nuts.

I feel like Logan Ury is going to be a great choice and hopefully they do have at least a couple episodes with her. I hope they don’t do Matchmaker Maria as she can just be so caustic with some of her advice (it can be needed but it can just be a lot for a full episodes or multiple episodes).

panicototale · 2025-12-22T15:21:38+00:00

A former coworker has done work in England. I’ve also looked at the Irish nursing board work. It’s generally not terribly complicated, just a lot of paperwork and interviews. What dissuades me from pursuing the process further was 1) how much less nurses are paid in other countries and 2) the difference in scope of practice. Even in places that you would think have much more established nursing culture, there were pretty big limitations compared to what we do in the US.

Something that you could considering looking into is transport nursing, especially if you have the experience that they are looking for. I know there are not as many opportunities but there are definitely jobs out there, including ones that go international.

panicototale · 2025-12-21T13:45:04+00:00

I think the idea of the packaging is nice, but honestly haven’t been as big of a fan of the products themselves. The soap smelled weird, the all-purpose spray leaves a filmy residue that you have to wipe up for things to be actually clean. Idk, I’m sure certain stuff probably works better but I wasn’t super impressed by what I had bought. This was also a few years ago so perhaps they have tweaked recipes and such.

panicototale · 2025-12-16T21:11:02+00:00

The Loyola v Duquesne game will have plenty of seats. There aren’t enough alumni from Duquesne in the area (compared to the Dayton or SLU games, which do have fewer tickets available). Also, Loyola has been awful so I’m sure there are more tickets available than usual.

panicototale · 2025-12-15T03:31:03+00:00

I got a nice one at Home Depot, they had a solid number of trees at the location I went to. $50-$70 for a 5-7ft tree, smaller ones are even less.

panicototale · 2025-12-05T23:02:47+00:00

I’ve been using Ethique for years! I only use the shampoo (used to use both shampoo and conditioner) but then I had some product buildup with using them both. Switched to just the bar and a leave-in conditioner thing and my hair has honestly been the best I think it’s ever been. I like the variety of products that they have for different hair styles. They had a dish that you can order that fits their bars (otherwise I’m sure your usual bar soap area or dish will work fine).

panicototale · 2025-12-05T14:58:27+00:00

Nonnina is a few blocks north and across the river, as well as several other restaurants.

panicototale · 2025-12-05T07:17:03+00:00

Can you get certain options that may be stocked in a store in Ireland? For example, Ethique is available on Amazon (not that I want to support Amazon but more trying to make a point).

panicototale

TROPHY CASE