[exairex]

Hi
I will be moving to MI soon and i want to get more information about St Joseph, VA and U of M hospital. I plan to start my career with VA hospital, because i may move in the future and want to keep my seniority, so i will be able to retire ealier. But also i plan to go back to school to get my BSN and MSN, i heard VA hospitals don't provide tuition reimbursement. is that true?
I live at the boarder of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, 3 mins drive to St Joseph. How is that hospital?
All 3 hospital look pretty nice from the outside, what is it really like, anyone can help me?
Thanks!

[MS._Jen_RN]

I work at St. Joes in Ann Arbor. I LOVE it. The Admin. really supports nursing. The docs are great. There's a "family" feel to it. We're top quality but have a community feel. I did clinicals at the UofM and the VA. The VA seemed to work understaffed a lot, but they have good beneifts. (even medical upon retirement) They always seemed so short though. . . U of M seem unorganized. It seemed like it was so big, and involved so many people that "the right hand didn't know what the left was doing". Just my .02. If you apply at St. Joes let me know and I'll get an employee referal form for ya. (yes- I get a bonus for refering RN's.) It'd be nice of you though.
~Jen

[JennieJenRN]

Well I have worked at both St. Joe and U of M. My opinoin is very different if you have senority at the VA stay in that system. The VA in ann arbor is very hard to get into. I have several friends that work there and they love it and never work short. Now on the subject of St. Joe I hated every minute that I worked there it was so miserable I could not stand it. They were always pulling you to different flooors that you had no experience on. They treated you like " a nurse is a nurse" and we are not. The U of M is a great place to work. We are a union hospital and each unit is responsible for its self so no pulling to other floors. I have worked on many floors and ICU's in the main hospital and currently in ICU in Mott. In the end you should job shadow in several areas at each place.
Good Luck

[maureenlynn]

I am not yet a nurse, but I do plan to work at St. Joe's once I get there. I have always been very impressed by the level of compassion and caring at both the St. Joe's in Ann Arbor and Livinston County (where I live). Even my husband who HATES having to have anything done medical-related was impressed at the care he received at St. Joe's the two times I have had to take him to the ER there. As for VA, I unfortunately know nothing about. As for U of M, they are a great hospital, one of the best in the country. For some personal reasons I could never work there, but it is truly a wonderful hospital.

[pbrookes]

Hi,

I am student and I will be graduating in December. I live in Toledo but I have heard good things about U of M so I plan on applying there. Do they have a good orientation for new grads? How are the med-surg floors? One particular floor, I believe it is 8C caught my attention because the website said they specialize in derm/plastic surg cases. I have an interest in derm and wound healing.

I also noticed that some floors self-schedule and have rotating shifts. Are rotating shifts mandatory and how does that work?

Any info anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[JennieJenRN]

I am an ICU nurse so working on the floor is hard for me. My friend picks up OT on 8 all the time and she likes it. Rotating shifts like if you are a D/N a day night rotator depends on your unit needs. On my floor the D/N work very little on the night shift only when needed. self scheduling means you put your schedule in and 98% of the time you will get it. What other floors are you looking at? Have you thought about Peds? Most of the NG programs are really good.

[pbrookes]

Hi Jen-

Thanks for the info. No, I really never considered Peds- I think I would be too emotional as I have two young children. I am also looking at 6B and 7B/C(cardio/telem). I'm glad to hear that the new grad programs are good. That's the main thing I am looking for because I want to start with a good foundation. It sounds like you are happy with U of M thus far. Do you think September would be too early to apply if I graduate in December? Thanks again for your help.

[exairex]

I applied at U of M last month. Due to some personal reason, I cannot go to Michigan and start working right now, and i told the recruiter, she was very nice and told me when time come closer just give her a call and she will arrange interview for me then. From the few conversation with them, I like there very much. I can be wrong, but i think they are very organized and keep me informed all the time.
When i move there, U of M will be on the top of my list where i want to work at.

[JennieJenRN]

6B is a dump floor and 7b/c is a good place to start if you like cardiac. I did not think that I would like peds either but, I surprised myself. I also have a child at home. The diffrence is that I am not exhausted and can spend time with him. Well which ever floor you go to if you are not happy you can always transfer. You can always shadow to be positive you want that floor. Good Luck