[CardioTrans]

I interviewed today for a CCU position at a major teaching hospital. Heres some things they told me.

Nurse:Patient is 1:2

6-8 wks orientation

20 bed unit, right now mixed with MICU patients due to the fact that they are renovating the MICU..... The new MICU and new CCU will be open and moved into in Jan 06.

Work every 4th weekend with rotating holidays, but you list your top 3 that you want to be off, and you get 2 of them off.

My choice of day or night shift.

Shift diff: 2nd Base + 15%........... 3rd Base+30%

Immediate ins coverage (medical and dental, life)...cost ranges from $114-$337/month depending on plan.
Immed participation in retirement that is matched dollar for dollar up to 10%

Will pay for 18 semester hrs/yr after 6 mo for me
after 1 yr will pay for same for hubby
after 1 yr will pay for 50% of tuition for dependents.

I have been a nurse for 11 yrs, so the base is almost $2/hr more than what I make now. 45 min drive.

I am in NP school now and the nurse manager made the comment that she always pushed for education advancement.

So what do you all think? Hubby only says "whatever you want to do". Grrrr.

[jmgrn65]

sounds good to me almost too good.

[CardioTrans]

Originally Posted by jmgrn65

sounds good to me almost too good.

If I didn't know the hospital and university its affiliated with I would say its too good too.

They have consistently been ranked among the top 100 in the country I know for the last 15 years in more than one area. Their MSN program is in the top 10% in the country. Unlimited growth opportunity.

The HR person and nurse manager both emailed me this afternoon and said they were going ahead with my reference check. I should know something Tues or Wed of next week (dang holiday).

Tues or Wed wont get here fast enough!

[Jedi]

Sounds good, but...

Make sure your orientation is based around your experience level. Have you been part of a teaching hospital situation before? If the level of care is higher, Level 1 trauma center and you are not used to this level of care, then I might want more of an orientation. If you already have ICU experience, etc.

If you have never had ICU experience, then it is not enought time for a teaching hospital. I'm not sure how much is standard for teaching hospital ICU settings these days, but ask around. If you are new to ICU, I'd be looking to at least double that orientation period.

Make them agree ahead of time. The old, we'll see how it goes usually means it's never extended unless you are considered a "problem" and sometimes it means the orientation is shortened.

[CardioTrans]

Originally Posted by Jedi

Sounds good, but...

Make sure your orientation is based around your experience level. Have you been part of a teaching hospital situation before? If the level of care is higher, Level 1 trauma center and you are not used to this level of care, then I might want more of an orientation. If you already have ICU experience, etc.

If you have never had ICU experience, then it is not enought time for a teaching hospital. I'm not sure how much is standard for teaching hospital ICU settings these days, but ask around. If you are new to ICU, I'd be looking to at least double that orientation period.

Make them agree ahead of time. The old, we'll see how it goes usually means it's never extended unless you are considered a "problem" and sometimes it means the orientation is shortened.

Yes, I asked about that. Normally for new employees to Level 1 they do 10-12 wks. I have previous ICU as well as HTICU in a Level 1.

They will however send me back through the Critical Care Course since its been 3 yrs since I worked in HTICU. Which is by no means a bad thing. They also use a CNS for staff education. As far as preceptors....... I would be assigned to 2, 1 primary and 1 back up.

Oh, charge nurse never takes patients. They are the resource person, or the transport nurse for pts going off the unit for whatever reason. Most of the nurses have been there at least 5 yrs. They do hire new grads, but dont have more than 2 working at the same time. So Im guessing that they dont hire them often.


I went back and found all my resource material and my CC Course books from when I worked HTICU. Tons of information and brought back that desire for cardiology. The heart has always facinated me.

[acquiesce1908]

Sounds pretty good to me too. Just one question....What is there "turn over rate"?

[CardioTrans]

From what HR, the nurse manager, the nurses that I spoke with in the unit, and from a friend who works on a another unit at the same hospital..............it is about 10-15%. That may sound like a lot, but what the nurses do is go "Flexi" for the higher pay rate and work all of their hours in that unit, so they never "technically" leave.

[bellehill]

Sounds like a great place to work and a supportive work environment. The only hitch may be the 45 minute drive?

[CardioTrans]

I weighed that into the equation. Right now I do home care, and drive about 150 miles/day. The mileage to this hosp is 35 miles one way.

A friend of mine pointed out yesterday that with the hosp paying for 2 classes/semester........ I have 7 semesters left of my NP program. With them paying, its like a sign on bonus.

HR called me last Wed and officially offered me the position! Im very excited!

[AdrenalineJunkie]

Congrats! It sounds great to me. When do you start?