Georgia Regional Hospital of ATL

EmergencyNrse · Mar 19, 2011

Like any State Institution for Mental Health...

Overworked, underfunded, and overwhelmed by sheer numbers needing help.

God love you for doing it. Good luck...

(By the way, NW Georgia Regional just closed so I can only imagine that there is a greater demand and patient load shifted back down to Atlanta for treatment. There were no beds BEFORE the one in Rome closed. Ugly)

KJStarling · Mar 19, 2011

Like any State Institution for Mental Health...
Overworked, underfunded, and overwhelmed by sheer numbers needing help.
God love you for doing it. Good luck...
(By the way, NW Georgia Regional just closed so I can only imagine that there is a greater demand and patient load shifted back down to Atlanta for treatment. There were no beds BEFORE the one in Rome closed. Ugly)

That's the honest truth!

Good Luck!

LPNweezy · Mar 19, 2011

When you go for your interview, write down some questions for them, its not inappropriate to ask about benefits, hours, beginning wages, being eligible for advancement. :) Sorry i couldn't help more!

freebirdRN86 · Mar 19, 2011

When you go for your interview, write down some questions for them, its not inappropriate to ask about benefits, hours, beginning wages, being eligible for advancement. :) Sorry i couldn't help more!

Sorry weezy, but I disagree. I don't think it's appropriate to ask for benefits and beginning wages. That could be a deal breaker. Definitely ask a lot of questions though, like nurse to patient ratio, average stay of patients, orientation period, there's a lot of forums on here that can tell you more about questions to ask during interviews and most will agree that asking about pay is a big no no.

Lillylyle · Mar 19, 2011

Sorry weezy, but I disagree. I don't think it's appropriate to ask for benefits and beginning wages. That could be a deal breaker. Definitely ask a lot of questions though, like nurse to patient ratio, average stay of patients, orientation period, there's a lot of forums on here that can tell you more about questions to ask during interviews and most will agree that asking about pay is a big no no.

Thank you for all the advice. I'm actually making notes :) Anyone have any information about this hospital in particular?

vampiregirl, BSN, RN · Mar 19, 2011

When I interviewed for positions, I didn't feel comfortable bringing up salary. However, I did some research to familiarize myself with salary ranges in my area. That way if the interviewer brought up pay, I had an idea of what I would like and knew if an offer was reasonable.

snnamchi · Mar 30, 2011

Hey Lilly,

Just saw this. I am a new grad as well and I interviewed there on March the 19th. When is your interview?

I can tell you that the interview was a panel interview. Meaning, i had 3 people asking me questions. I nurse administrator and 2 managers. At first, it was scary bcos I wasnt told it will be a panel interview. However, I had to calm myself and tackle each question at a time. Be very prepared bcos they asked a lot of questions. Also have some questions for them as well.

The good news though, I was offered the job and am supposed to start sometime this week. The pay is basically the same with other hospitals...so about $23/hr. The hours is basically M-F 7-3p as well as every other weekend.

To every new grad out there, the job market is very tight now so do your homework as far as preparing for your interviews. I have been fortunate to get some jobs to where am picking and choosing, but no hospital jobs yet. Am keeping my fingers crossed though. Something is on the way!!

Hope this helps!

Lillylyle · Mar 30, 2011

Hey Lilly,
Just saw this. I am a new grad as well and I interviewed there on March the 19th. When is your interview?
I can tell you that the interview was a panel interview. Meaning, i had 3 people asking me questions. I nurse administrator and 2 managers. At first, it was scary bcos I wasnt told it will be a panel interview. However, I had to calm myself and tackle each question at a time. Be very prepared bcos they asked a lot of questions. Also have some questions for them as well.
The good news though, I was offered the job and am supposed to start sometime this week. The pay is basically the same with other hospitals...so about $23/hr. The hours is basically M-F 7-3p as well as every other weekend.
To every new grad out there, the job market is very tight now so do your homework as far as preparing for your interviews. I have been fortunate to get some jobs to where am picking and choosing, but no hospital jobs yet. Am keeping my fingers crossed though. Something is on the way!!
Hope this helps!

Hi thy for letting me know what to expect. How soon after you interviewed with them did you hear back? And did you do anything extra like call them or send them a thank you card?

snnamchi · Mar 30, 2011

I heard from them couple of days later...and trust me, I came out of that interview saying to myself forget this bcos of tons of questions. But I stayed positive the whole time. I did not do any extra thing. I always believe that what's for you is for you.

Just be positive show that you are passionate about psych.....

Lillylyle · Mar 30, 2011

I heard from them couple of days later...and trust me, I came out of that interview saying to myself forget this bcos of tons of questions. But I stayed positive the whole time. I did not do any extra thing. I always believe that what's for you is for you.
Just be positive show that you are passionate about psych.....

Okay. Thank you so much. Maybe we will work together in the future if all goes well :)

NPvampire, MSN, RN, APRN · Mar 31, 2011

Wow, they are being cheap. In 2006 they were offering $25/hour to new grads (BSN). Shift diff is 13% eves and nights and 5% weekends (starting Saturday day shift, not Friday night. The state usually accumulates 10 hours of vacay a month and 10 sick time flat out. It's not negotiable. The insurance is under the state health plans, moderate price with moderate benefits. The state also recognizes 10 holidays.

When you work a holiday at a state hospital, you do not get "double time" or time-half. You get paid. Then you get one day off to be used and paid at straight time some other week.

GRHA (all state hospitals but more commonly used there) also has what is called "holdover." This means, that if the nurse on the next shift does not come in, and no one volunteers, one of nurses on the prior shift HAS to stay. It's not negotiable. You get hours added to your total for the week and if it goes over 40 you may get time and a half but more likely they will try to give you a straight-time paid day off some other week. Unfortunately, you are still expected to come to work as scheduled for your next shift. Many nurses have left because of this. It's not extremely common, more so with the techs/HST, but it can happen.

Those are the top complaints against the state. You can pm me for more info...each unit is different too.

I have seen nurses do their "time" for a year and then get hired on in other Atlanta hospitals for L&D, ER, etc.

I was sad to see Rome and Central State close. Those were fine hospitals. And GRHA has been crowded with their patients, but didn't get any of their employees for the most part, so they are not fully staffed.