ER/Trauma - which hospital would you choose?

[dimama, MSN, APRN]

After 10 years of hiding in Montana (having kids, being with family actually) I am moving back to Washington. Previously I worked at Harborview, but we will likely live in the Kirkland/Kenmore area and that commute was ugly 10 years ago! So I am exploring work at Evergreen, Overlake, Stevens, and NW. I work ER/trauma coordinator here, and know trauma program jobs are scare, so will probably work straight ER after the move. Any advice from those of you working there now or recently would be very appreciated!!!! Thanks in advance for your knowledge, experience and time. :)

[diane227, LPN, RN]

I work at Steven's and I love it there. I work as the charge nurse on 5 west the med surg floor. Most of my career has been in ED, but not here. The ED at Steven's is real busy but not much trauma. I worked at the place like Harborview in Houston for years before we came here. It really depends on if you want to scale down or if you still crave the excitement of a large trauma facility.

[dimama, MSN, APRN]

Thanks for the reply Robert0652. Stevens looks like a good hospital to work for. I did clinicals there in the ER as a nursing student and enjoyed it. Do you think the hospital treats the nurses well? Do you trust administration, and management in general? Thanks again for the information.

[diane227, LPN, RN]

I do think that Stevens treats the staff well, very well in my opinion. I have a wonderful manager on my floor and I absolutely love working on 5 West. It is great working in a facility of this size. You know everyone and I believe it makes it easier to make the transition into nursing. The salary is excellent (better than any of the other hospitals I looked into). I really like it there a lot. They will have to drag me away from my job there kicking and screaming. It gets busy and problems occur but for the most part it is great. Our patient ratio on 3-11 is 5:1 and no more. Sometimes we have 4:1 ratio, at least on my shift. I am protective of the nurses on my shift (I am the charge on 3-11) and I try not to overload them when they have a heavy patient load. Diane:heartbeat

[diane227, LPN, RN]

Hi again. If you want heavy trauma go to Harborview. It is the major trauma center for all of Washington, North Idaho, Alaska (head injuries) and some other states. My husband works in the Neuro ICU there and he loves it. EXCEPTIONAL BENEFITS.

[babyNP., APRN]

^^ what she said. I worked on the trauma surgery floor as a nurse tech and saw some amazing crap. Harborview is the only level 1 trauma center for WA, AK, MT, and ID, so the worst of the worst get sent there.