[LoveICU]

Hey all. I am interested in LeBonheur in Memphis, TN. I am interested in PICU or possibly PED CVICU there. I have worked a little over a year in a level I Trauma ICU and the last 4 yrs in an adult CCU titrating many vasopressors,etc. I am a little nervous to change, but I really feel that I want this. Has anyone worked there? How is the nurse: patient ratio? How is management? the nurses treated? How long is the weekender orientation there (if you haven't worked pediatrics)? Is there a classroom time for the orientation? Tell me all about this facility/unit!! Thanks.

[Lisa CCU RN]

I don't work at LeBonheur, but I have friends that do. They have a 20 week orientation for PICU. Now I don't if a seasoned nurse can participate, but the best thing to do is call HR there and ask. The recruiters are very eager to speak to anyone.

As far as the orientation, you have general hospital orientation and then you have the internship and you are one on one with a preceptor.

Sorry I don't have any more info. Good luck.

[LoveICU]

Thank you for the quick response. I can only apply for weekender (due to family) and am concerned that I may not receive a long enough orientation (that I would require). It does sound interesting though. Thanks again.

Oh yeah, how is the ratio in the PICU and Ped CVICU? Is it always 1:1 or 1:2 commonly, etc?? Do they have ancillary staff (ie PCAs,etc to help with transfers/traveling??

[dilleweed]

I'm a volunteer at Le Bonheur and won't start nursing school until July, but I can give you a little info. I am normally in Transitional Care, but I like to walk through the PICU to see what's going on, and I have befriended some of the nurses there (weekenders - I'm always there on Sundays). They seem to be pretty happy, as do all the nurses at Le Bonheur. They don't have CNA's but they are hoping to hire some soon, once they have more patients, I was told. I'm not sure what the ratio is, but I'm almost positive that the only nurses with a 1:1 are the ones doing ECMO babies (they are in the PICU rather than the NICU).

[LoveICU]

More patients? Is the census low? I figured they'd be busy this time of year. Has the CVICU opened yet? How many patients do the nurses have there? Thx for the info!!

[dilleweed]

I'm pretty sure that it was patient increase they quoted as the reason for waiting to hire CNA's. The CVICU is NOT yet open, but it's going to be really nice!!

I meant to ask someone about ratios in the PICU yesterday, but I forgot - sorry! You should call a recruiter and get that info from them. Good luck - maybe we'll be working together later!

[LoveICU]

Yeh, I did talk to one trying to get some info, but she didn't really know much. I think she said 1:2 and I said that on the website it stated 1:1 in PICU. She said sometimes it is 1:1, but I think by talking to everyone- it is more like 1:2. Without CNAs, how do the nurses "travel" to CT, etc? Who goes with them?

[LoveICU]

I have an interview in the Pediatric CVICU tommorrow!

[LoveICU]

It looked really neat and full of learning opps...INTENSE! I decided to stick with adults for now.