Info on Greenville please...

Aneroo, LPN · Feb 18, 2009

I work at Pitt and it is the Pitts. I don't have a lot of good things to say. I am not from Eastern NC and am surprised at how bad things are here. I work nights and we are always out of supplies and there is no way to get them!!!! We run out of butterflies, flushes, urinals, linens, you name it we run out of it. There are no procedures for administering important things like albumin and no on pays any attention to doctor's orders. People surf the internet instead of work and management does nothing about it. Management is a joke! It is like they are afraid of setting ground rules and demanding that employees live up to them.
Most (but not all, there are a few excellent care partners) of the care partners are the most lazy, ignorant people I have ever met. They make rude insulting comments about nurses to the patients and team work is not in their vocabulary. Apparently, they get paid to surf the internet all night.
Now for the nurses. This is a second career for me and I am shocked at how unprofessional most of the RNs behave. They come into work, get report, surf the internet, maybe see a patient or two, go to lunch, then surf the internet. Most, but not all, are nasty to the new grads. Actually, they are nasty to each other too.
This is my first nursing job and I pray other hospitals are not like this one. I am looking into WakeMed. RNs who moved here from other places and travelers assure me it is not. They all agree on one thing, get out of Pitt asap because you are going to lose your license. They all say it is a dangerous place to work.
Greenville is not a great place to live. I am surprised at the high amount of crime for a small town and I am from NY. People are very poor and uneducated here. If you are still around college age, you are ok socially if all you like to do is drink. If you are older than 40, move to Raleigh. You should move to Raleigh anyway. Don't make the mistake I did.

Sorry you feel you've had such a bad experience at Pitt, but amazed you've stayed there so long if you feel SO strongly about it.

I went to nursing school in Gville, and did my first two years there at PCMH. We've since moved across the state (my husband is also a nurse), but will be visiting in April for Distance Education weekend at ECU (getting my online BSN) and will be looking at real estate so we can probably move back.

There were times I really hated my job, other times I loved it. I am not sure I will return to the same area I was in before, but will probably be open to working at PCMH again.

Do make sure you check up on PBDS first, esp. if you're traveling. My understanding is that if you fail as a traveler, you're out. If you fail as an employee, you get a second chance.

It is a huge system (to me at least). One of my biggest complaints? I wish the would have built up instead of out (it's a LONG walk from one end of the hospital to the other). There are buses that go around the facility most of the day (usually 0600-2330), there is a LARGE gym (viquest) associated with the hospital, the new heart center (haven't seen it since it was finished, would love to see it).

Places to eat: We :redbeathe Logan's. It's off of Arlington Blvd at Greenville Blvd. Get teriyaki club steak is like Heaven. LOL If you like seafood, try Wimpies in Winterville (Hwy 11S, turn left to downtown Winterville). Chico's is a good mexican restaurant, even though you won't find a real Mexican there, only college students (go to the one in Winterville to avoid most of the college kids). For breakfast, try Boulevard Bagel off of Arlington Blvd (it's near Logans). If you're feeling really bad, try Bojangles cheese biscuits. I was SO upset when we moved and I went to Bojangles and they didn't have cheese biscuits. For some good Eastern NC BBQ, try Parkers or B's BBQ. Parkers is off of Hwy. 11 (near Cracker Barrel) or the other location of off of Greenville Blvd near 10th St. B's BBQ is off of B's BBQ road (near the hospital), but when they run out, it's gone. Go early during lunchtime or else you won't get any. Eastern NC BBQ is vinegar based, just FYI. It catches a lot of people off guard the first time they try it.

HTH! PM me if you have an questions about town!

WildcatFanRN, BSN, RN · Feb 19, 2009

One thing I've learned is that there are always good and bad said about every hospital. I won't know for sure IF and Until I get hired on a place just how good or bad a place it is. I applied at Wakemed, but the email I got after sending my application plainly stated if you don't hear anything back its likely you won't.

Thanks everyone for the restaurant ideas....we are going to be there Wed afternoon through Friday (early) morning. Continental breakfast at hotel, but lunch and dinner out LOL.

WildcatFanRN, BSN, RN · Feb 19, 2009

Wildcat, hello from a fellow Kentuckian!! Born in Paintsville and raised in Wayland
One of my former NS classmates is at Pitt and LOVES it!! She's with L&D and recently experienced the hospital from the patient's point of view when she had her twins!!
A friend of mine is there this week starting a traveling assignment. She found out yesterday that she passed the PDBS test (please DO find out about that if you're traveling!!) and starts with the orientation process today. So far she's very impressed.

If I get the job in NC it will be strange to be wearing UK gear in UNC and Duke territory

Abbi4155 · Feb 19, 2009

The skills exam is the PBDS. It was designed to determine a level of competency and to be used as a tool to adjust or tweak skills as needed to meet the Hospital's needs or requirements. It was designed by Dorothy Del Bueno. The bad news is that Pitt uses it as a tool to weed out any one who does not test well. I urge you to research this site to read and gain first hand knowledge from those who have taken the skills test. A google search of PBDS will also give you lots of information.

I do not and have not ever worked at Pitt. However, I have heard bad things about Pitt as well as just about every other hospital in NC. Not every unit is a good fit. I encourage you to use all your skills and intuition during your interview to discern what is best for you.

I currently work at CRMC. This hospital has it's issues too. I am reluctant to speak of this as we have been told that management reads these and other boards.

Best of luck to you.

golfnfnp · Feb 23, 2009

WildKatFan,

Let me first give you congrats on the Liberty Bowl where your Wildcats beat the Pirates in a great football game (One we should have won however). I am currently employed at Pitt County Memorial Hospital and have been for the last 8 years. I did my first year in the Cardiac Intermediate Unit and then 6 years in the Emergency Department where I eventually was an Assistant Nurse Manager and now I am working on the Trauma, Neuro, and Surgical ICU. I think Pitt is like most hospitals in that there are some major short comings to the institution. I seem to think that the organization is very top heavy in management and that the management is out of touch with the staff. I think for the most part the patients are very satisfied with the care they receive. Pitt is a large teaching hospital that is the major level one trauma center and healthcare facility for the 27 surrounding counties. My experience in the CIU was short lived due to the boredom I experienced with dealing with chest pain patients all day. I work in the ED for several years and was comfortable there due to the many years of pre-hospital care that I had. Our ED is very busy with both primary care patients and trauma patients. There is a LARGE number of new grads in the emergency department with a FEW great experienced nurses which causes some problems in the orientation process and the quality of patient care delievered in that area. There has also been a lot of management changes in that department recently however there seems to be a stable base there now. The unit I work in is both very exciting and a joy to work in. Although our ancillary staff leaves much to be desires the majority of the nurses are friendl, helpful, and generally concerned for our patients. As for the institution as a whole.... The pay seems to be comparable however Pitt is under the organizational umbrella of University Health Systems East and owns a majority of the surrounding hospitals. Employee benefits are subpar in my opinion, staff parking is horible and requires you to arrive to work 20min early to sit in a parking lot and wait for a bus to take you to the entrance (all on your own time). The hospital is large enough that you should be able to find an area you feel comfortable with and enjoy. Greenville is a nice city, however it is surrounding by small town country (fine for me as I grew up not far from here). Raleigh is the closest biggest city at an hour away. Beaches are fairly close and mountains are just a bit further away. I was in the first "class" of hires who took the PBDS and found it not to be very hard, however I am unsure if it has changed much since then. Hope this was helpful and please feel free to e-mail me with any further questions.

Simkah · Mar 4, 2009

PCMH is a mixture of good and bad. It has some absolutely great units in which you can establish your nursing career, and it also has some units that will burn you out before your first year is finished.

Good units (IMHO): cardiac floors. BTW, PCMH has just built a new state of the art cardiac center. Other good floors: postpartum, General Rehabilitation Unit. The nurses on 2 West (peds floor) seem generally satisfied. The newborn nursery is great, but doesn't have a lot of openings. The NICU also seems to be an excellent unit.

AVOID the med-surg units at PCMH like the plaque. The pace is chaotic, insanely busy, and most nurses end up working 13+ hrs and they're lucky if they get a break at all (to eat or go to BR). Worst unit in the hospital is the MIU (Medical Intermediate Unit). You will have 4 very complicated patients on vents, multiple drips, isolation, etc., and every other conceivable condition. Any other hospital in the area - these patients would be in an ICU with 1 nurse: 2 patient ratio. BEWARE! Also, on the SIU (Surgical Intermediate Unit), many nurses end up with back injuries. PCMH is considering establishing lift teams, which would really help. There is state-of-the art lifting equipment on the SIU, but many neglect to use it.

PCMH was a Magnet Hospital, but wasn't up to standard to renew. They'll try again in 2011. Physicians and administrators wield the real power in this facility and nurses don't have the control over their practice environment that they should. Others make critical decisions concerning nursing, often without consulting the nurses. Ultimately, the bottom line is the bottom line. Nurses on most units are very busy. There is one recent case in which an advanced practice nurse employee was reprimanded and her case turned over to the BON, over a mere dispute with a physician. This has seriously hurt nurse morale at this facility.

Greenville is very overgrown, as is entire Pitt County. It lacks the infrastructure to handle the rapid population growth it has been experiencing. Traffic can be insane, and I'm from up North. It can take 45 minutes to cross one side of the city to the other (Friday afternoons and other "busy" times). The crime rate is also high. One young man I know was attacked in his home (armed robbery). He was shot and later died from complications. There are lots of nice restaurants and shops, but I would rather not live in the city. There are nice areas to live outside of the city, such as Washington, Chocowinity, etc. You can also avoid the high city and county tax rates by commuting.

This is only one person's perspective. but I hope it helps. Good luck to you. If you do choose to move down here, welcome!

paulie23 · Mar 11, 2009

BrittVin,

it seems like you could have saved up for a bus ticket back to new york by now.

WildcatFanRN, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2009

Well, I was offered a position and I accepted. I didn't get offered anything at the other hospital I interviewed at in VA. I know a place the size of Pitt has both good and bad points to it, however that being said....I also need a job. For me it has taken almost a year to get hired as a new grad RN. I had a job here in KY that lasted 4 weeks and totally shot my confidence. I asked tough questions of all the people who interviewed me, on the 5 units I interviewed with. They are opening up new units since the cardiac units moved to the heart institute so units are going to specialize it seems. I did get my preferred shift, 7p-7a. And boy, I have not been to a hospital that big. Aneroo, you are right they should have built up instead of out LOL.

All, I can do is take things one day, one shift at a time. I appreciate everything everyone has had to say.

I still wonder what it will be like wearing my UK shirt around town, since my Cats beat your Pirates at the Liberty Bowl

Aneroo, LPN · Mar 12, 2009

Those are fighting words...we take our football seriously! :lol2: They just released the 2009 football schedule, and I can't wait!!!

:yeah:

WildcatFanRN, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2009

LOL :rolleyes: I haven't checked to see what our 2009 schedule will be like. Right now I'm just trying to make it through the SEC Tournement. UK made it past Ol Miss today, tomorrow its LSU. It is definately payback time....if they can hold it together.

I hope our football teams get to meet again :smokin: :devil: :paw:

AllIsGood · Mar 13, 2009

congrads on getting the job. I really think you're like working at PCMH and living in Eastern NC. After you get settled in maybe we could get together. Again welcome!!!

WildcatFanRN, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2009

Now to find a nice place to live. Any recommendation on areas to check out? We are thinking of renting for a little while to get a feel for the area before buying something. But...that being said my fiance is being stubborn on the amount of rent he's willing to pay. Any idea how rental prices are, houses not apartments?