Thoughts on St. Joseph Medical Center? Does a new grad have chance for job there?

U.S.A. Washington

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Hi everyone :)

I was wondering if anyone has thoughts or experiences with St. Joseph Medical Center. My Mom tells me (from her experience there when she was pregnant) that its a wonderful hospital, very caring, with great values. I haven't heard anything else about it though. I got a great feeling off of their website, but I'm wondering what its really like. Would it be a good place to work? Are there any major flaws or good things about it? Does anyone know if its nurses are unionized? Do they ever hire new grads?

I'm asking because I'm looking ahead to the future (about 2 years to be exact) when I'll be a new BSN grad. I've been researching job opportunities in WA state for new grad nurses and it looks like it will be pretty tough to get my foot in the door. However, I've heard (and it seems so on the St. Joe. website) that St. Joseph's would be somewhat willing to hire a new grad via their internship program. Does anyone know if I would have a chance there? I know Tacoma area hospitals are my best bet if I want a job as a new grad in WA state. I'll have experience as a CNA in a nursing home and as a volunteer in the ER of a hospital when I graduate, in case that helps my chances. I know that the fact that my degree will come from a out of state college will hurt my chances, but I really, really want a job in my home (WA) state, so I'm willing to try anything!

Thanks for your thoughts everyone! I'd love to hear anyone's info, no matter how small! :)

Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

You don't know who is BSN and who isn't within Franciscan. Another thing I like about it, is there are a lot of nurses in higher management jobs, whereas some have non medical bean counters.

FHS is going to restructure their nursing model and is cutting some spending on the heals of Multi Care. I guess FHS is 30% of CHI's profit. That is huge! It also makes us a bullseye. We don't have a lot of overage at our hospital so I hope they leave us alone.

Specializes in Trauma/ER, Pysch, Pedi, Free Standing ER, L&D, ICU.

This gives me hope =D

Specializes in Trauma/ER, Pysch, Pedi, Free Standing ER, L&D, ICU.

How is the ED there? Staff wise?

Specializes in Trauma/ER, Pysch, Pedi, Free Standing ER, L&D, ICU.
The 300 new grads internship in 2009 was because they opened a brand new sister hospital in Gig Harbor, WA: St. Anthonys. They were also close to opening another sister hospital in Enumclaw: Enumclaw Hospital. All hospitals are part of Fransciscan Health System: St. Joes (Tacoma), St. Claires (Lakewood), St. Francis (Federal Way), St. Anthonys and Enumclaw (the newest in their additions). I have worked at St. Joes...went through their new grad program Med/Surg/Tele. I can say from my experience the hospital was very nice, the old nurses dont eat their young and very supportive of new grads. Everyone makes sure you're doing ok. The charge nurses are excellent. If the floor was full with heavy care load patients, we had extra float CNA and extra float RNs in addition to scheduled RNs. From managers to charge nurse to staff nurses, everyone comes and asks if you need help and they do if you ask. I would recommend any new grads to apply there through their internship. Also, after getting your foot for one yr, the chances of getting hired to ICU, ER, OR, L&D is very high. They hire their own employees who have 1 yrs of med/surg in speciality areas first then open to public nurses with experience. They make you go through additional internship in those speciality areas. Go for Franciscan Health System anyday !!! I knew few travel nurses who loved it so much, they took permanent RN positions there.

That's good to hear =D

Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

I echo the above. I'm very happy there.

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