Any Parkland nurses??

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Sep 12, 2004

hi, jkae!

i don't work at parkland, but i live in the dallas suburbs, and a friend of mine just finished a 6 month stint at parkland as a pct--she took a short break from nurses training and went back to her program at el centro this past week or so.

she seemed to really like it. i don't know how much help that might be for you, since she wasn't working there as a nurse.

what i hear generally is that it is busy, understaffed, and they don't pay the best, but the experience is incredible. they say you really, really learn to be a nurse there.

if it weren't a ridiculous commute for me, i'd be applying (nclex in two days).

RN34TX · Sep 12, 2004

I used to live in Dallas and knew many a Parkland nurse, but never worked there myself. From everyone I knew that worked there, this is what I know:

Parkland is great for new grads who want to put it on their resume, especially the trauma/ER/ICU drama seeking new grads.

If you've been a nurse for 10 years you won't accept the pay.

In 2003, I knew one ICU nurse who worked there for 10 years and made $2.00/hour more than I made as an LVN working med/surg at nearby St. Paul. I also knew other RN's who made the same or less than I did as an LVN.

When I got my RN I almost laughed at their $18.00/hour offers.

I could have just stayed where I was and made more as an LVN.

St. Paul/Zale Lipshy/ UT wasn't perfect by any means either, but they paid fairly well. I saw them advertising recently for internships. You may look into them.

Presby always has a great reputation in Dallas as well.

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Sep 13, 2004

well, rn34tx, i was just thinking of you today....

i heard from a friend who is a new rn, working at the hospital in richardson, making $18.50. i almost fell out of my chair when she said that--i'm thinking, i went through all this work for that?

i'm glad to know that's the bottom of the barrel, salary wise. i'll look a little harder and maybe drive a little further.

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Sep 13, 2004

How about an update? Did you find an internship? As a nurse of 11 years who has also never worked in a hospital as a nurse I would love to hear how thing are going for you. Take care and good luck.

NurseKelly03 · Sep 23, 2004

Planning to move to Dallas area soon. Where is the best pay and best place to work?

:confused:

RN34TX · Sep 23, 2004

Planning to move to Dallas area soon. Where is the best pay and best place to work?

The best pay is not always the best place to work, they are two separate things. In fact they almost never are together.

St. Paul/Zale Lipshy paid the best when I lived there but St. Paul will work you to death. I lasted a little over a year there. Would never go back if I moved back to Dallas but they paid well.

Parlkand's pay scale is embarrassing, they were actually going to pay me less as a new RN than what I made at St. Paul as an LVN. But they feel that they are Parkland and that people should want to work there for the name and reputation. Big deal, I want my money.

Presby and Baylor Dallas enjoy a great reputation but mediocre on the pay scale. See what I mean?

Medical City is another one that pays well but will work the ---- out of you.

NurseKelly03 · Sep 24, 2004

The best pay is not always the best place to work, they are two separate things. In fact they almost never are together.
St. Paul/Zale Lipshy paid the best when I lived there but St. Paul will work you to death. I lasted a little over a year there. Would never go back if I moved back to Dallas but they paid well.
Parlkand's pay scale is embarrassing, they were actually going to pay me less as a new RN than what I made at St. Paul as an LVN. But they feel that they are Parkland and that people should want to work there for the name and reputation. Big deal, I want my money.
Presby and Baylor Dallas enjoy a great reputation but mediocre on the pay scale. See what I mean?
Medical City is another one that pays well but will work the ---- out of you.

So what do you suggest? Or anybody suggest?

Thanks for the help.

princess_j · Sep 24, 2004

I went to the open house at Methodist Hospital last night. I was really impressed with their internship program and I think I may have secured a position in the Jan 05 internship group in either the SICU/MICU or CCU. I really liked the case managers and actually got to meet several staff on the floor if the MICU/SICU & thought they were great. I even got to see a code (a first for me). I am going to talk more with HR today and next week and will make my final decision. I will write more when I find out more details. I'm really excited to start this new venture!