Dominion, NVMHI, & St. Elizabeths Psychiatric Hospitals

U.S.A. Virginia

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Specializes in Psych, Ortho, Stroke, and TBI.

I'm looking to transition back to Psych from Acute Rehab. I would like ANY info on any of the hospitals in which I've applied.

I've read terrible things about St. E's, online, but not from those who actually work there. I did read a report that with 300 patients, there were 355 assaults in one year. I also read they averaged 1 death a month from either attacks, suicide, or medical conditions. Sounds really high...but the pay is good. However, if it's unsafe the pay is not going to be worth it.

Dominion looks promising, but they are always hiring, which makes me worry about retention. (HCA hospitals)

NVMHI is the most promising, as they aren't always hiring, and I hear good things, but they are offering the least amount of $, and budget cuts seem to be a challenge there all the time.

Any thoughts? Comments? Rumors? I'm interviewing at NVMHI and St. E's soon this week. Any help or info is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

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If I were to go into Psych I would probably choose Dominion. Let me ask you another way: if money were no object, would you rather go to Georgetown, George Mason or PG Community College?

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I've read the same things about St. E's and it is scary, makes me think twice about applying there. How did your interviews go?

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Specializes in Psych, Ortho, Stroke, and TBI.
If I were to go into Psych I would probably choose Dominion. Let me ask you another way: if money were no object, would you rather go to Georgetown, George Mason or PG Community College?

Thanks for replying. So, can I ask what makes you say that? Have you any experience or knowledge of those hospitals? I just toured NVMHI and found it and the staff to be pretty professional. And everyone there seemed to love working there. Just my first impressions of course... They really try and sell the working conditions, support, and staffing there.

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Specializes in Psych, Ortho, Stroke, and TBI.
I've read the same things about St. E's and it is scary, makes me think twice about applying there. How did your interviews go?

I've only had one interview thus far, that's at NVMHI. I really liked it first impression. The acuity vs. staffing seems good, and as I said above, the staff really seems to like working there.

I think the interview itself went well, they have some standard questions that I answered. I have a 3 month old baby that kept me up all night, so I didn't get much sleep...I think I might of been a bit off because of it. But over all I think I did well.

St. E's is coming soon, and I haven't heard from Dominion. I'll keep everyone posted!

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I was in that same suitation sometimes ago. I had a choice of choosing between NVMHI and St.E's. I Chose St E. because the pay was just about 2000 higher than NVMHI. I only got a tour of NVMHI and I loved it, everything appeared organized, the staffs were professional like you said but I choose St E. because it's less driving for me and the 2000 annual difference in salary.However, looking back, if distance wasn't a factor, I would have regreted that decision.

From the package I received from NVMHI, I think the number of vacation received yearly has made up for the 2k difference.You also have much flexibility with NVMHI. I don't really know anything about Dominion, but I just checked it out and it looks like a better option of the 3 (I would be checking this out for myself).

St E. is not as dangerous as people see it. All the things people say about how dangerous the hospital is comes from the old St. E. Hospital. The new Hospital is a very beautiful place.You would fall in love with the building. It's not more dangerous than any other Mental Health Institution.

However, are you coming from an hospital setting or a nursing home? if you are coming from a nursing home setting, you will love it. But if coming from one of this modern hospitals with modern ways of doing things, I would rather suggest you start from a normal hospital that has a Psych unit.

I hope this helps. When is your interview?

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Specializes in Psych, Ortho, Stroke, and TBI.

Thanks for your response! Great feedback! So, do you currently work at St. E's? How do you like it?

A couple of things. The statistics for the St. E's show 1 death from violence or suicide (mostly violence) per month in 2010 (Not in the old St. E's. That's a lot don't you think?

And I know they have more forensic patients and work with the DOJ, but that stat seems significant.

Another thing is that the websites are offering much different salary. starting at 49k at NVMHI and at St. E's it starts at 59k! That's huge.

Commute-wise NVMHI is 20 minutes away. St. E's (per google) is about 45. I live in springfield, VA.

My interview went great! I'm hoping to hear from him soon....

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You will be hired.They are looking into hiring a lot of nurses right now. As an experienced nurse(P.Nurse), the starting salary is 59k+.NVMI offered me 48k. Considering it's about 10k difference for you, it's worth it. Yes I work there. I started without any experience in Psych and I was started with the least payment on the website.How many years of experience do you have? I can inbox you how much you should be negotiating for based on your years of experience. As to how I like it, hmmm. If you have a nursing home background, you will love it. it quite different from what operates on the Psych unit of a regular hospital.I would say if you have a way of contacting old dominion before starting,now is the time to do so, because once you start,there is no time to attend other interviews. Remember, you will be on orientation, then on probation and you wouldn't want to start calling off during your orientation period. Were you told the unit you would be working on?

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Specializes in Psych, Ortho, Stroke, and TBI.

Admissions. At NVMHI.

I haven't been given any info at St. E's. Honestly, the HR gal was really rude to me.

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Specializes in Psych, Ortho, Stroke, and TBI.
You will be hired.They are looking into hiring a lot of nurses right now. As an experienced nurse(P.Nurse), the starting salary is 59k+.NVMI offered me 48k. Considering it's about 10k difference for you, it's worth it. [/quote

NVMHI offered you ONLY 48k? Was that the starting salary? Did you try to negotiate?

I really liked the "Vibe" at NVMHI. If they would fiddle with the salary..I'd take slightly less money for good working conditions and a 20 minute commute. (vs. 45min)

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I applied through CWV website and the salary was also stated there.The starting salary for nurses with no experience then was 48k. I didn't try to negotiate.You should try to negotiate with St.E's because a co-worker with years of experience told me she was offered a low salary but refused because she knew how much a friend is being paid at St.E's, so she negotiated for that same amount and she got it.

I also didn't get any info during the interview process until orientation. I have had people also complain about the rudeness of HR lady but did not experience it myself.

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I too applied at St. E's and NVMHI. The HR lady from St. E's was rude to me as well. I didn't feel comfortable with the stats of the place and her rudeness just made me not want to interview there. I did interview at NVMHI last week and hope to hear something soon. Good luck to you too Mingez....hope we both get hired there!

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