UCLA or USC Emergency?

Veela101 · Feb 20, 2007

To start with, UCLA's ED is part of the UCLA University Hospital system (http://www.medctr.ucla.edu/ucla-medical) while the ED for USC is part of LA County USC (http://www.ladhs.org/phcommon/public/adrs/adrsprogdetail.cfm?orgid=118&unit=lacusc&prog=lacusc&ou=dhs) - the seperate USC University Hospital (http://www.uscuh.com/) itself does not have Emergency Services.

I hope this helps somewhat. :-)

NewtoNursing · Feb 21, 2007

Thanks for the reply. Sorry, I meant UCLA and USC LA County Hospital. I've learned a lot about them online and definately want to work in one of them. They are both Level 1 Trauma centers, which I am most excited about. I know UCLA has a great reputation for teaching new grads, which is why I'm leaning more towards them. I'm just hoping to get some first-hand opinions, if anyone has worked at either EDs or knows anyone who has. Thanks.

tabymac · Mar 1, 2007

A little background.......USC is the main/mother hospital (near downtown), where Harbor-UCLA is a much smaller facility. Comparing the two - (I did clinicals at both locations all 2 years of nursing school):

USC is chaotic, dirty and many nurses are burnt out and eat their young! The upside is that they are building a new hospital which is supposed to be completed the end of the this year.

UCLA on the other hand is smaller, cleaner, and the nurses work hard, have a good rep and really take care of their patients.

USC is the larger teaching facility so they offer new-grad training programs in every department. The ED program is challenging and lasts 15 weeks. You get training in minor trauma, triage and C-booth. It's pretty hard to get in though, they have one that starts in April (I will be in that one!) and one in Spetember every year....

UCLA does not offer new-grad training programs they offer 6 week preceptorships in ED and almost every other department.....

Pay is pretty good though for an ED new grad: $35.15 (incl night shift diff and ED bonus).

hope that helps!

NewtoNursing · Mar 2, 2007

Thanks so much for the first-hand opinion. It really helps me picture both places. Right now, I'm doing a preceptorship in a gritty high-volume (high-stress) ER and I really like it. When I'm a new grad, though, I'm worried about being in an environment where nurses are very burnt out and not as receptive to supporting new grads ("eating their young"). UCLA does have a new grad residency program, which I'm interested in. I didn't know USC also has one. I'm curious, since you described USC as being pretty tough with burnt out nurses and everything, why you chose it over a better working environment? Do they get more interesting/exciting patients than the UCLA ER?

thanks again.

tabymac · Mar 3, 2007

USC - what sold me? there will be a brand spanking new facility by the end of the year, and the training program. USC offers a formal ED new grad training program complete with 15 weeks of didactics and preceptored clinical practice, your ACLS and other certifications which will allow you to get your MICN after a year.

At Harbor-UCLA what they offer is merely a 6 week preceptorship and they kinda just throw you in there. During my 4th semester ICU rotation I was in trauma/surgical and there was a guy there 6 months post-grad who was still struggling with meds and really was confused as to what he was doing - I'm not too sure just how safe that is.....

In anycase both will offer SUPER interesting cases and weird off the wall diseases (lots of HIV/AIDS pt - with all those diseases that you read about in school) and lots of ways to challenge yourself.

:nurse:

NewtoNursing · Mar 28, 2007

Thanks for all your info. I will be going to LA next week to interview for their ER New Grad Program. Do you have any advice about what to expect or what they will ask? Thanks!

NewtoNursing · Mar 28, 2007

Oops, I meant to say I will interviewing with LAC-USC, not UCLA. thanks.

ejlaca · Oct 20, 2007

newtosursing,

So where did you end up?