Augusta Medical Center vs. UVa Medical Center

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I'm graduating w/my AD in December & looking to send out my applications to RMH, AMC, & UVa round about November -- I have several questions:

1.) Any nurses (or other staff) want to offer their opinions on these hospitals?

2.) What do you think my chances are of being hired for Trauma, ER, or ICU w/an AD & being a new grad? My game plan is to get in w/a hosp. & have them pay for my BSN after working for them for about a year (if I can't start sooner).

3.) Also, I'll be moving back in w/a family member who is a below the knee amputee ---- can anyone recommend the best way to find a single family home w/preferrably an in law syle living arrangement OR a 3-4 bedroom home? ---- looking between the Staunton, Waynesboro, & Charlottesville areas, as the fam. member wants to commute to work in Staunton.

Thanks for any & all help! :)

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In regards to you having an AD- i don't think it makes too much of a difference in your chances of getting hired. i believe that some places have a very slight differential for a BSN, but not much. New grads are being taken in all of the units you described. I spent a year in the STICU at UVA and i learned a hell of a lot there. CCVH, Swans, oscillators, sick as snot pts...you'll find them all there! you will get your share of gunshots wounds, atv accidents, people falling out of the tree stands, high speed highway accidents.....

In regards to the hospitals, i think it depends on what you are looking for. RMH and AMC are community hospitals, level 2 trauma. UVA is a level 1 trauma for a pretty big region, so you will see some very interesting things there. not that you wn't see it other places, but often times they will stabilize there and then fly it to UVA. I did nursing school clinicals at all three.....i think all three are the same when it comes to shortages in staffing.

finding a places to live? try realtor.com....also craigslist around there is helpful. goodluck!

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Thanks so much for your response!

I'm glad to hear the units I want as my 1st choices are hiring.

So far in the SIMC I've had the opportunity to work with the types of patients you've mentioned under the guidance of a great preceptor. I loved it! Still, love it because I have 1 day left....Eventhough it's intermediate care, I had the opportunity as well to pay a visit to the MSICU & TICU - I really like all of these units! I definitely want the chance to learn a heck of a lot, so I'm hoping I get in the STICU then - sounds like it's more up my alley - or so I hope - guess I'll find out if it is once (hopefully) I start working there (hopefully!)....

Looking to move more to the Waynesboro area as their housing is a whole lot cheaper than CHO's....

Thanks for the tips!:yeah::bow:

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Specializes in CCU.

Hi!

Good luck with your journey. With what you are looking for, I would go with UVA. It doesn't make a bit of difference if you are an AD or BSN prepared nurse. The only difference is a few dimes.

In regards to housing: craigslist! That's how I found my place in Cville. Look daily between Cville, Wboro, and Stanton. You never know what you will find at a great deal.

Good luck!

A

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Specializes in PICU, Pediatric Cardiac.

UVA has a new grad nursing program that is 6 months w/ a preceptor and 6 month probationary period. I did it 8 years ago.

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UVa doesn't pay that great, and I can't speak for the other hospitals there. I love the unit I work in at UVa but cannot stand the organization as a whole. I am getting everything out of them that I can and moving on. They are decent for tuition reimbursement (when you go to get your BSN) and health benefits (don't know how those compare to the other places). They take decent care of their nurses but there are still a lot of unhappy nurses. I suppose you'll find that most anywhere.

If you do chose UVA, I suggest an ICU, as the mentorship program rocks (I did it)! Plus the acute care units are constantly plagued by understaffing and heavy patient loads.

If you opt for a different hospital, then choose UVa later, you will make more money coming in, so I am told....

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