Anyone from the Lehigh Valley area?

U.S.A. Pennsylvania

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i live in Bethlehem PA and am considering the desales university accelerated BSN program. anyone go to desales? or have any info on st. lukes or lehigh valley hospital?

i really appreciate any info you have and look forward to getting to know some LHV nurses/students!!

TIA

Cedar Crest College offers BSN and you can go part time if need be. Im not a nurse yet but I have heard good things about LVH. Good luck

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Specializes in Open Heart.
mummer 43, I couldn't agree with you more. This is why I only work in Philly. I also think you are getting a better job experience overall, you see alot more down there. Everyone thinks I am nuts, but I actually make $25/per hour more than I would make PER DIEM at LVH. I think its worth the 1hr 15 min. drive. For only being 1 hour away, the pay really bad. LVH actually pays a little better than St. Lukes and Sacred Heart, so guess they think, why should they have to raise their pay?

Mind if I ask what hospital you work at?

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care and Emergency.

Interesting replies. I traveled quite a bit before accepting a (only my third) staff potition at LVH. Do not let the $/hr rates fool you. Housing, fuel, and benefits in many jobs eat up the extra $/hour. And there is the Philly income tax.

All this said, find a position that offers you most of what you want now and has the potential for future growth. They exist, and if you do not find it right away, suggest your 'ideal' role to an administrator. I did in my first FT staff job and got it... then had to give it to a senior nurse.

I recommend pursuing your BSN/MSN earlier rather than later so your choice of employer may dictate that possibility. You can design your baccalaureate in most programs within their basic requirements, so again decide whuat you want first then find some university that can accomodate that plan.

Happy hunting, and feel free to PM if you have any questions.

DRBear432

1
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Specializes in NICU.
I'm originally from the LVH. I worked at LVH-CC for two years before I moved to the midwest. I work now at what is soposed to be one of the best hospitals in the state. I have to tell you , LVH was so much better. Even though I didn't feel it at the time, I can now see how much more valued I was at LVH. I felt for the most part respected by peers, managers, as well as physicians.

I think I might move back to the valley, and I will definately be contacting LVH for employment.

Nurse303,

Would you mind if I sent you a PM? I work at LVH currently and have a planned relocation this summer to Carmel Indiana to work for Clarian. I would be interested to find out your opinion of the nursing culture out there in general. I had an interview a few weeks ago and it seemed very nice but would like to know what you think, coming form the same background as I am.

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mummer 43, I couldn't agree with you more. This is why I only work in Philly. I also think you are getting a better job experience overall, you see alot more down there. Everyone thinks I am nuts, but I actually make $25/per hour more than I would make PER DIEM at LVH. I think its worth the 1hr 15 min. drive. For only being 1 hour away, the pay really bad. LVH actually pays a little better than St. Lukes and Sacred Heart, so guess they think, why should they have to raise their pay?

Old post but thought I'd add to this one- I guess it depends on specialty- I know nurses who make more at LVH but most nurses I've talked to, inclding myself, who have worked at more than one hospital in the area make the least at LVH. I make significantly more at SLHHN than at LVH. (and am treated better) And Sacret Heart is btter paying and a better environmant. Guess that will change if LVH buys them out though.

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Specializes in NICU.

Anyone currently working at LVH?

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Well I worked at Lehigh Valley's Muhlenberg (Regional Heart) campus and for a few months and HATED it. While some of the night staff were pretty nice there were a few coworkers, mostly really snotty day shift nurses who made it simply unbearable. If you get in with the right unit you would probably be fine. Some of the other units at least seemed kinda happy and close. That however was not my experience there. I guess that's why that particular unit has had so many problems, managerial and otherwise in the recent past.

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I know this thread is a few months old but which Regional Heart Unit did you have a bad experience with? Were you unhappy with the ICU or the progressive care unit? My friend is considering Muhlenberg Regional Heart.

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Is Lehigh Valley unionized for their RNs???

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Specializes in NICU.

No unions to be found here. LVH uses a shared governance/professional model though.

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Specializes in psych.

It won't allow me to PM anyone for some reason...but for the people who were in the DeSales University Accelerated BSN program, would you mind sending me a PM or an e-mail at [email protected] and just briefly letting me know what you thought about the program? I am in a similar situation as the one other person who has a previous bachelor's and all of the science pre-reqs completed. I am enrolled in the program for May 2010, but just wanted to hear what some other ppl thought, especially those who were in the program previously.

As for the hospitals...I have worked at Wilmington Hospital (Christiana Care) for a couple of years now as a Nurse Extern, and I love it there. It's a small feel and a relaxed atmosphere. Just a couple of weeks ago both Christian and Wilmington Hospital achieved magnet status too. They are definitely worth checking out.

Joe

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