Stanford Univ. ICU assignment?? where to live..

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Nov 12, 2011

Stanford University is actually at a pretty good location for travel to and from it. San Francisco would be too far, and probably too expensive over the length of the assignment. Look in Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Mountain View, San Carlos, Los Altos, Redwood City. Stay out of East Palo Alto. While there are some good areas there... many of the residential areas probably still aren't all that good or safe.

Stanford basically sits right at the junction of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, and should still have good public transit connections for both. If you don't have a car, you're going to want to either stay close to campus/hospital or find direct bus connections. It's been a long time since I've investigated the bus service there, so do your due diligence on that, in terms of hours and days of service.

As to how the units are run... I have no idea. I don't work for SUH, but having done a couple thousand transports out of there, the units aren't hard to find.

wanderlust99 · Nov 16, 2011

You'll be on E2 ICU which is really awesome. It will spoil you if it's your first assignment. It's high acuity, but you get a lot of support. They have resource nurses, so if you need help you just pick up the phone and say "I need my float" and they will come to you. If you need some kind of supply that's not in the room you pick up the phone and call and it will be brought to you. There's a pharmacy in the unit. They used Epic charting last time I was there. They were putting in lifts in each room last time I was there too. They're just pro nursing and it's a great place IMO.

Will you not have a car? SF is a 45 min drive north, minimum. You can also get to SF via cal-train which is also 45 min from Palo Alto. Most people choose to live in the area, but the ones that do live in SF drive to make that commute.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Nov 16, 2011

I've visited E2 ICU, North ICU, and most of the other patient units in the hospital. I used to do transports out of there, and got really familiar with C3 (lots of THA and TKR) and most of the other units that did general med/surg. Occasionally a transport out of a stepdown unit to a SNF. That was a lifetime ago, but I really liked visiting the Hospital. I never, ever, had anyone treat me poorly. I couldn't (and still can't) say anything bad about my experiences there.

If they treat traveling nurses like they treated (at least back then) transport EMT and Paramedics, I think you'll be in for a nice surprise. I hope my faith and experience with the hospital isn't misplaced.

If you can get a nice place to stay, you'll probably find you'll really enjoy the SF Bay Area.

louise51 · Nov 16, 2011

Depends on the shift you are working. Cal train works well for days. Stanford provides free bus service to and from the station but the runs are limited during school holidays and later in evenings. It is about a mile to walk from the station. The monthly ticket is a deal but costs more depending the zones you travel. My company has placed me in Palo Alto, Mountain View and Sunnyvale. I commuted most using Cal-train. Parking is not free on campus and you can ask your agency to cover it. I loved Stanford but I was in case management.

GleeGum, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2011

Oh you are going to love it. I'm also from east coast. they have good staffing ratios and breaks (yes really). I just finished 6 months in their ER. talk about travel friendly! wow. I was housed in Santa Clara, a little bit of a commute, but fine. Loved the area we were in and great church (SouthBay). stay out of East Palo Alto. and the further north you go the closer to San Fran and expensive housing. have a great time!

BAC44 · Nov 21, 2011

Thank you for all of your replies...they are all very helpful!! I am really excited about the assignment and am even more excited to hear such positive responses about the unit/hospital etc. I think I'm going to live in Palo Alto..haven't narrowed it down to where yet but would rather not have to deal with a commute to/from the city.

Thanks again!!

melissaw007 · Nov 25, 2011

BAC44,

Congrats on your awesome travel assignment. I am also from the east coast and have been planning on moving to California. Palo Alto, Redwood City, and San Carols, I feel would all be great options. You can easily ride the train and bike the rest of the way, it is very popular as there is a bike car on the train.

I also want to work at Stanford. I have been actively applying. Next I will try for a travel agency. Can you please tell me which travel agency you used? Send me a PM. Thanks for your help.

wanderlustRN24 · Nov 26, 2011

Hi BAC! I just sent you a PM. Good luck at Stanford, I know it will be amazing!! Very excited for you!

Nyketa311 · Jan 17, 2012

Where did you decide to live? I just took an assignment in the childrens hospital and I am having THE MOST DIFFICULT time finding housing.. and I start in under 3 weeks! I live on the East Coast so I can't view the apartments and I'm going on a whim here, so any help you could offer would be great. Thanks!

CHELE54 · Jan 18, 2012

i am a nurse with 19 years experience in ICU and i'm about to do travel nursing in san Francisco and it looks like Stanford would be a good choice. thanks

CHELE54 · Jan 18, 2012

Any of you guys know how travel nurses are treated in Kaiser hospital?