[barb4575]

I worked at Favorite Nurses while in graduate school and I was making $40/hr in ICU back then....seems like the rates have gone down for agency over the years? Good luck Bennie at St Joseph Health Care Center! If it is as good as it was back then, you will love the staff....it was my favorite of all of them, esp their Telemetry unit.

I no longer live in KC though....moved to Indiana back in 99....I am praying that these Hoosiers don't beat my KC CHIEFS....it will be up to the fans to help them through this game. You cannot beat KC people...

Barbara

[Kireri]

Originally Posted by bennie

I am glad this thread came up. I am moving to Kansas City in October of this year. I am looking at Research Medical Center, St Luke's Hospital or Providence Medical center. I want to be a staff nurse (not agency). Anyone know which of these hospitals I should seriously consider, which I should avoid. Although I am in critical care right now, I am hoping to do short stay , cardiac cath lab or maybe even outpatient. Someone please advise.

I think all of the teaching hospitals are great, St Lukes on the Plaza, Truman, Kansas University (KU-MED), Research....... then you have the burbs.....Overland Park Regional, St. Lukes South, Menorah, Shawnee Mission Med Ctr, there are many to choose from, and NO lack of agencies to work for.
Agencies are paying 35-40 an hr for critical care and there is plenty of work in the metro. All of the Agencies have 401s, full insurance and benefits !!! The idea that you must be employed FT by a hospital to have full benefits is outdated....... go where the money is.

[Betty_SPN_KS]

Are a lot of nurses in the KC area licensed for both states? Is the pay better on one side or the other?

[eddy]

Originally Posted by Betty_SPN_KS

Are a lot of nurses in the KC area licensed for both states? Is the pay better on one side or the other?

If you are looking into agency, it's definately worth being licensed in both states in my opinion.

My agency paid for my Missouri Lic. Very cool of them. So it didn't even cost me a thing; just some time.

[geekgolightly]

i am moving to kansas city (finally!) in one month. what can i expect for new grad pay in KC for staff work?

[hypnotic_nurse]

I worked at KU Med (in research) from 95 to 2001. I really liked it -- great benefits and the research groups followed the school schedule (so great holidays off, a week over Christmas), plus 5 weeks vacation a year. If you are interested in research nursing, there are many opportunities there.

Plus the RNs and MDs I worked with in Psychiatry were the BEST!

[geekgolightly]

Originally Posted by hypnotic_nurse

I worked at KU Med (in research) from 95 to 2001. I really liked it -- great benefits and the research groups followed the school schedule (so great holidays off, a week over Christmas), plus 5 weeks vacation a year. If you are interested in research nursing, there are many opportunities there.

Plus the RNs and MDs I worked with in Psychiatry were the BEST!

that's an interesting idea. i am upset about having to leave my new son while i am working an erratic schedule. i hadn't considered research nursing.

[geekgolightly]

I just wanted to give a quick update. I am in KC and have interviewed with St. Luke's today and wanted to thank some of you in this thread for directing me there. St. Luke's on the Plaza seems to be an amazing place to work and I hope they hire me. The staff, hr, and nursing director all seemed very conscientious and caring and very concerned about the welfare of the patients as well as wanting to take care of the nurses. The ratio for neuro patients is 1:5 max, which is a blessing because the last place I worked had a 1:7 max ratio. Everyone seems friendly and they offer lots of education opportunities. I'll keep updating in this thread to let you all know how it goes.

[ksrnstudent]

I hope you get the job you want at St. Luke's. I have heard only great things about them. KC is a nice town with great restaurants, culture, and people. I wish you the best of luck! Keep us posted on your progress.

[geekgolightly]

Originally Posted by ksrnstudent

I hope you get the job you want at St. Luke's. I have heard only great things about them. KC is a nice town with great restaurants, culture, and people. I wish you the best of luck! Keep us posted on your progress.

I got the position I wanted at St. Luke's and I feel as though I am in nursing heaven. It is luxurious here. They treat the nurses really well. We have shared governance and a CEO and Medical Director who back nurses 110%. It's really amazing. I think that this impacts daily patient care tremendously, as the nurses really do seem happy here. The biggest bedside plus are the ratios. RN 5:1 max on my neuro floor, usually 4:1, with PCT's doing all blood draws, EKGs, baths, linen changes, feeding, vitals, sugars and answering the call light. We assess, and coordinate care = our patients are well cared for.

I am also given many education opportunities. During orientation I am encouraged to see any procedure I want and we are paid for all of our CEU lectures.