What should I do?

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by babynursewannab
May 23, '02 Views: 2,102 Comments: 16

I start clinicals this fall ( :hatparty: )and have options as to which area hospital to learn at. Each area hospital is known for one thing or another.

So, my questions are: For a student, does it matter where you got your in-school training? I mean, should I just go to the hospital closest to me for convenience or should I make the 40 min extra drive effort for the more technologically advanced and higher-esteemed hospital in the area?

Do future empolyers pay any attention to which hospitals you learned at (if you had a choice)?

A sidenote to the issue is the hospital that is further away is the nation's leading birthing hospital....I want to work there in L&D after graduation...do school clinicals actually give you an opportunity to make impressions on people who hire at hospitals?

Wow. Little did I realize how many questions I have. Open the flood gates....:chuckle

Thanks for any help anyone can give me!
Alyssa
About babynursewannab

Joined: Feb '02; Posts: 677; Likes: 35

16 Comments

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May 23, '02
Joined: Nov '01; Posts: 510; Likes: 8

I'm just finishing up my pre-req's so I might not be in the best place to advise...however, I think you would be better off at the hospital that is known for birthing if this is what you want to get in to. Also, would you ever consider working form them in a permanent position?...If so, this could be a good "foot in the door." If you make a good impression, they may remember you when it comes time to do you job search...Just a thought.
May 23, '02
Occupation: Registered Nurse Specialty: 10 year(s) of experience ; From: US ; Joined: Aug '00; Posts: 896; Likes: 83

If I was in your shoes then personally I would make the drive to the hospital that has the leading birth center and when you say higher-esteemed what do you mean exactly? Are you saying the people who work there are better and more supportive towards students. If that is the case then by all means I would most certainly go where there is more support.

I don't think future employers pay much attention to which hospitals you have done clinicals at.

I will say that I believe places where you do your senior capstone at may receieve some impressions.

What I mean is that I know several people who just graduated a couple of weeks ago and a lot of them said that the nursing managers on the unit was impressed by their willingness to learn and the dedication that they have. Some of them got jobs as a graduate nurse on the same unit they did their capstone and that is what they wanted. Example, Labor and delivery, ICU, OR , NICU, PEDS, ER.
May 23, '02
Occupation: pre-nursing student, secretary - non-medical Joined: Jan '01; Posts: 1,761; Likes: 46

Hi baby nurse,

I say go for the L&D hospital if that's where you want to work when you graduate. From other posters on this board it sounds like it's pretty tough to break into L&D as a new grad. So, it would probably be beneficial to you to get your foot in the door by doing your clinicals there.

Good Luck,
Colleen
May 24, '02
Joined: Feb '02; Posts: 677; Likes: 35

Thank you for your responses.

Tonya, by higher esteemed, I mean it's the more funded, beautiful up-to-date technology and facilities, the best area dr's prefer to be affiliated there...money,money,money and BENEFITS (my friend is a Surg Tech in outpt and I know all)!

I think I will go ahead and do my clinicals down there. Granted, I don't do OB or Mother/Baby next semester, at least my face will get in the building

Thanks again,
Alyssa
May 24, '02
Occupation: RN.... Joined: Apr '02; Posts: 255; Likes: 6

Employers have NEVER asked me where I did clinicals... However, I did clinicals at 4 different hospitals and was able to look at all of them, as potential employers, so if you think you may want to work in the 40 mile away hospital, go for it. The managers etc, however, will not be paying much attention to you as a potential employee, until you are closer to graduation. Don't be fooled, just because a hospital has lots of technology and high esteem, doesn't mean you won't learn lots at a smaller hospital (this coming from a RN who works at a Level One that's on all the top ten lists.... the little guys are where I go for my own personal health care...)
I worked at a beautiful, new hospital that was constantly embroiled in JACHO lawsuits, because it was only beautiful, had a lot of moeny, but people were getting very very sick there.

If you will have an opportunity to do an individual preceptorship in L and D, that would be the time to make the drive and make an impression.
May 27, '02
Occupation: Circulating RN Specialty: MS, LTC, Post Op, New OR Nurse. ; Joined: Mar '01; Posts: 376; Likes: 266

I did clinicals at an OB/GYN's office this spring and got a big leg up on an LPN position coming open around the time I will be graduating, I have my last interveiw with them on Tuesday
Shannon
May 27, '02
Occupation: RN Joined: Dec '00; Posts: 826; Likes: 16

Go to the hospital which will provide the best supportive, learning opportunity for you. If you have to drive 40 minutes for an exemplary, cutting-edge facility -- do it. I'm sure either facility will look fine on your resume -- but the learning difference you will make at the more supportive facility is worth the drive. Trust me. Actually, trust yourself. Best of luck. Hope you get to birth alot of babies!!!!!!
May 27, '02
Occupation: RN Joined: Nov '01; Posts: 1,487; Likes: 70

I got my first job as a new grad as a DIRECT result of having done a clinical there and making a positive impression on the staff and nurse manager. Sometimes it does make a difference.
May 27, '02
Occupation: RN Joined: Nov '01; Posts: 1,487; Likes: 70

Hmmm....you know, I just noticed your location.

In Atlanta, honey, you can write your own ticket. I assume the 'leading birth center' hospital you're talking about is Emory. Maybe not. Anyway, with hospitals like Grady (a.k.a., 'Nam') and Emory in the area, I guarantee you'll probably be able to get a job on L&D. Grady and Emory are usually always hurting for nurses. Plus there's Eggleston's and Scottish Rite. You've got your pick of the litter if NICU or OB is what you want.

For learning experience, especially in the Atlanta area, I'd probably go to the more technologically advanced one. You'll see a lot more high-risk stuff. Atlanta has a plentiful high-risk OB population, so if you wanna learn and see some really unusual stuff, you should probably lean towards Emory or Grady. If you go to whatever hospital all the Buckhead soccer moms go to (not sure which one that is), you're less likely to see more of the high-risk stuff that makes for such a good learning experience.

Hope this has helped. You're actually in a really good location when it comes to learning!
May 28, '02
Joined: Feb '02; Posts: 677; Likes: 35

Thanks for all the replies.

Actually, the hospital is Northside Hospital. It's the number 1 volume birthing capitol of the United States (or at least was for a few years recently).

Emory would be an awesome experience, but would be a total of a 3.5 to 4 hour commute daily. I love my learning, but D*** not that much!

St. Joseph's is a leading Cardiac center and it's literally across the street from N'side. But sounds like you know that. I REALLY want to do Grady for the ER rotation. THAT would be quite an experience.

My other choice is going to Kennestone for convienence. I'm not sure I want to do that if I have the opportunity to get my foot in the door at all the other places, I think I should take it. Don'tcha think?
May 29, '02
Joined: Jul '01; Posts: 2,151; Likes: 86

Though no one has ever asked me where I did my clinicals, I put it into my resume, and it did come up in interviews. I did clinicals at the hospital I work at now, and they say if you can work here (low pay, poor benefits, crappy funding, old EVERYTHING) you can work ANYWHERE. I looked at that as a good thing, and never hesitated to being it up. You will not only get your foot in the door, it may open up opportunities for you as a nurse tech later on, and at the very least, you'll be able to silently observe how it is run and how the staff interact, how the typical patient is, etc., which can help you decide where you possibly do and DEFINATELY don't want to work.
The hospital I'm at is a charity hospital that serves the underserved and destitute, and gets the 'cream of the crop' when it comes to drug users and homeless people. This includes moms, and I work NICU. Naturally, our NICU is busting at the seams with drug babies, those with physical malformations, and preemies who are vented before they have a chance to cough or cry. Though I could work at a private hospital with great insurance and better pay, why would I, as a new nurse, turn down an opportunity to learn in what is considered the hardest place to work in the state? It was a huge consideration for me when I was applying for both clinical rotations and jobs after graduation. If there is a hospital that is known for whatever your specialty will be later, I say go for it and learn as much as you can. It will only make you more knowledgeable, which in nursing, is priceless. Good luck!

Last edit by NICU_Nurse on Aug 28, '03
May 29, '02
Joined: Jul '01; Posts: 2,151; Likes: 86

Errr...bring it up. That was supposed to say 'bring', not 'being'. ;>P Sorry.

What should I do?

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