Between LGH and Brandywine Hosp

U.S.A. Pennsylvania

Published

Looking for some insight. As a graduate RN nurse, would I be better off driving 40min away to LGH or work at Brandywine Hosp which is 10min from home? I am sooooo confused.

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

:igtsyt:

As a new grad, I'd take the job closest to home. Commuting 1 1/2 hrs day added to stress of new grad could push you over the edge to making mistakes.

Specializes in ICU, ER.

I know nothing about LGH, but I worked in the ICU at Brandywine 4 years ago and left with no notice at the end of my 5th week. The main reason was a severe shortage of staff and a shortage of staff with brains.

Specializes in Emergency Nursing!!.

Adamsmom,

I live about 1 hr north of Lancaster and I have heard a lot of positive things about lancaster gen. I know a guy whos daughter is a nurse there and she loves it. He goes there all the time for any proceedure he needs. He had a total knee replacement a few years ago and is doing great without complications! (not to say they dont have any). I dont know a lot aqbout brandywine but I believe it is a trauma center so that may give you experiences that LG may not?

With regards to NRSKarenRN's reply, yes!, the drive can be overwhelming. I use to attend college in lancaster so I know how that drive can be (RT-30..uughh)... on a brighter note, I choose to work about an hour away (53miles one way to be exact) at a level 1 trauma center in the ED right out of school. I totally love it and even though I have a long drive, I think it is well worth it, plus the experiences I see there I may not have had at another facility closer to home. I use to drive a tractor trailer so I don't mind a "little" 1 hr drive. From what I have heard from other nurses, they have anywhere from 20-50 minute comute. This seems to be the norm anymore.

I believe the decision is a hard one but you have to look at the positives and negatives of both. Interview at both places and see if they will let you shadow in the department of interest to you. By doing this you can see what the drive is like and also the staffing and operation of that particular department. Most facilities will alow you to shadow as a nursing student, espeically if you placed an application.

Hope that helps, it is a tough decision to make...

B.

HI

Thanks for the input. I decided to go to LGH. I felt very comfortable there and I enjoyed my shadowing time I had there. I plan on shadowing there for 20 hours before I start but after I graduate. I know I will have a drive but that is why I am doing 8 hr shifts and not 12hrs. At least I have a Prius.

Thanks

Specializes in Emergency Nursing!!.

Well thats good you enjoyed your experience there and great they will let you shadow that many hours. Thats awesome! I Work 12hr shifts so it saves me on gas and the number of days I have to work. I only work 3 days a week for 3 weeks and 4 days out the week for the fourth week of each month. It saves and gives me lots of time off during the week.

Congrats on your decision and good luck after you graduate!!

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