[DjMiG]

Hey all. I was wanting to get some people's opinions on something. I am currently a New Grad and it's just been about 2 weeks since Candle lighting. I'm still stoked about that. Anyways, I was curious about possibly working in the Maryvale ER. I know that almost all ER's in the valley require experience (heck! almost all hospitals require experience for ANY position right about now). I was thinking that possible working there would give me enough experience to work comfortably in almost any environment. You know the old saying...if you can survive there, you can survive almost anywhere!

I was curious to see what people thought about that. I have a background as an EMT and over 10 years of Pharmacy experience. I know that I'll have a definite edge over other individuals dealing with all the drunks and crack heads, but am I on the right track thinking along those lines?!?! It also seems that it would be much easier to get onboard with them than it is with other hospital ER's in the valley. Not sure how to interpret that one thou....

I know that Maryvale does not have a very favorable reputation amongst staff in the valley, but heck, neither does County for some people but it is still a great place to get experience (prob because it is a teaching hospital?!?!?!) Anyways, any information is greatly appreciated!

peace out!

[chocolateskye]

Congrats on completing nursing school! I have a little more to go and I am trying to decide where to work as well once im done. I have not heard anything about Maryvale but I did enjoy my rotation at county. How is the pay for new grads? I have heard that promise hospital was hiring new grads in their ICU? It doesnt have the best reputation either but I believe that your experience will be what you make it. So if your there to learn and get experience then you will. And congrats again!

[DjMiG]

Hey Choc!

Thanks for the Congrats!

County DID have a bad rep, but then again, it is always what you make of it. I personally would not turn down an oportunity with County if one came up. It's the experience that counts.Thats what I'm prob going to do with Maryvale since it DOES have a reputation for being the worse place in terms of seeing the "bad" side of ER. I feel that it will almost make a Macguyver out of a Nurse! LOL! Kinda thinking that if you can survive there, there shouldn't be too much that could be thrown at you and not freak out afterwards...know what I mean???

As for the ICU's, well thats a complete different ball game. Usually if you are working already in the hospital, those individuals are given preference over someone from the outside. The ones that have an even greater chance of getting in right out of school are students that are externing in those units. It would have been nice to have that but sometimes it's just not possible. Much luck getting into an ICU, it's not impossible, you just have to have a little luck and some nice backing to get in.

The New grad pay is something that varies completely from facility. I'm sorry i'm not able to help in that aspect, but I'm sure that once you do finish you will have more information regarding that.

[KatieRN04]

I have heard that it is very easy to get an ICU job as a new grad at Banner Good Sam. In fact, thats all they hire is new grads, so if thats what you want, then apply there.

[RainDreamer]

I worked at county for a short time after I graduated. There's a reason (actually a number of reasons) that I left there after only 5 months. The co-workers were AWESOME and I would go back to work with them in a heartbeat.

I haven't heard anything good about Maryvale, but it's not to say it's a bad place. If you work there, you need to check back in and tell us how it is, so you can put some of those bad rep stories to rest! Good luck to you!

[Hoozdo]

Actually, Maryvale has no GI doctor on staff, nor any neurologists. Any GI bleeds or neuro problems get transferred to other Abrazo facilities. I find the lack of specialists kind of scary. How hard can it be to get a GI doctor on staff?

[missrisa77]

I haven't heard anything good about Maryvale or West Valley....Abrazo in general. Some nurses that I know who used to work there say the biggest problem is the lack of organization and constantly changing policies and procedures. The nurses have good intentions, but no one knows what is going on. Again, just what I heard. You may have a better experience!

[bonitamia7]

Non-nurse experience, "heard thru the grapevine", regular guy on the street says: patients go there TO die. I have not heard anything good about that hospital since the years when it was brand spanking new.

[chocolateskye]

Hey Rain Dreamer, how bad was bad? As far as working at county? Im debating about county and Banner Good Sam. THAnks again!

[RainDreamer]

Originally Posted by chocolateskye

Hey Rain Dreamer, how bad was bad? As far as working at county? Im debating about county and Banner Good Sam. THAnks again!

The worst thing about working there was that we were short-staffed ALL the time. They staffed tightly and didn't leave room for admits. I worked in the well-baby nursery .... so, for example, say we had 24 babies, which would call for 4 nurses (we had to have 25 babies to have 5 nurses). Even if there were 5 babies on the L&D board that were going to be coming that night, they would still only staff for 4 nurses. So we'd work shoft-staffed because they didn't want to pay for the other nurse, even though by the end of the night our census would be up.

But working shoft-staffed like that on med-surg? No thank you! So I really think it depends on the unit you work on, but I'd definitely stay away from med-surg/telemetry.

Other than that though, it was a great hospital, the co-workers were great, and the benefits were awesome.