Hospital reputation in North Calif

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Does anybody here work in N. Calif, Kaiser Permanente? What is the starting rate of a nurse who has more than 10 yrs experience? What's the reputation of this hospital? I also heard that Bay Area has higher pay rate than other state...

I've asked you about why you feel this way before, and you never answer. It would be good to hear why you feel so strongly against Kaiser.

I believe every hospital has it's issues, not just Kaiser.

I work for them and they treat their nurses well...esp. with the retirement package they offer, and the pay! And the incentives to work on your weekend off...the pay is amazing for the consecutive weekend deal.

So, do you care to share your experience as to why you think they are so bad??

Curious to see if you will answer.

I work for Kaiser in Oakland and I think overall the benefit is great, incentives and all but behind the scenes of it all; let's say in the human resource side of it; has a lot of downside of it. Kaiser has a lot of issues,too just like any other hospital like sutter and valley care. I'm going to take advantage of their benefits such as taking LVN programs or rn programs they do will pay for it as in work for kaiser for x amount of years to pay for your loan (aka forgivable loans thru kaiser). It depends on which department you work at as well but overall i have nothing against sutter health or even valley care

I think as a nurse it takes a lot of positive energy poured into the department because every nurse has their own personality and i've encountered many many of them and i can't label them because that's how they are, with their practice and their personality wise. Just a matter of getting yourself be part of the crowd. Especially with the doctors as well but let's not get over that =)

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I work at Kaiser Sacramento and like Redwood City, we specialize in Neurosurgical ICU. IF you are a new grad or looking for a new speciality, I would not suggest Kaiser because they don't have the best training programs. However, Kaiser does pay the best so if you are looking to stay with the same speciality, go for it. Also, we mostly work 12 hour shifts in the ICU but every where else is 8 hours! Good luck and feel free to message me any more questions!

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Specializes in Med./Surg., Diabetes, Med. ICU, home hea.

My wife has worked for Kaiser. It is "different." Others have already talked of pay and benefits. Yes, it is a "union shop." The atmosphere is "us against them" ... union staff vs. administration. Over the years, I've heard "you either love it or hate it" more times than I can tell and my wife says the same thing. She worked both as staff (union) and management (non-union).

Once you have "tenure" with the union, it can be hard to be fired, unless you really screw up. In areas that have senior staff (i.e., "old timers"), it can be more cliquish than usual. STRONG cliques. Hard to work with cliques... groups of nurses that won't help you, but help each other. Cliques who speak their own language to your total exclusion. Lots of "cronyism."

Unless you "fit in," your time there will be miserable. I know this is prevelent in other environments, but Kaiser is pretty extreme. But, if pay and benefits matter most, you might like it. I can't handle "politics," getting screwed continuously in assignments because I'm not in a tight knit clique, helping others without being asked then being given excuses when you need help. Working under management who would do little in these circumstances because even talking to their staff can result in union involvement and hassle from their bosses would cause me to loose it.

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Wow Yosemite RN ... sounds like you work in my ICU!!! I have not worked as a RN at other facilities but this is how my Kaiser is and I have heard it is that way other Kaisers too :(

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