Interviews in Colorado springs area....any advice?

jgrossberg · Apr 15, 2007

Working at Memorial as new grad Birth Center nurse. However, did do clinical rotation on ortho/neuro. Staff is very nice, pace is really fast. 32 beds, 50% discharge rate/day (15-16 discharged, virtually same number admitted daily). Patients stay 1-2 days max, then generally go to rehab (same floor across hall). Nurses paid hourly based on years of experience, same rate for all nurses in hospital, starting at approx. $20.50 for new grad- $42 million in unreimbursed care yearly (I suspect the pay is lower because we all "donate" to that community cause - if you have no money, they will still treat you, whereas Penrose sends you to Memorial if you're broke.) Hope this helps!

Jan Grossberg RN, BSN, Colorado Springs, CO

janetjanetbobanet · Apr 26, 2007

So overall do you get the feeling that most nurses at Memorial are reasonably happy there? Is the patient to nurse ratio decent and do co-workers generally get along OK? I am deciding at this point whether to work in Colorado Springs or Denver but would rather live in the Springs.

jgrossberg · May 1, 2007

Overall, I think Memorial employees are satisfied with their jobs. The hospital seems to be making efforts to weed out those who may be "great doctors and nurses" but who treat fellow workers or patients poorly. The new North facility has some issues, as can be expected, but no worse than any new hospital would necessarily face. I have heard from a friend of mine who has been there for four or more years that Denver's Childrens' Hospital is a really good place to work. I have only been there since last August as a new grad nurse, but I feel that the team I work with is great. They don't "eat their young", and are very supportive. Hope all works out well for you, wherever you choose to go.

BeccaRN1970 · May 11, 2007

I used to work at Penrose; found them to be pretty hypocritical, touting everything they do for the community, then treating their staff poorly. They seem to cultivate unreasonable managers, (I've had one good one in 7 years, 3 different floors, 5 managers) and are more concerend about the bottom line than having happy nurses. I've heard from several people that RNs on the Ortho/Neuro floor carry 7 pts/shift on the average. It was that way when I floated. Having said that, the CNAs were awesome and really picked up my slack. I've also heard that Memorial has better pt ratios that Penrose as a whole but I haven't experienced that myself.

Maybe my complaints are typical of nursing work everywhere, I don't know. Good luck to you!

alexan18 · May 12, 2007

Well... I was hired at Memorial on the ortho unit. I was told that the pt ratio would be 4-5. I hope that is true. I have also heard that Memorial treats their nurses good. I am looking forward to the change!

jgrossberg · May 13, 2007

Congratulations! With the opening of the North facility, perhaps you will be less busy than before on Ortho/Neuro. Are you working days or nights? Come down and visit L & D some night after shift change. Ask for Jan. I'd enjoy meeting you. Look for the long gray hair...:-) Welcome to Memorial!

alexan18 · May 14, 2007

I will be starting on nights in July. I am looking forward to the change. I will be in town on the 23rd/24th to take my drug test and finalize my paperwork. We are planning on moving out there at the end of June. Question... I was told Memorial has uniforms now... Do they provide them or do they just give us guidlines and we buy our own?

jgrossberg · May 30, 2007

I will be starting on nights in July. I am looking forward to the change. I will be in town on the 23rd/24th to take my drug test and finalize my paperwork. We are planning on moving out there at the end of June. Question... I was told Memorial has uniforms now... Do they provide them or do they just give us guidlines and we buy our own?

Sorry took so long to reply. They will provide you with $100 for uniforms, but you can also buy your own. They are solid navy blue. You probably already know this by now. Again, Welcome to Memorial.:welcome:

janetjanetbobanet · Jun 14, 2007

My son was hired as well at Memorial North on the med-surg-telemetry unit and starts nights in July. He was also told the ratio is around 4 patients but he might sometimes have to take 5. He told me this with a big grin because he is used to taking a lot more than that here. Sounds good so far. At least I know to stay away from Penrose now when I am ready to come to Colorado Springs.

jgrossberg · Jun 17, 2007

Don't mean to badmouth Penrose, but when I did clinical rotations there, the nurses were pretty stressed on the units I worked. But then, they were med-surg, and I think med-surg is just that way. However, I do think the ratios are higher at Penrose. Also, Memorial North is REALLY in need of night nurses, especially in the Birth Center. Anyone out there who likes the Rockies and wants to work in a totally new hospital, apply now! Help 'em get this baby up and running (no pun intended, but...)