Best hospitals in OKC area to work for?

LanaBanana · Mar 22, 2006

When I used to live in OKC I always thought I would like to work at Mercy. I worked in medical records at Baptist for a few months and it was pretty good, but I don't know what the nursing aspect would be like. I didn't realize Mercy was a magnet hospital.

Okiecruffler · Mar 25, 2006

If you really want to work ER you should work University. The pay isn't as good as some places, but it's the only level one in town.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Mar 25, 2006

If you really want to work ER you should work University. The pay isn't as good as some places, but it's the only level one in town.

Thanks for your input.

My husband works down at the OUHSC and has for years and is always telling me to stay way from there, they have a really high nurse turnover rate. I was talking to a education major who's wife (and RN) works in Everette Tower and she hates it too. I looked at some of your pasts posts and noticed you really seem to love working where you do....but can you shed some light on why there is such a big nursing turnover down there?

What is the pay like then compared to other places? Is that why so many of them leave? Do they accept new RNs in the ER right out of school do you know? I was excited when the trauma center was built btw!

k_cole21 · Mar 25, 2006

I worked @ Mercy...all I have to say is it's not so magnetic! The people are great but the leadership was aweful. If you are pregnant & going to have a c/s you don't get to enjoy the luxury of their newly remodeled unit. They stick you in the dungeon. I've heard bad things about Norman too. But like the previous person said, if you want to do ER Norman will be a good place to see more. Tulsa.....St Francis is very corporate. SJ treats their employees well.

Okiecruffler · Mar 25, 2006

I'm not sure why OUHSC has such a high turnover rate. I love the PICU, it's the only place in the hospital I would work. I'm not sure if they hire grad nurses in the ER or not. I know we do in the PICU and it works out pretty well. Pay isn't up to par with some of the other OKC hospitals, but supposedly they're going to do something about that (how many times have we heard that song?)

millkay · Apr 4, 2006

I worked for Integris for a short time, I ended up not having that great of an experience. I went to work at Everette tower in the STICU. That place is really a class act. Now they've moved to a brand new unit. Everywhere has it's good and bad points. They have a career ladder, which is a selling point for me, and offer lots of educational opportunities. I'm a travel nurse now, but try to stay away from OKC. :uhoh3:

cinnamongirl233 · Apr 7, 2006

i've been at OU for years. i will not dispute the fact that sometimes it gets pretty rough, but there's no other hospital in oklahoma where i would work. i love the teaching atmosphere and the fact that what i'm doing for my patient is based on current research, not just what some crotchety old doctor orders and that's they way it goes. i feel valued as a part of the healthcare team there...the doctors are always willing to sit down and discuss the patient's care. i have worked at hospitals all over the country as a traveller and this is not the case in other hospitals.

having said that, if you want to work in an ER, you have to decide what type of patient you want to care for. you're not going to get the little old lady from the nursing home with fatigue as much as you're going to get the drunk who walked out in front of a car going highway speed. the bottom line is, we get the worst of the worst. you're not getting admitted with a bellyache (unless the cause of that ache is a gunshot wound). it's fun. it's heartbreaking. it's addicting. and i would recommend it to anyone.