Hospitals in VA, any experience?

nursprl · May 22, 2006

Any specific unit or specialty?

I worked at UVA as staff, and now back there as a traveler. PICU is having a lot of turnover right now. The hospital goes through a lot of turnover every several years..big cycle. Nice area to work, quiet.

Plenty of hospitals to work in Richmond..VCU Health Systems, Bonsecours Health Systems, and HCA's. VCU located not in a great part of city. Plenty of shopping..half way point to mountains and ocean.

Need any more info..let me know.

cvryder · May 22, 2006

I'm Critical Care, more or less cardiac in nature but currently working in MSICU in Alexandria. Have done ICU, PCU, and lots of cardiac tele. I absolutely HATE med/surg tele. I'll go where ACLS is a requirement, if that makes sense.

New CCU RN · May 22, 2006

I'd highly recommend VCU Health Systems (was known for years as MCV). It has good nurse: patient ratios and in my opinion 95% management is great.

I know four nurses off the top of my head who had been travelers for a while and decided to become staff.

I have only witnessed travelers being treated very well. Most of them extend contracts.

A pp mentioned it isn't in a great area. It is in a city. VCU has expanded a great deal --- which has really helped some of the troubled areas. And again I will just say - it is in a city. I have never had anything happened to me, my belongings, my car, etc. I don't know any coworkers who have either. I have worked odd hours - leaving at 1130p or 330a and never been threatened.

It is a large teaching hospital -- I don't know where your background lies -- but I do know for some it is hard to transition from a private hospital to a teaching hospital. Because we do indigent care -- they will be sad cases. And while they are exapanding and renovating -- some of the units are not the most esthetically pleasing.

However, there are few residents and attendings I don't enjoy working with. I've encountered very good team work. And those that may have an attitude usually learn very quickly they will need to change.

I personally also love Richmond. You can live in a very suburban, almost rural area with trees and birds and pretty flowers and drive 10 minutes and be in the city. It is not an overwhelming city -- but there is plenty to do -- good night life, good restaurants, plenty of shopping.

If you have any questions feel free to ask. -- I'd pm me though in case I miss you asking it on this thread. GL with your decision.

nursprl · May 23, 2006

I'd suggest going to university hospitals..UVA or MCV..you may less likely be floated at these facilities than elsewhere.

UVA is a college town, so it'll be empty during the summer since most of the students are gone until end of August..and to do any major shopping, you'd have to drive to Richmond or Northern VA. The closest mall is only an hr away in Richmond, and like I said..plenty of shopping. The town has it's pockets of good areas and bad areas.

I graduated from VCU/MCV 6 years ago before they finished all of their expanding, so I don't know what the campus look like anymore..I know they are definitely trying to bring it back and revitalizing it..still have a long way to go...there will probably be areas that will remain untouched and those will be on the outer edges of the campus. This hospital went Magnet not too long ago.

Carilion is another Magnet, but I don't know much about it.