Hca

[AMANSVIEW]

I have been told it is best to stay away from HCA hospitals as a traveler. Could someone give me some insight about this. Florida's west coast has many and I was thinking about a travel job there.

[IdahoNurse]

I worked HCA and renewed, wasn't too bad! Just remember to put your nurse to patient ratio's in your contract! Write down everything that is said in the interview and then put it in the contract, "As stated by Joe Blow of The Right Hospital, nurse to patient ratios will be... floating will be.. etc...."

[blackford1]

I am currently on assignment at an HCA facility in the Tampa Bay area, and have had a good experience. There are quite a few HCA hospitals in the greater bay area though, so there's bound to be some that are better than others.

[bagladyrn, RN]

There are some HCA hospitals and some units within the HCA hospitals in which one may be lucky enough (because of good individual managers) to have a positive experience. However, the HCA corporate entity, in my experience (10+ years traveling), seems to emphasize profits for the shareholders and huge salaries and perks for the top management AT THE EXPENSE of patient care and safety. Hence, one frequently finds extreme short staffing and minimal availability of supplies, equipment and procedures at some of these facilities. Again, this is just my opinion based on my experience.

[LadyNASDAQ]

I worked in Los Robles for 39 worked weeks and loved it! If I wasn't going to put my Fl. residency in question, I would have stayed the full year. I found the place clean,fair and easy as pie to work there. One of my very best contracts.

[cvryder]

There are some HCA hospitals and some units within the HCA hospitals in which one may be lucky enough (because of good individual managers) to have a positive experience. However, the HCA corporate entity, in my experience (10+ years traveling), seems to emphasize profits for the shareholders and huge salaries and perks for the top management AT THE EXPENSE of patient care and safety. Hence, one frequently finds extreme short staffing and minimal availability of supplies, equipment and procedures at some of these facilities. Again, this is just my opinion based on my experience.

Amen to that! My last assignment was an an HCA facility in Richmond, VA. I felt they cut corners constantly at the expense of patient care. I'd be wary of taking another assignment with another of them.

Jilly

[LadyNASDAQ]

I work a lot of HCA hospitals and think they are rather good. I love EMar and the chartng is a snap. I think a lot of Nurses freak out with computerized charting. All it has done is open the floodgates up a bunch and let the agency in.

[possumtoes]

There are good and bad hospitals that are under many different names. I work staff for HCA.My manager is great.I have worked at not for profit hospitals as well, but had really crappy managers, so.I guess its just luck of the draw as to the unit, but HCA is just like any other corporation, they want to make money, I have never had to cut any corner that would put patients in harms way.

[AMANSVIEW]

Thankx For The Input. Tonight, I Have The Pleasure Of Working With A Travel Nurse Who Was Just At A Hca Very Near Tampa. She Said That She And All The Travelers And Contract Nurses Were Released Early When The Hospital Brought In Nurses From India Who Had A Problem With English. I'm Thinking That Says Profit Above Patient Care, And Corporate Must Have Allowed This.

[NurseguyFL]

Just be careful if you decide to go with them. I once took a contract with them and will not be working for them again in future. However, what some others have said may be true, perhaps it depends on the hospital and the manager. However, the facility where I worked for them in California was nothing to write home about, and the nurses received no support at all from management.

[RomanRN813]

Anyone have experience with Brandon? It that an HSA Hospital?

[tarheelpenguin]

Ive worked at three HCA hospitals, one in TX, CA, and south FL. I really loved it and actually extended at 2 of the hospitals, the ones in CA and TX. The one in south FL was horrible all over, crazy staff to patient ratios and one of the few places I worked where I seriously thought I was gonna lose my license. I dont think that had anything to do with them being HCA though, if you talk to most travelers who have worked in south FL, most of them have had similar feelings about working down there.