Anyone work at St Francis Hospital on Long Island

karkhipova · Jun 29, 2005

I had surgery (prolapsed rectum) this past year at St. Francis Hospital in Port Washington ,Long Island. It is known as a cardiac hospital, but I had abdominal surgery, so I know that they do general med surg as well as cardiac. The nursing care was excellent. The new graduates were terrific and seemed to have had an excellent orientation. I was unable to void one night post op. I went to the bathroom in the middle of the night with severe pressure. Within minutes, someone was asking me if I was alright without me even calling. After I explained that I had severe pressure on my bladder and could not void, within minutes my nurse(who was a new graduate) was there with a more experienced nurse. The new graduate did the cath while the experienced nurse watched and prompted her. She did a GREAT job. For the eight days I was there, the nursing care was incredible. Every nurse carried a beeper, and when I rang my bell for pain meds, they were there immediately. I never had to be in pain for one minute longer than necessary. I was thoroughly assessed every time any medication was given(abdomen, breath sounds-total assessment). When I was able and asked for a shower, my docs permission was gotten right away, and I was assisted to the shower. The nursing assistants were also extremely competent and also very good at assessment. Toward the end of my stay, I was getting a bit depressed, and my dr. was called immediately. There was also not even one nurse who was the least bit unpleasant. So if anyone works there, can you please explain how you all got to be such excellent nurses? What is the orientation like? When I am ready, I aim to work there for sure!
I also want to mention that months later, I had emergency adhesion surgery and had to be rushed to another hospital closer to my house. The nursing care did not come close to the care I got at st. Francis, and it was a magnet hospital! Go figure.

Hi Krissy. Saw a very familiar hospital name you've mentioned and decided to reply. I happen to work at that hospital as a Nurse Extender in the ER. It actually does feel rewarding hearing someone say good things about you for a change. We do work hard and we try to be friendly as much as we can. I've been there for almost three years and graduated nursing school in December. So now I found a RN position at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan. I'm not sure what unit you've been on during your stay, but I was glad to hear you recieved good care. I think our management needs to hear more of stories like that though. The main reason I'm leaving that place is because I always felt underappreciated there. The management is way too quck to point out the WRONG things that you do but almost NEVER praises you for your GOOD work, and I do a lot of it. I don't know what's waiting for me out there, but I'm willing to take the chance and get out there. I've been working with too many nurses that have been unhappy working for St. Francis and who discouraged me from starting my career here. So I guess I'll be taking my chances. Good luck to you with whatever you choose. :)

KaRN · Jul 8, 2005

Hi Krissy. I just started at SFH as a new grad this year. I'm happy to hear you had a positive experience there. I do agree w/the other post that we work hard and try and be friendly. As a new grad, I find that the other nurses on the floor will always help me with anything I need. Also, the majority of patients I've taken care of speak quite highly of SFH. My orientation was decent, classroom time and floor work, then back to the classroom, although I think other places may have a longer orientation time.

Overall I am happy with my decision to work at SFH. The benefits are nice and my coworkers are great. Hope this helps you with your decision. Let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

krisssy · Jul 8, 2005

Hi Krissy. I just started at SFH as a new grad this year. I'm happy to hear you had a positive experience there. I do agree w/the other post that we work hard and try and be friendly. As a new grad, I find that the other nurses on the floor will always help me with anything I need. Also, the majority of patients I've taken care of speak quite highly of SFH. My orientation was decent, classroom time and floor work, then back to the classroom, although I think other places may have a longer orientation time.
Overall I am happy with my decision to work at SFH. The benefits are nice and my coworkers are great. Hope this helps you with your decision. Let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

Which Dept. do you work in? Were you there in Oct.? I can't remember which floor I was on, but it was not a cardiac condition-prolapsed rectal surgery. Are the cardiac floors separate? My two favorite nurses were very young, and one was pretty new. She graduated from Bingampton I think. The other one was a Molloy graduate. Wouldn't it be funny if you were one of them. I remember them perfectly, so they must have had a good impact on my care. I knew their names at the time but can't remember now. I asked every nurse what school she or he went to. Most seemed to have gone to Molloy and Adelphi. I graduated from Adelphi very long ago! At this point I am thinking of taking an online refresher course at the University of Delaware and trying to do my clinicals at St. Francis if they will let me. I want a preceptor who works like the nurses I experienced at St. Francis-caring, organized, and very knowledgeable. Good luck to you as you start out in your career! I also couldn't believe the room service and how good the food was-and having a menu-it was like take out from a good restaurant!

KaRN · Jul 15, 2005

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KaRN · Jul 15, 2005

Hi Krissy,

I am on a regular Med-Surg floor, and no, I wasn't there in Oct. I just graduated this past December.

Nursing is also a second career from me. I originally finished undergrad very long ago, and decided to change fields. I really like nursing, and SFH.

There are students from Nassau, and Adelphi doing clinicals at SFH all the time. Also, there are some from Adelphi doing their final internship here. I'm sure you'd have no problem doing clinicals there. I've met most of the preceptors, and all of them seem to really know what they're doing. It may be different if you are just there for school, but if you decide to work there, they hand pick the people who precept you, and follow up w/you to see that everything is going smoothly. It was comforting to know they just don't let anyone precept you.

Anyway, if you want specific info about the environment here, etc. feel free to ask. I'm a bit hesitant to post private/personal info online, but I think there is a way you can send personal msgs that don't show up in the forum boards. Thanks for your well wishes, it would be great to see you at SFH for clinicals or as a staff RN. :)

MrsGPR · Oct 13, 2005

In what salary range are New Grads starting? I am "canvassing" a few hospitals just for my own personal knowledge. I am in Nsg school now and have been a CNA in LTC for 2 yrs. I know from first hand experience that good money doesn't mean a good job...

A facility could pay a million dollars a year but be really crappy when it comes to the "big picture". St Francis seems great and I am looking into the Nurse Extender positions posted on their website.

Thanks for your anticipated response!!!

krisssy · Oct 14, 2005

I never worked there, but I was a patient there. The nurse extenders were absolutely terrific, and they got terrific learning experiences in a great atmosphere. I watched carefully being a nurse and all. lol

If I was in nursing school again, i would be thrilled to get a chance to be in their nurse extender program. Go for it, and let us know how you make out. Good luck! Krisssy Also, they appeared to have had a great orientation. So did the nurses! I wish I could work there!

NoCrumping · Oct 14, 2005

In what salary range are New Grads starting? I am "canvassing" a few hospitals just for my own personal knowledge. I am in Nsg school now and have been a CNA in LTC for 2 yrs. I know from first hand experience that good money doesn't mean a good job...
A facility could pay a million dollars a year but be really crappy when it comes to the "big picture". St Francis seems great and I am looking into the Nurse Extender positions posted on their website.
Thanks for your anticipated response!!!

New grads (as of 2 years ago) made 26 per hour... excellent orientation.....