Alta bates medical center

NedRN · Jan 21, 2017

You will be floating often, up to twice in a 12 hour shift. If you don't think you can handle that, ask your agency if you can do eights. You will get stronger if survive twelves though.

TrvlNurse1 · Jan 21, 2017

Thanks for the help. The contract is for four eight hour shifts already so that might be helpful.

Wolf at the Door, BSN · Jan 22, 2017

You will be floating often, up to twice in a 12 hour shift. If you don't think you can handle that, ask your agency if you can do eights. You will get stronger if survive twelves though.

OP said its for 8 hours.

OP what unit? I have not heard anything positive about that place

TrvlNurse1 · Jan 22, 2017

It's a med surg unit

Wolf at the Door, BSN · Jan 23, 2017

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I worked in the Med Surg department(s) in the hospital. Hospitals are in unsafe areas. Horribly disorganized orientation. Tried to get me to do modules off the clock. CNA's are useless. Staff are backstabbers. There is no phlebotomy so you have to do it. They pull you every 4 hours; sometimes to other hospitals. The parking sucks. The shuttle service is unreliable. Then they yell at you for being late. This is the only contract I've ever cancelled. The 'housing' wasn't fit for a dog. 12/18/2014

"

review i found on travel nursing central.

coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN · Jan 23, 2017

"
I worked in the Med Surg department(s) in the hospital. Hospitals are in unsafe areas. Horribly disorganized orientation. Tried to get me to do modules off the clock. CNA's are useless. Staff are backstabbers. There is no phlebotomy so you have to do it. They pull you every 4 hours; sometimes to other hospitals. The parking sucks. The shuttle service is unreliable. Then they yell at you for being late. This is the only contract I've ever cancelled. The 'housing' wasn't fit for a dog. 12/18/2014
"
review i found on travel nursing central.

I've never worked at Alta Bates, however, I've very familiar with the hospital and the area. My nursing program is in partnership with Alta Bates so they share space up on the hill.

-Unsafe area: Just because it's Oakland doesn't mean it's unsafe. Major eyeroll here. The hospital sits on a hill and it it's own island basically.

-They pull you to other hospitals: I know nurses at both Alta Bates hospitals (Berkeley and Oakland) and I have never heard of someone being pulled off a floor in one hospital and being told to go to the other. You can take the shuttle in between, but driving might end up being a 45 min to hour drive with traffic.

-Parking sucks: They built a whole new parking structure. It's awesome and so much more space. There's at least 4 parking garages.

-The shuttle service is unreliable: For the 2 years I spent there in school I maybe had an issue with the shuttles a handful of times. I've gone back to my school for trainings several times and used the shuttle. Still reliable in my opinion.

Overall, Alta Bates has been known to have issues, but what hospital doesn't? Honestly, I've heard more concerns from nurses over at Marin General. Alta Bates also has a new patient tower which is fantastic. Also, don't be late if you don't want to get yelled at.

Wolf at the Door, BSN · Jan 23, 2017

^I'll take that travel nurses exp as individual. Take everything with a grain of salt on the internet.

NedRN · Jan 23, 2017

-Unsafe area: Just because it's Oakland doesn't mean it's unsafe. Major eyeroll here. The hospital sits on a hill and it it's own island basically.
-They pull you to other hospitals: I know nurses at both Alta Bates hospitals (Berkeley and Oakland) and I have never heard of someone being pulled off a floor in one hospital and being told to go to the other. You can take the shuttle in between, but driving might end up being a 45 min to hour drive with traffic.

Agree about the safeness of the area, I've worked in Oakland. However, perception of the environment is highly individual, and depends on what environments they are used to, and how long they had been in this one before rendering this opinion. My opinion is that anyone can adjust to virtually any environment to a good comfort level. That has been my experience and I've lived in some of the worst crime areas in the country.

I've not heard of Alta Bates asking a nurse to float to a different hospital on the same shift. From a legal perspective, they would have to remain clocked in while transiting. I don't think that would be acceptable productivity versus finding a place for the traveler at the same facility. I would imagine that (depending on the contract terms), the traveler would just be sent home. Most contracts allow for some call off time before having to pay the traveler.

I've talked to quite a few travelers who have worked at Alta Bates without hearing this level of criticism other than getting used to floating. But you know, perception of facilities also depends on the individual, the time they worked there and the then current staff and managers, and the actual unit. One person's heaven is another's hell. For example, I did not enjoy UCSF (although it wasn't exactly a hellhole). But I've never met another traveler (in other units) who didn't love it. And UCSF was insulted when I failed to extend or go staff.

Reviews found online are 95 percent critical - human nature. They do not reflect everyone's experience, not even a plurality. So while it is worth considering what you read, and perhaps asking about some issue during your hospital interview, reviews should not form a basis for declining an assignment or choosing one. In this, it is similar to picking an agency. Every agency (or facility) will have detractors and fans. Your experience at one will largely be based on the relationships you have with recruiters (or facility staff), and will be unique to you.

I have rarely turned down an assignment, and usually because of a bad vibe I got during the interview, or a clearly bad fit. Otherwise, I take most criticism and praise with a grain of salt. I have never had a bad assignment after doing this for twenty years (perhaps one exception - a six month contract in England). Of course, that is just my experience, and is quite individual. I've certainly seen a number of travelers who had a bad assignment right in front of my eyes (usually terminated by the facility), even ones who were good clinicians. It can happen.