HELP! Need Information!

U.S.A. Oregon

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Hi everyone. I am a senior nursing student about to graduate from UNC-Chapel Hill and then moving across the country to Oregon. I am moving to the Corvallis area and was wondering how the hospitals there are. I am used to very big hospitals (UNC, and Duke) but am willing to try a smaller hospital. Also, I was thinking about commuting to Salem or Eugene, and wondered if anyone had ever done that and if it was awful. I want to work in Labor and Delivery, which I know requires experience, but here in NC if you have doula experience (which I do) you can start out in L&D right out of school...is the same true here? Lastly, can anyone tell me what the general state of nursing is in Oregon? I am a little worried because none of the Hospital websites have information for nurses, while most of the hospitals in NC have specific areas for nurses to go to find information about nursing in the hospital. Sorry, I know that's a lot. Thanks!

Specializes in L&D, PACU.

Here's what I've learned...I'm in California, have family in Oregon and was considering moving there when I finished my degree (three months!). Oregon is supposedly nurse friendly. There is not a huge nursing shortage in Oregon, which kind of backs that up. Two Hospitals in Eugene/Springfield are building big new buildings. But they will only hire new grads into med/surg. And they don't have a new grad training per se.

Corvallis has a nice hospital, and they do have a new grad training program, but its just a new grad training program, you aren't hired, and you don't automatically have a job when you get out.

There are more openings in Salem hospitals, though I've heard they are pretty good to their nurses. I haven't talked to them about their programs and openings.

I think it unlikely you'll go straight into L&D as a new grad. But it never hurts to try...

Good luck

Personally, I would skip Salem Hospital (they have a rep that is not very favorable and I understand that they are trying to address it). Smaller hospitals (like those in Corvallis/Albany/etc) tend to float their L&D staff when they have open beds. Eugene/Springfield is a big enough City, I would recommend looking into their facilities (like Sacred Heart). As for getting right into L&D, you might be pleasantly surprised...just make your interest known. The local community hospital where I am at just had to build a bigger and better family birth center due to all the babies being born in this area (and they are often looking for L&D nurses)

Salem Hospital will hire new grads to L&D, they have a wonderful 6 month internship program. You can IM me privately if you want more info.

[email protected]

Specializes in Med-Surg.

I have former classmates who completed the Salem Hospital L & D new grad program and love working there. I'd go to their website or call them to check on the application deadline though, as I remember, they only accept new grad applications at certain times and that deadline should be coming up sometime later this Spring. I went through the interview process for PCU and was offered a job, they seem to be fair in their interview process. Nothing against the hospital, but I chose another job at a hospital that was closer to home and where I had worked as a student nurse tech. Good luck!

You can go right into L&D at Salem hospital, I moved from Alaska, got my job in Oregon before I moved, right out of nursing school.

Good luck!

Michelle

Salem Hospital will hire new grads to L&D, they have a wonderful 6 month internship program. You can IM me privately if you want more info.

[email protected]

I got called for an interview for salem's internship program. Would love your input on the interview process. I will have 4 nursing managers so am very intimidated & anxious like heck!!! Please help me out!

Specializes in ICU, Informatics.

I'm not sure if you've already had your interview with Salem. In fact I thought they were done interviewing new-grads a while ago, but this is some info that might come in handy if you haven't. First off, they are currently making a big time push for customer satisfaction, so when they ask you questions about yourself (difficult situations you've been in etc.) highlight what you have done to make the patient feel like he is receiving excellent care- come prepared with stories in mind and adapt them to the question. Second, they are making a push to become a magnet hospital, which requires bachelor trained nurses- so when they ask you something like why you want to work for Salem Hospital you might want to keep that in mind. They will probably ask you a general nursing care question so be thinking about MI, PE, Diabetes, stroke, sepsis, resp failure, etc..

I wanted CVU and got it, my wife wanted Med-surge and got general medical, I know of another student who wanted L&D and got it (but we all feel like that was pretty lucky...who knows), when they ask you something about where you want to work I really don't know what the best answer would be, I would assume that they have more med-surge positions.

The people that I have talked to that have interview and NOT been offered jobs have either had a dreary attitude or have said something dumb with the nursing care questions. So... be happy, tell them why you will make patients feel good in your care, and be confident. Also, come prepared with a question that you can ask them that shows you have genuine interest.

I had my interview last week and unfortunately I didn't do too well. I was completely caught off guard with the clinical care questions. I concentated on the behavioral ones. How long did it take for them to offer you the job , stephenfnielson, after your interview was done? Did they give you any kind of positive remarks after your interview? Did they email you or call you? How long is your internship btw? Can I also ask which nursing book you recommend? I'd appreciate it if you can contact me in my email [email protected]

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