County Hospital Advice please!!

[Skylee89]

So I am a new grad RN in California hoping to find a position anywhere in the state. I have a interview with San Joaquin General hospital (county hospital) tomorrow for a part time position with managers in the ICU, PCU, and Medsurg. This hospital is known to offer you a position same day as the interview if they like you because they want to fill them quickly. I also have a interview for a full time telemetry unit position at good Samaritian Hospital in San Jose on March 14th.

My question is whether anyone has experience working at a county hospital and then tried to later transition to a bigger health system like Sutter, Dignity Health, Kaiser, ect and whether or not they were pigeon holed to the county hospital because county hospitals can sometimes be seen as less quality of care, ect.

I have heard rumors that if you get a job as a new grad at a county hospital you will have a hard time finding your next job elsewhere but as a new grad now 6 months after receiving my license with only these two job prospects it is hard not just wanting to take the first job offered to me (if I get offered a position tomorrow) instead of taking my chances on passing up this position for a interview with Good Samaritan in a week.

Any thoughts?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

You can work at a county hospital and still transition to the big city hospital once you have a solid year or two of experience. Just make sure to stay long enough to get that experience. I took that path myself, and I've worked for four of the top ten hospitals in any given year. Good luck with your interview.

[Skylee89]

Thanks for the response Rube Vee!

[Volley88]

False. I live in the Bay Area and worked 6 month in a county hospital. I easily found a Medsurg job in Kaiser. I chose to stay county because of their long term benefits vs kaiser's current ones.

I do agree that county hospitals can be perceived as a lesser quality of care. Usually for, IMO, two reasons:

1. It is a teaching hospital. MD students, interns, commonly start off their residency there. Same goes for New Grads as well.

2. Jump ship after gaining experience. They are constantly teaching. New grads tend to work there for 6 months - 1 year. Turn over rate is higher because they leave for Kaiser, Dignity, Sutter Health, etc.