Peacehealth SW in Vancouver, WA, what is it like working there?

[Lakeunion98125]

Hello everyone,

Can you please share your RN working experience (what unit, nurse-patient ratio, scheduling/8s vs 12s, management...etc) at Peacehealth SW campus in Vancouver, WA?

I am currently working at the Longview campus and I am thinking to apply to the SW campus in hopes that things would be a little different. Please share your experience, any input is appreciated! Thank you! :)

[OliveOyl91, BSN, RN]

I work as a CNA at Southwest. RNs and CNAs work 12's (0630-1900 or 1830-0700) for the most part. Some units have different hours. RNs are union and honestly the benefits aren't too bad. There's a 12/40 overtime rule and there are evening and night shift differentials. There's also weekend bonuses if you work more than two weekend shifts in a pay period. Probably very similar to St John.

From what I've heard, my floor (orthopedics) usually has the heaviest patient load for nurses, 6:1. While other med/surg floors will only assign 4 or 5 patients to a nurse. I've been there for about six months and really enjoy it. I chose to work out in Vancouver instead of Longview, because you get to see so much more and experience much more. Many times our patients have been transferred from St John.

The only downside between the two (for me personally) would be the pay difference. CNAs are paid more in Longview, but since the nurses are union I don't think that would be the case for RNs. Nurses tend to stay there for their career or use it as a stepping stone to get into a Kaiser hospital or OHSU.

Oh, and the Firstenburg Tower is a GORGEOUS facility.