Hospital decision time...I need input please!

[actress8503]

Hi everyone...the time has come for me in which I need to make a decision (very soon) about where I want to work after I graduate this May. I really would like to work in the PICU, ICU, or ED. My top three hospital choices are Scottsdale Osborn, St. Joes, and the VA. I was just offered a position at St. Joes in the Neuro ICU. I told them I needed to think about it. I have an interview with Scottsdale Osborn at the end of the month for a new grad position in which the different areas available to me will be revealed. I currently am putting in 156 hours at the VA in their ED for the last part of my schooling and I absolutly love it there and there may be a good chance that I could land a job there since I am completing my preceptorship with the facility.

Here are my concerns:

I live in the east valley, so driving to the VA and St. Joes makes me crazy sometimes. I have been stuck in traffic for over an hour at times. Scottsdale Osborn is much closer, but since I do not know what areas are available to me right now, I do not know if getting a job in the critical care areas as a new grad are even available right now. From what I know from doing clinicals at Scottsdale, the people there seem nice, but I have not worked closely for long amounts of time there like I have the VA and St. Joes. The VA and St. Joes have very nice people who work there and I am not sure Scottsdale will be as good as these two hospitals are concerning staff and co-workers. The pay is much better at Scottsdale than the other two hospitals so that is another factor. The ED is my top choice, but St. Joes won't take new grads into their ED and again, Scottsdale is a mystery as far as department openings for new grads, so the VA is my likely choice for that. If I leave St. Joes, I will owe them money since I am an extern there right now, and I would feel really bad leaving after everything I have learned there in my externship. The problem with the ED at the VA is that not a whole lot of assessments go on, and I feel that is important to gain strength in that area as a new grad, plus waiting for the opportunity to snag a position there is a big gamble since I do not have an official interview set up with them anytime soon and because they are overstaffed, there are no openings right now. Starting in the Neuro ICU makes me a little nervous. It is something I would really like to do, but as a brand new nurse I am scared that I will be overwhelmed. But, I am afraid if I wait to interview at Scottsdale or decide to risk the chance I could have at the VA ED that I will lose my offer to the Neuro ICU at St. Joes.

What would you guys do? What is your honest opinion about these hospitals, going into such areas as a new grad, and weighing out these pros and cons? Sorry this is so long, but I really would appreciate some input.

[actress8503]

I currently work at Chandler Regional as an extern and there isn't any obligation to work there after graduation. However, if I continue my externship after graduation and hire on as an extern II, then I will be required to sign on for a year. Maybe St Joes has the same policy?

They might have the same policy since they are both CHW. I had one of my clinical rotations at Chandler Regional and during orientation I thought the lady had said that they require their externs to work for them after graduation but I must have misheard or she was mistaken. Sorry to misinform on that. And concerning Banner, I am just going by what my classmates who are externs there have told me about requirements.

[actress8503]

There has been a lot of talk about hospitals with good orientation programs. What constitutes a good orientation? At Chandler I beleive there is a 6 week orientation, longer if your preceptor feels that it is needed. Is this adequate?

Mary

Raindreamer has it right. Ask yourself those questions about their orientation program. At St. Joes in the Neuro ICU they give their new grads a twelve week orientation program in which lab time to practice skills is incorporated. They also have weekly objectives that must be met to move forward and stay on track through the orientation and the new grad is assigned to only one preceptor or possibly two if the main one goes out of town or something.

[actress8503]

Have you checked out the East Valley hospitals and their availability of openings?

I really don't want to work at any other hospital but VA, St. Joe's, or Scottsdale Osborn. I have checked other hospitals out of curiousity and haven't found any openings in critical care areas for new grads. Scottsdale is east valley and has a new grad opening but I will not know for what until the end of the month which leads me to my whole predicament on what to do.

[mattsmom64]

Thanks for the info! I'm currently on a Med Surg floor. I know that the new grads do have to attend classes during orientation but I'm not sure for how long.

The new grads are assigned to a trained preceptor and they work their shifts with them for 6 weeks......I guess I'm not sure about what I should expect for orientation. I still really don't know whether I want to specailize in any particular area. I'm in Block 3 so I have more time to decide. I really like the floor I'm on (MS/Oncology) and was leaning towards Oncology. I'm just a little leery about the long term health effects of handling chemo.

actress, have you thought about Mercy Gilbert? I have heard (by some nurses and docs) that the hospital is beautiful and is run pretty well. They had some openings for externs in ICU. Banner Mesa also had some opeings for externs there as well. I had a clinical instructor who worked there and she said they will usually hire their externs after graduation. They are slated to open their new hospital at Higley and the US60 in august.....With Banner, call their recruitment office even if there aren't any openings listed on the web. They are really nice and can give you some input. I have had recruiters call me a couple of times to let me know about openings.....

[mattsmom64]

Thanks for the info! I'm currently on a Med Surg floor. I know that the new grads do have to attend classes during orientation but I'm not sure for how long.

The new grads are assigned to a trained preceptor and they work their shifts with them for 6 weeks......I guess I'm not sure about what I should expect for orientation. I still really don't know whether I want to specailize in any particular area. I'm in Block 3 so I have more time to decide. I really like the floor I'm on (MS/Oncology) and was leaning towards Oncology. I'm just a little leery about the long term health effects of handling chemo.

actress, have you thought about Mercy Gilbert? I have heard (by some nurses and docs) that the hospital is beautiful and is run pretty well. They had some openings for externs in ICU. Banner Mesa also had some opeings for externs there as well. I had a clinical instructor who worked there and she said they will usually hire their externs after graduation. They are slated to open their new hospital at Higley and the US60 in august.....With Banner, call their recruitment office even if there aren't any openings listed on the web. They are really nice and can give you some input. I have had recruiters call me a couple of times to let me know about openings.....

[AZ_Gal_1964]

I have chatted (duh, taken report from) Steve in ER at Mercy Gilbert, he is so nice and speaks highly of MGilbert. Currently I work at Scottsdale Osborne Telemetry and so far it is pretty good, the bad nights are equal to less of the good nights.

[actress8503]

Hey thanks for your input. I ended up sticking w/ St. Joe's in their neuro ICU and I love it. My orientation has gone very well thus far. I am glad Scottsdale Osborn turned out to be a good fit for you.