Choosing a hospital to work at as a nursing student

[azzurra29]

Hi,

I'm pursuing an 18-month honors BSN program at my university where local hospitals 'sponsor' students' tuition in agreement for a 2-year work contract following program completion.

We have been given the opportunity to choose preferences for these hospitals who are to sponsor us and I'm a bit undecided. Please help me out here:

1) Is it a good idea for a newly graduated BSN student with an RN to dive right into a big trauma hospital? Like Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, CA

2) OR is it better to stick to a smaller community hospital like El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, CA? This, by the way, seems to be a highly rated hospital but I"m sure.

3) OR is it better to just go along with an HMO like Kaiser?

My intution tells me that I should probably go to a better established hospital that has something I'm interested in specializing in eventually. Would you say I'm somewhat right or could you steer me in the direction of some good guidance and advice?

I really need any input here since I don't know what to do. I like the idea of working in a trauma center but the idea of a big hospital sort of scares me. Liekwise, I feel that I might gain valuable experience in a smaller hospital known for its quality of nursing care.

Any ideas, thoughts, opinions would GREATLY be appreciated. THANKS!

[begalli]

I worked at VMC for 16 years and loved it!

Do I know you Nancy? I worked at VMC from 1992 - the beginning of 2000 ( I left because, for me, nursing school + work = chaos!).

I was not a nurse, but I was very familiar with just about every single floor and unit in that place. LOVED when they built the new wing! As employees, we toured the OR's, NICU, Pedi, and the ICU's before they even opened. I remember moving weekend as well when they transferred all the ICU and NICU patients over. Talk about road trips!

The state of the art NICU was VERY impressive and the rooms on the pedi floor were remarkable with bathtubs in the rooms and beds for parents....and the play room!! Very, VERY nice for a county hospital!

There are some floors though that I DO NOT miss at all....those would be the 3rd and 4th medical floors and the 2nd floor med/surg that moved to where TCU used to be.

Gosh, GREAT memories of that place! I need to get back there to say hello to some long lost friends. I haven't stepped foot in the place for probably 4 years!

It has it's own culture.

Very true. And it's good.

[EDHRN]

Thanks for the reply....That's my problem, they all seem to have some real positives (from what I'm hearing). And since I haven't worked in the hospital environment, it's hard for me to know what I like/dislike and want in a hospital. Oh well, I'll just have to pick one and see how it goes!

[youknowho]

Hey ladydvr and azzurra29,

Sounds like I am another one doing the same program as you. I told them I was leaning towards Valley Med but will be ok if I dont get it. I hope I do since its the one closest to my house and I would really like to work for the County again.

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

Hey ladydvr and azzurra29,

Sounds like I am another one doing the same program as you. I told them I was leaning towards Valley Med but will be ok if I dont get it. I hope I do since its the one closest to my house and I would really like to work for the County again.

I would check in on how VMC is doing since the closure of a few other south bay trauma centers - I lived in Santa Cruz for several years recently, and I remember how worried everyone was about what was going to happen at VMC. Good luck!

[begalli]

VMC dates back to the 1800's and they will never close. They are a county facility whereas San Jose Medical (the only other level 1 trauma center in the south bay that's now closed) was privately owned by greedy corporate healthcare people.

They not only are a level 1 trauma but also the home of the regional burn center and spinal cord trauma.

Never. Close. Ever. :)

[qtRN]

does anyone know if ECH is a nice place to work for with regards to workplace environment, nurse-nurse relationships and compensation? thanks.