[crb613]

I was just wondering what it is like in comparsion to other hospitals. I am intrested in the VA in Lexington. Thanks!

[Lacie]

Been a long time but I did my med/surg clinic at the VA in Lexington and was not all too impressed. (I'm an EKU grad) Being a vet myself and also having been in the VA hospitals both in Lexington and in Pittsburgh as a patient too. The VA hospitals do the best they can for the amount of funding they get but it does lack a great deal comparitive to the private and other public sectors of health care. Remember it is also a "teaching" hospital. During my clinicals when I was literally told not to "interrupt" the resident during rounds as my patient had no pain meds ordered and was a CA patient with severe abdominal ascites. This man was literally screaming in agony. That wait took over 45 minutes!!! When I complained I was told "This is a teaching institution"!! To me that priority was in the wrong place and layed with the rounds over the patients needs as a veteran whom we promise to care for. On the other hand as a patient and being female they had no place to really "put" me as a renal patient so I was placed on the ENT unit lol. I can tell you the care very much lacked and most likely was due to short staffing. I developed a secondary infection related to my IV sites resulting in severe cellulitis. If you are interested in the VA then visit them and request a tour. While your at it ask the nurses. The benefits are great but consider and seriously investigate the work enviroment. I have a service connected disability and I know it's a daily battle with the VA system to get appropriate treatment and involves a great deal of red tape that the civilian systems dont have to deal with when it comes to patient needs. Feel for the poor guys/gals coming home in need of care during these times. Dont get me wrong I'm not dogging the nursing but I am dogging the system as a whole. I will say working with the older veterans and hearing the stories they love to tell is something to be cherished though. Many of them just enjoy the company although it may only be a few minutes at a time. They just want to be heard and appreciated. Keep that in mind if you do take employment there. You will find it is very different then the general hospital population in the civilian sector.

[crb613]

Thank you so much for your very honest reply. This was kinda what I was thinking, and hoping I was wrong. My dad currently goes to the VA in Lexington, & I know the wait times are long to see his doctor. This really upsets me as I strongly believe these people should be getting the best of care w/all modern medicine has to offer. He will be going this Friday...so I am going to take your advice, & tag along, take a tour, & talk to the nurses. BTW...I noticed you were a pt, & am assuming you are also a vet? I just want to thank you for your service! It means a lot to me.
Thank you again.

[Lacie]

Your very welcome. If your in the Lexington area of all the hospitals in that area I would recommend St. Joseph's. Large enough to learn alot but not as big as those like UK (I didnt care much for working at UK as too big that I left there less than 6 months) etc that you get looked over in the mix of things. I was telemetry clinical manager and also worked CTU/CVICU at St Joseph's. They were an excellent employer.

[crb613]

St. Joe's name keeps coming up as a great place to work. I live about 90 miles south of Lexington, & was hoping to find a work only weekend type program. Actually I was planning to contact St. Joe's today. VA, St. Joe, & Baptist East in Louisville are the 3, I am considering at this time.
I am a little intimidated as the hospital I work in is a rural one, & the whole M/S has only 40 beds. I would love to stay where I am if they could just get their act together....most of the the people I work with are great...its a couple of mins from home....the admin is terrible. BTW... my sister also went to EKU. Thanks again for your help!

[Lacie]

Check as St. Joe's used to have a baylor plan for weekenders. I feel for you being in a small rural hospital as I worked in a 90 bed in Louisa (Lawerance Co). Learned a great deal there comparative to the larger hospitals as didnt have all the priviledges such as docs actually in the hospital LOL. If the ER doc was tied up then you toughed it out on your own as you couldnt find anyone else to help. Heck we didnt even have paramedics in the area. I'm originally from Miami so you can imagine the culture shock for me. My husband was from Fleminsburg/Maysville area and there was absolutely nothing there either. I'm now back in my home state. Ky was a nice place to live but I just couldnt tolerate the weather. I will say I think the EKU program is one of the best though!!!!

[charebec65]

Originally Posted by crb613

... BTW... my sister also went to EKU.

I realize this is off topic but..... Go Colonels! (my daughter is a recent grad of EKU and is now teaching in L'Ville....

[crb613]

LOL...We don't even have pharmacy at night, the charge is also the house supervisor, & we sure don't have doctors at night! We have pt's in M/S that should be in ICU....its full, so is Tele..so we get'em! Nothing like having a pt gored by a bull, chest tube in, ribs/arm broken (among other things)....goes into ards, codes....THEN doc decides to come in, on a ventilator in ICU finally! Yes I am learning a lot!

[crb613]

Originally Posted by charebec65

I realize this is off topic but..... Go Colonels! (my daughter is a recent grad of EKU and is now teaching in L'Ville....

Congrats to your daughter! I bleed blue!

[LisaCRN05]

Hi!

I have just gone through the lengthy process to get into the VA Hospital in Rhode Island. Has anyone else ever worked at a VA? I'm a little skeptical. Thanks.