Best Memphis hospitals for RN's

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Hi! Just wanted to know- what are the best hospitals in Memphis to work for as an RN?

1. Who pays best and has the best benefits (please let me know about shift, weekend dif., etc).

2. Who has the best patient ratios?

3. How much experience must you have before you can work a weekend program somewhere?

4. How hard is it to get into, let's say, an NICU or CCU as a new grad? Do you know of anyone who has?

I would like answers to these questions because I am in the process of narrowing down potential places to work as a nurse tech or intern while in school. I think it would be nice to start my career out wherever I am a tech or intern if possible, as I will at least already be familiar with the surroundings and 'culture' of the hospital in that case. Thanks!

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Bumpity-bump!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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One more BIIIIIIG BUMPITY-BUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where are all the Memphis nurses nowadays LOL

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I have no first hand experience but from what I hear St. Jude nurses stay on for decades and decades (they must find something good there)

Good Luck!

I wish someone with some info would answer you

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.

Here's my opinion as well as what I know.

St. Jude is $24 on nights, so I think days is around 18-19. They have a 2 to one ratio or maybe it's 4 to one, but in any case the ratio is supposed to be good and it is a good place to work. I went for a tour of St Jude and the atmosphere is wonderful. Sorry I don't know exact info.

The best pay is Baptist, but they also have a rep for mean nurses and high nurse ratios. This means 8-10 on days and 15 on nights. Now I did clinicals there and I didn't find the nurses to be mean or rude, but that's my opinion. Oh yeah, the pay is $22 on days and with shift diffs, night weekends the pay is $30. Don't know the specific shift diffs, but someone answered that question on one of these TN threads. Don't think new grads start in ICU and they have a waiting list for weekend only or it's a year of experience required (not sure which), but it's like $45 an hour.

Methodist is ok for environment. The pay is $20 on days and if you are an extern prior to graduation, you get an extra dollar. They may have increased though.

Nurse patient ratio on the telemetry floor I worked on was 4-5 to 1. Sometimes it was 6, but not usually. Methodist has weekend option. I think all the hospitals do.

LeBonheur is the childrens hospital associated with Methodist and I was told that the pay is a little higher. They have an intern program that's 16-20 weeks for new graduates and yes you can start in their NICU or PICU.

St. Francis is my favorite and they have 9-12 month internships for most areas, but there is rumor of the OB unit closing. Pay is 20.60 a hour with benefits and 29.50 with out. I work there as a nurse tech and I find the atmosphere to be very welcoming.

The MED you can start in the NICU and the ICU. They are a level 1 trauma center and they do have new grads in the ICU, but the orientation is 3 months and I don't know is that's long enough, but people do it, so I guess it is. Not positive about the pay, but it's over 20, I think.

The VA I have no clue about pay, but they do have an extern program.

I'm sorry If I have been vague, but I gave you the info as best I know. I've done clinicals at almost all the hospitals or work there except for the VA. To me your best bet is LeBonheur or St. Francis for environment, ratios, and experience.

PM me if you have more questions.

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Specializes in Pediatric CVICU.

I have to agree with CRNASOMEDAY25. St. Francis' is the best. I currently work there as a tech and I did work at Baptist. I found many of the nurses at Baptist rude and they didnt care about explaining things to me or teaching me anything. The nurses at St. Francis are always thankful for anything you do and they always want to teach you. They often come find me whenever there is something interesting to observe or do. I currently go to school out of state but I am making the very long drive once or twice a month just to go home and work at St. Francis for the weekend. I'm sure the other hospitals are good and some people do have good experiences at baptist but I definitely prefer St. Francis and they also pay me more as a tech than Baptist did.

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Thanks for the info! I appreciate the replies. Hopefully a couple more people will pipe in at some point.

CRNA, I have heard that Baptist is a real bloodsucher for nurses, LOL! Don't know if a few extra $ are worth all that, truly. I will check into the Methodist system and St. Francis as well. Also the MED, as I have heard good things.

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St. Francis quoted me 19.65 for New Grad pay and I dont remember the shift diff. Only St. Francis-Bartlett is rumored to be closing the OB unit.The big St. francis near poplar is doing fine in the Ob dept. The Med quoted me 20.25 with 4 dollar nites and 4 dollar weekends and they did have a short orientation. I applied for the Mom/baby unit and the orientation was going to be 6 weeks long. Methodist is 20.55 for new grad 4.75 for nites and 4 for weekends. They do have a weekend program but you have to have a year experience. I really liked St. francis and Methodist. I wasnt too impressed with the Med. yes Baptist paid the highest but they were pretty short with me when I told them that i didnt want to work in certain areas, so I dont know how the actual work environment is.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.
St. Francis quoted me 19.65 for New Grad pay and I dont remember the shift diff. Only St. Francis-Bartlett is rumored to be closing the OB unit.The big St. francis near poplar is doing fine in the Ob dept. The Med quoted me 20.25 with 4 dollar nites and 4 dollar weekends and they did have a short orientation. I applied for the Mom/baby unit and the orientation was going to be 6 weeks long. Methodist is 20.55 for new grad 4.75 for nites and 4 for weekends. They do have a weekend program but you have to have a year experience. I really liked St. francis and Methodist. I wasnt too impressed with the Med. yes Baptist paid the highest but they were pretty short with me when I told them that i didnt want to work in certain areas, so I dont know how the actual work environment is.

The extra dollar at St. Francis comes from a bedside differential. As best I know shift diff is 3.75 for nights and 3.75 for weekends.

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Specializes in L&D,- Mother/Baby.

Prinzessdy, that information is backwards. The 'big St. Francis' is the one closing their OB unit. St. Francis- Bartlett is doing fine.

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Specializes in L&D,- Mother/Baby.

The shift diff. for RN's at St. Francis (the big one and Bartlett) is $3.75, plus $1.00 for bedside, plus $1.00 for Charge nurse. Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years are usually time + 1/2.

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Specializes in med surg.

I moved from the Memphis area a couple of years ago. My first job as an RN was with Methodist in Germantown. They are competitive in pay with the Baptist Hospitals there and the nurse patio ratio was better. A few of my friends went to Baptist after graduation and all of them ended up at Methodist. One of my friends told me Baptist called her on her off days weekly begging her to come in. She worked med/surg and rarely had less than 7 patients. I usually had 5 to 6 patients. The pay in the Memphis area for new grads is around $19 an hr with $3 to $4 shift diff. At Methodist I received another $3 an hour as I did not take benefits. They also pay an additional amount for working weekends. A weekend shift was hard to get as many RNs wanted it.

Hope this helps.

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