New Grad Program at Hershey Medical Center

[EMSnut45, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Hello, Pennsylvania nurses!!

I am slated to graduate my ADN program in May 2009, and am beginning to put my feelers out for hospitals and units that I'd like to work in as a new grad. My goal is to be a flight nurse, and know that I need to get both ICU and ER experience. My plan at this point is to tackle the ICU upon graduation as I have been advised by seasoned nurses that I would get a more solid foundation there. Being an EMS provider in central Maryland, I know that there aren't many opportunities in my area to fulfill my dream of flight nursing (the state police handle all medevacs, and they are paramedics not nurses). To get decent ICU experience, I would have to travel into either Baltimore or Washington, DC. I am and always have been a "country girl," and don't see myself working in an inner city hospital.

I have heard many wonderful comments about Hershey Medical Center, but have not talked to nurses who have actually worked there, and have a few questions:

-How is the administration? Are they supportive of nurses?

-How are the opportunities for career growth?

-Is the new-grad program good? Do the nurses who come out of the program stay long-term? Do the new-grads have the support by administration, the education department, and the other nurses on the floor that they need in order to be successful?

-How is the morale among the nursing staff? Are they generally happy with their jobs? Is there "team effort," or is every nurse on their own?

-I will be moving away from where I grew-up for the first time, and I have no idea what the quality of the area surrounding Hershey is. Are the neighborhoods safe? Any areas to stay away from?

-Would you recommend a family member to move a significant distance to start their career as a new-grad at Hershey?

I thank you in advance for your help! I have searched allnurses for previous threads, but most of my questions were not answered. Please feel free to PM me if you'd rather not disclose to everyone where you work for HIPAA concerns.

EMSnut45

[EMSnut45, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Maybe this means Hershey is a mediocre hospital... nothing positive or negative??

[suni, BSN, RN]

I do not work at Hershey but have had family members there as patients and I have to tell you that the nurses were great! They were professional, knowledgable, and very willing to discuss care and actually I never had to seek them out they found us every time we visited.

I believe that they are a Magnet hospital and because it is Penn State HMC I also think that they are unionized. I would contact a nurse recruiter and she could probably answer your questions.

Hershey is a nice place to live and has a good school district.

Plus all the chocolate you can eat!

[casperx875x]

I interviewed for the NICU Internship Program at Hershey. I was very impressed with the NM, the hospital environment and the staff in the unit. The Nurse Recruiter was on top of everything and made the entire interview process an absolute ease. I applied online on a Wednesday, received a phone call the next morning to schedule an interview. I think you will find that applying for jobs can be very time-consuming and frustrating. It is mostly a game of phone-tag back and forth with the nurse recruiter.

Looking back, part of me feels a sense of regret for not accepting the job, but family comes first. Turns out I am pretty happy where I am right now. I wish you the best in your search for a job. It is an exciting time, and I highly encourage you to shadow a nurse for a shift on the shift you will be working before accepting ANY job.

Good luck!

[taz628, BSN, RN]

While I can't give much advice on the Hospital itself, I can give advice on the area. :) My father grew up in Lebanon County - right next to Dauphin County. My family reunion is held every year in Annville, about 13 miles from Hershey. The area is GORGEOUS. I want to relocate there when I'm done with my work contract at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA. Hershey is surrounded by farmland, yet is uber close to many NICE commodities. If you don't want to live IN Hershey, several other areas are extremely nice. My husband is a big fan of Palmyra, right up the road from Hershey. Looks small, but it's a bustling place. :)

Even though it's further from where you say you're from, Geisinger is another nice, big country setting hospital to look into. I work there currently in the special care unit (critical care step-down) and it's a wonderful work environment. Their cardiac intensive care unit has produced the vast majority of flight nurses for Life Flight. (Geisinger has 5 helicopters in its system.) We're a small town area and a level one trauma center and teaching hospital. Approx. 437 beds with a new 9 floor "Hospital for Advanced Medicine" addition in the works. (Which will expand the CICU and *possibly* add a neuro ICU among other things.) Just thought I'd throw in another country option for you. :)

[cat_lvr_45]

-how is the administration? are they supportive of nurses?

well............it is also a medical school...............i'm not saying the nurses aren't supported, just that there are definitely times that it seems the dr's get bowed down to the nurses get a "just deal with it-if you don't like it leave" attitude..................but then, i have dealt with the same issue at other hospitals i've worked at during my career.

-how are the opportunities for career growth?

good, especially if you plan on staying there a long time (everything is done by senority there)

-is the new-grad program good? do the nurses who come out of the program stay long-term? do the new-grads have the support by administration, the education department, and the other nurses on the floor that they need in order to be successful?

the new grad programs seem really good in theory, but they have been losing several new employees recently......it almost seems like they will tell you what you want to hear till they get you in the door, then it becomes almost impossible to get anyone to help you......so, just make sure you get everything they promise you in writing before you actually start working......

-how is the morale among the nursing staff? are they generally happy with their jobs? is there "team effort," or is every nurse on their own?

depends on the floor you work on, i've worked in several different departments & there are a lot of nurses who work there & ya know how we nurses can get! there are definetly cliques & attitude issues & yes there are some people who just seem plain miserable with their job & intent on making everyone they come in contact with pay for their bad job choice.......i think you will find that anywhere though.....

-i will be moving away from where i grew-up for the first time, and i have no idea what the quality of the area surrounding hershey is. are the neighborhoods safe? any areas to stay away from?

stay away from: downtown hsbg (allison hill), steelton, penbrook, lebanon, middletown

hershey is nice & safe, but also more expensive & higher taxes than surrounding areas. hummlestown is really nice & right next to hershey, there are also alot of nice areas in harrisburg & across the river in mechanicsburg & camp hill

overall the harrisburg area is great, most people say it's like a small-town community, with big city amenities & that is the best way to describe it.

yes, there is crime downtown & in certain areas, but every city has that, people around here are generally nice & neighborly & there are plenty of area attractions & major nightlife downtown!

-would you recommend a family member to move a significant distance to start their career as a new-grad at hershey?

it is a great place for experience-you will see things there that you never would at most other hospitals-and the area is nice also, however there are negatives to go along with the positives to every facility/job.

the new grad program does seem a lot better then what some other hospitals call "orientation".

overall i would recommend it as an excellent learning & experience opportunity, just don't get your hopes up too high only to have that bubble burst by reality as i have witnessed happen to others.

good luck with whatever career choices you make!!:)

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

i just completed psna's the rising star leadership program : striving for excellence in pennsylvania program this monday in hershey and met several rn managers from both hershey medical center and geisinger over the past few months.

both are dynamic organizations in country setting with longer term employees who are committed to updating practice standards and doing advanced nursing research more than many hospitals today.

[color=#0000cc]penn state's milton s. hershey medical center is magnet accredited within a physician centered facility.

flight program: [color=#0000cc]penn state hershey lifelion

[color=#0000cc]geisinger health system just completed their magnet review and awaiting final word.

their [color=#0000cc]life flight program covers wide area --met one of their staff at conference, very dynamic.

they would both be on my list to consider initial employment.

[TRAMA1RN]

I too worked at Geisnger and highly recommend it. Absolutely loved my time in the trauma center, the nurses their were the most professional I have come across. If it would not have been for the price of gas I would still be working there, but due to it being a forty-five minute drive compared to my now 10 I had to leave, and miss it every single day. The lifeflight crews are the best you will come across.

[oolilxminnieoo]

Heyyy, How was the interview questions/process like at Hershey medical center? Was it behavioral type questions? IF you remember any questions that would be awesome!!! I want to prepare myself for whats to come!

[oolilxminnieoo]

anyone????

[BrittLee13]

Hi Taz,

I am a new grad trying to apply to Geisenger. Do they have positions open? What can I do to better my chance at getting hired?

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

Has anyone gone through this program recently?