THR Versant Residency

Vincent12 · Jan 6, 2015

To my knowledge most all hospitals have some sort of residency but length of residency, contract agreements, and pay vary. As a GN I was desperate for a job and signed a 2 year contract on a Med/surg floor. The facility has a great reputation but boy do I hate med/surg. You never know till you actually work on a floor what it's really like. My contract states that I must stay on my unit the full two years but arrangements can MAYBE be made to transfer to another unit. I am now hearing from past residents that managers will make it very difficult for you to transfer before your contract is up. I understand their perspective because they are paying lots of money and time to train new GNs. Many of my cohorts got jobs in "less desirable" facilities, did there 6 mos. and now got jobs in areas with better pay and an area they enjoy. Although they initially worked in an area that wasn't a first choice they got experience, $, and were free to leave if they chose. It is very difficult to get in the specialty of your choice especially if your an ADN like I was. Working in a nursing home, outpatient clinics, and non-hospital jobs usually only have an orientation period with paid training. Some smaller hospitals in rural areas have very brief orientation, no contract, and you are on your own pretty quickly. These are all options and all have their good and bad points. The main point is to get experience. If you are lucky enough to get a big hospital residency in a specialty you really enjoy then that's great! If you just need experience in a hospital without residency contracts check out smaller facilities in Weatherford, Wise County, or Granbury. Please know that this is info based on my experience and information shared with me by friends in other facilities. Nursing is a great journey and we all have different paths. Just be aware that every facility, every unit, and area of nursing is different and it may take time to find your niche. Although I am not happy in the area I work I take every moment in my job to learn and gain experience. Good luck everyone.