Gainesville

suehp · Jun 22, 2005

I interviewed at North Florida Regional Medical Center and loved it! I have to look around some more, however. Does anyone have any thoughts on Shands at AGH (which apparently is the old Alachua General)?
The big Shands at U. of FL is huge.

I know 2 UK nurses that work at Shands and are very happy there :)

Butterfly3001 · Jun 26, 2005

I work in the ER at Shands at UF and I love it, although Im not a nurse yet, hoping to get in nursing school soon, Im a clerk there.

BETSRN · Jun 26, 2005

I work in the ER at Shands at UF and I love it, although Im not a nurse yet, hoping to get in nursing school soon, Im a clerk there.

How is the hospital (in general) to its staff? Thanks, by the way for the reply.

Butterfly3001 · Jun 26, 2005

I can only speak for my department being that its the only place for Shands. The ER family are a tight knit group and there are a couple of Docs that can rub you the wrong way but so can the techs, nurses, etc. But I love it and our Nursing supervisor is alway having meetings with everyone to see how things can be done better or if there are any changes that need to be done. He has meetings for the nurses, the Critical car techs, and the clerks so he can get everyones point of view its very cool.

Compassionate_Nurse · Jul 10, 2005

Be careful where you want to work (unit). NFRMC is for profit and have high nurse/patient ratios in some of their areas. I work for HCA in lake city but have done clinicals at both facilities and have friends that currently work for both. Both friends like it but friend at NFRMC works in a specialty area. If I had to choose I would choose shands for many reasons.

I interviewed at North Florida Regional Medical Center and loved it! I have to look around some more, however. Does anyone have any thoughts on Shands at AGH (which apparently is the old Alachua General)?
The big Shands at U. of FL is huge.

BETSRN · Jul 10, 2005

Be careful where you want to work (unit). NFRMC is for profit and have high nurse/patient ratios in some of their areas. I work for HCA in lake city but have done clinicals at both facilities and have friends that currently work for both. Both friends like it but friend at NFRMC works in a specialty area. If I had to choose I would choose shands for many reasons.

Shands is far bigger and more impersonal. Plus, I am not sure I want the hassle of working at a teaching facility where you have to deal with interns and residents. Having had the autonomy that comes with the smaller facility, I like that approach.

I work in a specialty area now and plan to do so later (L&D). However, your reply has made me decide to write to the HR person I correspond with and ask her about nurse/patient ratios in general. Thanks for your thoughts. They are very valid.

Can you share some of the other reasons you would prefer Shands? I have had only minimal contact with the managers at Shands and they are not quick to reply. In fact, I have had no response from one of them. In my book, that's poor PR. Doesn't make a very good impression on me: a seasoned and experienced nurse.

I plan to be very choosy when I move (having been lucky enough to have a great job in the same place for the past 16 years). How I am treated by potential employers will have a lot to do with what I ultimately decide to do and where I decide to accept a job. Us older nurses are less willing to make multiple job changes.

Thanks again.

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Jul 10, 2005

Shands is far bigger and more impersonal. Plus, I am not sure I want the hassle of working at a teaching facility where you have to deal with interns and residents. Having had the autonomy that comes with the smaller facility, I like that approach.
Actually from the teaching hospitals I have worked generally its alot easier to take care of patients in this situation as you are teaching them as much as they are teaching you. I have always found it easier to get the order I want and my pt needs in this case.
I work in a specialty area now and plan to do so later (L&D). However, your reply has made me decide to write to the HR person I correspond with and ask her about nurse/patient ratios in general. Thanks for your thoughts. They are very valid.
Can you share some of the other reasons you would prefer Shands? I have had only minimal contact with the managers at Shands and they are not quick to reply. In fact, I have had no response from one of them. In my book, that's poor PR. Doesn't make a very good impression on me: a seasoned and experienced nurse.
I plan to be very choosy when I move (having been lucky enough to have a great job in the same place for the past 16 years). How I am treated by potential employers will have a lot to do with what I ultimately decide to do and where I decide to accept a job. Us older nurses are less willing to make multiple job changes.
Thanks again.

All i can really say beyond my comment above is you think Shands is large HCA in a nation wide company. You commented about their management not responding to yo quickly-- well yeah you dont work for them. They might be busy taking care of those who do. Also are you calling or emailing, talking to a real person or voicemail. I know where I work a email or voice mail can take 2 or 3 days to get a response as they are busy taking care of their staff.

Rj