FAQ's about MN (hospitals, union, etc)

TIFFY_RN2BE · Aug 24, 2005

Hi! I'm a RN and have been working in Minneapolis for over three years. I've read a lot of the past posts on this list and thought I would post my perspective on some of the questions that were brought up:
What are the best hospitals to work for in the Twin Cities?
I would for sure recommend the hospital I work at, Abbott Northwestern. We're union here, so the pay is very good and there's no manditory overtime and lots of protection for nurses. Generally we are treated pretty well. I wouldn't recommend HCMC, as they are *not* union and I have heard from friends that their staffing ratios aren't as good and they have manditory overtime.
What are the staffing rations?
At Abbott on a cardiac/telemetry stepdown unit I have 3-4 patients on day and evening shifts, and 5-6 patients at night. I think med/surg tends to have a few more.
What is the pay?
Starting at Abbott I made about $22 per hour (I'm a BSN and that does pay a little higher here). After a little over three years I make $27.90 per hour. There's also a $4 per hour night diff. and $1.25 weekend diff. The overtime pay is nice- time and a half, unless you get over 12 hours, then it's double time!
Is it hard to find a job?
When I was applying as a new grad three years ago I didn't have that tough of a time. I only applied at one place other that Abbott. There seems to be a lot of demand in telemetry here, and they are willing to train new grads. I'm a BSN, and I don't know if that made it easier.
What do you think of the union?
It kicks butt! Sometimes it's bad when that makes it harder to fire nurses who are truly unsafe, but mostly the protection is very, very nice. I was not a union fan at first (the $50 or so a month I pay them kinda hurts), but it's worth it for the higher hourly wage and all the job security. The union really backs you up if you need it.
What's up with the rotating shifts?
I have no clue. They suck. I worked them at first, but now I'm straight 12-hour nights. There really aren't any nurses at ANW or any other hospitals in the cities I know of who work straight days- those positions just don't seem to exist unless you work clinics or something. I kinda thought all nurses had to rotate shifts, until I read more on the boards here. I don't know why the union hasn't done something about that... nights is my shift of choice anyway, so it hasn't bothered me much.
So, hope that helps someone! Sadly, I cannot handle the winters anymore and am moving down south... I'll miss the job, but not the weather.
chey

Thanks for sharing this great information. I am currently in school starting my prerequisites this fall as a second year student. I see the Minnesota forum isn't very busy I hope to change that can use all the help/advice I can get. May I ask what school did you graduate from?

chey · Aug 25, 2005

Yes, it is a quiet forum. You might try the Delphi forums... they're a bit busier sometimes, but I don't think they go by state like this one does. Anway, I went to school in Wisconsin, at UW Eau Claire.

Good luck with everything!

-chey

LaVonneRN · Aug 30, 2005

hi! i'm a rn and have been working in minneapolis for over three years. i've read a lot of the past posts on this list and thought i would post my perspective on some of the questions that were brought up:
what are the best hospitals to work for in the twin cities?
i would for sure recommend the hospital i work at, abbott northwestern. we're union here, so the pay is very good and there's no manditory overtime and lots of protection for nurses. generally we are treated pretty well. i wouldn't recommend hcmc, as they are *not* union and i have heard from friends that their staffing ratios aren't as good and they have manditory overtime.
what are the staffing rations?
at abbott on a cardiac/telemetry stepdown unit i have 3-4 patients on day and evening shifts, and 5-6 patients at night. i think med/surg tends to have a few more.
what is the pay?
starting at abbott i made about $22 per hour (i'm a bsn and that does pay a little higher here). after a little over three years i make $27.90 per hour. there's also a $4 per hour night diff. and $1.25 weekend diff. the overtime pay is nice- time and a half, unless you get over 12 hours, then it's double time!
is it hard to find a job?
when i was applying as a new grad three years ago i didn't have that tough of a time. i only applied at one place other that abbott. there seems to be a lot of demand in telemetry here, and they are willing to train new grads. i'm a bsn, and i don't know if that made it easier.
what do you think of the union?
it kicks butt! sometimes it's bad when that makes it harder to fire nurses who are truly unsafe, but mostly the protection is very, very nice. i was not a union fan at first (the $50 or so a month i pay them kinda hurts), but it's worth it for the higher hourly wage and all the job security. the union really backs you up if you need it.
what's up with the rotating shifts?
i have no clue. they suck. i worked them at first, but now i'm straight 12-hour nights. there really aren't any nurses at anw or any other hospitals in the cities i know of who work straight days- those positions just don't seem to exist unless you work clinics or something. i kinda thought all nurses had to rotate shifts, until i read more on the boards here. i don't know why the union hasn't done something about that... nights is my shift of choice anyway, so it hasn't bothered me much.
so, hope that helps someone! sadly, i cannot handle the winters anymore and am moving down south... i'll miss the job, but not the weather.
chey

chey:

i am a new grad and was offered a job @ hcmc. i asked about manditory ot when i interviewed for the position. i don't think that i got a complete answer to that question. can you tell me what units your friends work on, and provide me with some of their examples as to how often they have had to work mot.

thanks,

lavonne