Akron Children's Hospital

[jgwe4e]

Good morning Ohio nurses. I am a peds RN, possibly returning to NE Ohio. I'd appreciate any information about Akron Children's. What do you like best about working there? What are this hospital's strengths? What is most frustrating? What are the weaknesses? What are typical nurse-pt ratios? What specialty programs does Children's have? Is there a trach/airway program? How does the pay compare to other hospitals in the area? What is the parking like? Besides Akron Children's, where else are peds nurses working in the Akron area?

[kessadawn, BSN, RN]

I have worked at Akron Children's since I got my license 2 yrs ago, and personally wouldn't work anywhere else! I was a float for a while, now I'm in the PICU. Staffing depends on the floors, and I can only speak for the night shift, but general care floors in the busy winter months I have had assignments as high as 6-7 pts, but usually around 3-5, in the PICU we max out at 2 pt, 1 if your pt is intubated. Hem-Oc can be busier, and we also have a large NICU and a burn center ICU. I am not sure about comparable pay scales at nearby hospitals, but have heard that we start at a lower rate. I do know that we do not get paid more for being ICU nurses, unlike other facilities. Orientation was wonderful, lengthy, fairly thorough. We are in process of attaining magnet status, and we have expanded into Robinson Memorial in Ravenna and now moving into the Youngstown area as well. One of the things I like best is that everyone is very receptive to questions and helping her/his fellow nurse, especially in PICU. Very comforting when I was a new grad! We have a lot of in house free CEUs, tuition reinbursements, lectures, all sorts of programs. I am not from this area, but some of the nurses I work with also work at Rainbow or Cleveland Clinic in peds. Hope that answers some questions for you, and good luck!