Do you work at Providence Spokane, Everett, or Olympia?

lindarn · Jan 22, 2010

I am interested in hearing from present or past employees of Providence Spokane, Everett, or Olympia. I am primarily concerned with the culture of the facilities. Are the staff generally supportive of one another and of new employees? Is morale good? Also, is orientation personalized? I am willing to relocate anywhere in Washington state so if you work at a different hospital than those listed and love where you work let me know. Thank you for your input.

Just for the record, Providence facilities are top heavy, if you know what I mean, and they treat their employees like crap. I would stay away from Spokane. The pay here is lousy, there has never been a nursing shortage, as there are three schools of nursing here, (two BSN programs, one ADN/LPN, another ADN right across the border in Idaho, and several ADN programs all over the state, at least two BSN progrms in Seattle).

Nurses are treated as such. There is no good place to work in Spokane. JMHO and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Hagabel · Apr 21, 2010

I worked at Prov in Everett for a long time and generally enjoyed it. Left for other reasons, not anything to do with Prov. I would go back.

azureblue · Jun 2, 2010

I agree, they've been top-heavy. But now, they are laying off some good managers. They're very focused on best practices, which is great, but don't supply unlicensed assistants unless you break down and cry for help. You're doing all your own bedbaths, linen changes, assessments, meds, prns ,IVs, patient education, etc. for 4-5 patients. Most of the managers are sweethearts, but their hands are tied. :crying2:

homesteadlite · Jul 30, 2010

Thumbs down for Providence in Olympia.

I have heard the morale is terrible.

student00 · Sep 10, 2010

I work at Providence in Spokane (5yrs) and generally like it. I am a NAC and recently got my RN. It's true there are no jobs as they are on a hiring freeze. They just bought two major cardiac businesses and are poised for growth in October including making the 9th floor a cardiac unit and building two stories on the existing hopspital. A writer said they have no help with bed baths and linen changes. I beg to differ. I work my --- off there. It might be true that it is top heavy but generally my unit supervisors are very hands off and include us in creative changes. Starting nurses make 25.50/hr on day shift. I think if you shop around the country that is pretty good. Cardiac nursing ratio is 4:1. The other floors are 5:1. My general observation is morale is good. Of course attitude is everything.

abend · Sep 15, 2010

I have never been treated so rudely/disrespectfully than by the folks who run the new grad program at Providence Everett. The "interview" was an extremely humiliating cattle call of at least 20 people. The nurse who interviewed me asked me if I was lying about having a bachelor's degree from the University of Washington because I completed the accelerated program. Really? Maybe the word accelerated was too big of a word for this person to comprehend. Anyway, it became clear that they were going to hire the two gals who were their friend's former students--so why were the rest of us there anyway. After that encounter with management, I wouldn't work there if they paid me $100/hour. Plus they pray on the intercom every morning. I am fine with praying. But last time I checked, in this country praying is a choice and not a condition of employment.

P.S. Yes, I found a great job with my very real BSN from UW. And I pray on my own time.

PACNWNURSING · Aug 30, 2011

I can verify in the ER Prov Everett, nurses get little to not support from techs. 1 tech for 15 patients. Nurses do everything, cleaning carts and rooms between patients. Short staffed on a daily basis, very stressful, very busy ED.

R*Star*RN, BSN, RN · Sep 2, 2011

Like everything else it varies from hospital to hospital and varies from unit to unit. On top of it all that changes from year to year.

PapaPhil · Sep 24, 2011

We stopped placing nurses at Providence Hospitals especially in Washington state. For a recruiter to walk away from a paying client, they have to be pretty bad. We just got tired of hearing the horrible feedback from the nurses, therapists and med techs that we placed with them.

PS - If you can help it, never work at a hospital that has nursing school(s) near by. The pay will always be low. The hospital management will always be top heavy.

tokmom, BSN, RN · Sep 26, 2011

OP, try Franciscan if you are looking to relocate. So far they are financially stable. Muliticare is another good organization from what I have been told, but they have been laying off.

They do have morning prayer at Franciscan if that would bother you. I find it relaxing. :)

The organization is heavy on education. You can't take a class without being tested on it, but it's offered for free and have some really interesting ones.

I have been with them for 2 1/2 yrs and love it.

By the way, stay away from a certain hospital in Auburn. Very bad.

dallet6 · Oct 6, 2011

I'm currently a nursing student in spokane and have done clinicals at all the hospitals in the area. Providence Holy Family has been my favorite. All the nurses I interacted with there were kind and supportive to students and other staff. Its also the only hospital I went to that utilized alot of travel nurses, no idea why, seemed weird. Generally, nurses seem to forget students are there as far as what they say about the work place from what I've seen. I've seen dissatisfaction everywhere, but I can't say Providence is worse than any others. As far as AP staff, they do work their butts off, but they laid off so many of them that nurses do total patient care the majority of the time. Someone said cardiac is 4-1, but all of the 6th floor is 3-1.