Alabama and/or Texas info needed

BostonTerrierLover, BSN, RN · Apr 9, 2012

I'm afraid my attempt may not be helpful, but I just wanted to try this. I am not advertising for these guys, it's just where I worked. And, now that I have done so much travel, per diem, and short contract RN Assignments, I know their Hospitals.

Health Management Associates (HMA) are based in Naples, FL. They are peppered all over the Southeastern USA. I do the most travel lately just within MS. I did my internship at a HMA facility, and they offered 5 Intern Tracts when I graduated, and 2 Step-ups Internships. (Both for New Grads and Refreshers- or someone who would want to go into a new field. They are VERY in depth, and they last 6 weeks! The first 2 weeks are totally class based. The next 4 weeks are class/floor experience- and you are really ready, solid in your skills, and confident to start after that. They go over "your stated" weaknesses (e.g. If you need IV help, they will put you starting IVs all day)

Every HMA facility I have been to, I have talked to students who LOVED their internships at the Hospitals, and felt ready to start day one out of internship program. The education staff is wonderful, and they are caring, exciting, and motivational. I had a Ph.D Neuro RN (my Fav), a MSN-ACNP ER Nurse (my inspiration for where I am now) and a DNS-Nurse Educator (used to be a dean of an Ivy League College of Nursing. All of these programs required pretty extensive contracts, but it was worth every penny. I wish somedays I would have never left, but I had to for Education Aquirement Reasons/Location. I Loved working there!

Introduction Internships: (a State University oversees their Program, and you get a post-degree certificate after completion)

Medical-Surgical Nursing Intern (Medicine, Telemetry, and Post-Surgical Floors)

Intensive Care Intern (ICU, CCU, CVR, PICU, NICU, and PACU*requires step-up)*8 weeks

Pediatric Med-Surg (self-explanitory but, also stint through PICU, NICU)

Surgery/Operational Internship (OR, PACU*)

Laboratory Internship (Cath Lab, GI lab, Nuclear Medicine, CT, etc)

Step-up Programs (4 additional weeks)

PACU

New Grad Intensive Care

New Grad Laboratory Nursing

New Grad Surgery

New Grad Cardiovascular IC

New Grad Emergency Nursing*requires completion of Medical-Surgical Internship with 85 Ave or Higher. (I did this after 1 year of Adult/Pediatric Medical-Surgical/Telemetry/ICU Nursing.)

The HMA System is very supportive of getting your BSN/BAN, and will pay 100% of your tuition and books for "B" or higher.

This is after 1 year of service. If you choose to get it before the year, they reimburse 100%.

I would not be where I am today- RN, BSN, CCRN, CEN, then MSN-ACNP without them, and I had ABSOLUTELY NO desire to further my education past "RN-C" certification as an ADN before going there. They also offered to assist with DO school, but I decided against going back to school for other reasons (wanted a life, Lol!) They are big on education.

UnicornRN · Apr 9, 2012

Unfortunately, neither of the places I'm looking at are HMA facilities.

I was really hoping to hear from someone who actually works at either of these facilities, or has some insight at least into the area in general.

BostonTerrierLover, BSN, RN · Apr 9, 2012

Fortunately, one of the guides will soon move the this thread to a better area where you can get more hits on it specialized to the areas you specified. It's not over yet just because I failed, Lol. Just keep checking back, maybe you'll get a some more bites.

Sorry I wasn't any help. I just know it's harder to get into an internship these days with the economy in its rough shape, and wanted to give the info I had. I hope it will help someone. Knew it was a long shot;)

Good Luck!!! and Congrats!!! on your achievements!!!:cheers:

1968cowgirl · Apr 9, 2012

Baptist South is in an extremely high crime area. I know 2 nurses that have gone to work there but neither have said if they were happy. One was a new grad and the other exp ICU nurse. Husband was there about 7 years ago and had to call the lawyer to get him transferred to another facility. Don't know what patient ratio is but back then if you saw the nurse once in 8 hrs other than when meds where given you where doing good. If interested in Alabama, check some of the hospitals in Birmingham. Most are in much safer areas and give new grads a chance.

MillieT · Apr 9, 2012

I agree with OP, Montgomery is a high crime area. Most people who work there probably live in Prattville or Millbrook. Don't know anyone who works at the hospital.

Birmingham on the other hand is very nice. Great place to live. My brother worked at UAB as a new grad. Excellent orientation and good nurse/pt ratios.

I worked at Childrens as a new grad many moons ago. Best place I've ever worked.

Good luck,

Mille

Dazglue, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 9, 2012

The pay in Montgomery sucks. When we were in our last semester (May 2011) of nursing school Baptist tried to recruit us and they were starting out new grad RN's at 18/hr. Montgomery does have a high crime area on the southside but Baptist East and Baptist South are on the "better" side of town (especially Baptist East) B'ham isn't that much better in crime.

commonsense · Apr 11, 2012

I posted in the forums for each individual state but haven't received any replies. I have interviewed at Northwest Texas Healthcare System in Amarillo, TX and with Baptist South in Montgomery, Alabama. I realize there are huge differences in these locations, but I really need a job where I can get some experience as a new grad and both of these places are willing to give new grads an opportunity.
Can anyone share with me any information they may have regarding either hospital, either city, or any experience with their new grad programs?

I just applied to the internship at Northwest Texas Healthcare System earlier this week. I haven't heard anything about the hospital but I know Amarillo is your typical small-medium sized Texas town. How was the interview process? Was it a phone interview or face-to-face?

registerednutrn, BSN, RN · Apr 12, 2012

I have personally worked for northwest Texas healthecare here in Amarillo. You can send me a private message and I will try to tell you what you need to know

UnicornRN · Apr 16, 2012

My interview was a phone interview. If you Google nursing interview questions you'll get a good idea what the interview was like. The nurse recruiter was very nice, had a lot of information, and it seems like a nice place to work. I'm hoping to hear back soon!