Jackson Memorial Hospital

labrador4122, RN · Jun 1, 2008

I'm possibly considering applying at Jackson for an icu position and was wondering if there was any insight I could be given as to their training of new grads and the experiences of those who've gone through it. From what I understand Jackson will be starting the versant program in July which hopefully will be for the better. I'm hoping since Jackson is a teaching hospital they will be accustomed to dealing with the needs of a new grad to ensure their success in the icu setting. I would be extremely nervous if i were to get this position, but i figure i wont be the first new grad into the icu and i should be ok. ANY WORDS OF WISDOM?? OR INFO ON JACKSON HOSPITAL IN GENERAL OR THE VERSANT PROGRAM??

One of my co-workers started the training for ICU at jackson straight out of school.

she said it was very hard because every day she had tests, she had to learn how to draw up her meds.

she says that if you make it there, you really know your stuff.

Personally, I want to get experience on the floor first before dealing with high acuity patients. I believe that it's not fair for the patients to get a nurse without any experience.

breeqt · Jun 1, 2008

One of my co-workers started the training for ICU at jackson straight out of school.
she said it was very hard because every day she had tests, she had to learn how to draw up her meds.
she says that if you make it there, you really know your stuff.
Personally, I want to get experience on the floor first before dealing with high acuity patients. I believe that it's not fair for the patients to get a nurse without any experience.

Thanks for replying Bumblebee

test every day?? :biting nails:

I went to their open house and the recruiter seemed to almost discourage any new grads from applying b/c it seems they havent had the best luck in retaining them. He stated the internship would be just like school with class one week and then clinicals 2 weeks afterwards including tests and the whole shebang. also, it was a hassle for them regarding those who failed the tests, b/c they would then have to try and negotiate with another unit to get that person a new job.

labrador4122, RN · Jun 3, 2008

Thanks for replying Bumblebee
test every day?? :biting nails:
I went to their open house and the recruiter seemed to almost discourage any new grads from applying b/c it seems they havent had the best luck in retaining them. He stated the internship would be just like school with class one week and then clinicals 2 weeks afterwards including tests and the whole shebang. also, it was a hassle for them regarding those who failed the tests, b/c they would then have to try and negotiate with another unit to get that person a new job.

Definitely I would suggest to get your feet wet on the medsurg floors first. Learn what you need to learn- take advantage of the many learning opportunities that the hospital offers- then go to ICU with all the accumulated knowledge.

You don't want to cry during your work hours!

valkyria, BSN, RN · Jun 13, 2008

jackson has a number of different kinds of icus. the have one for medical patients, one for surgical patients, one for cardiac patients, one for neuro patients and that is just within jackson. next door, within ryder trauma center, which is a part of the jackson family you also have a trauma icu and surgical icu, a burn unit a medical icu and trauma 3 and 4 which are ortho neuro( quads, paras and tbi patients).the us army has a center within ryder where they train their medical staff for combat medicine (mash units). the training here is among the best in the country. however, given all that, i can tell you, if you are brand new, you must know in your heart that trauma/icu is what you want to do. jackson has an er internship, an icu internship that picks up where the er leaves off, they have a med surg and they are starting up there ob internship again soon. yes, they are intense but would you want it any other way? if you go to baptist, they have the leap program for critical care which is an extended intensive program of classroom and clinical experiences. it may seem that they are trying to test to see how bad you want it, and maybe they are. or, maybe they want to make sure that you are among the best of the best. jackson and ryder trauma center is known all over the country and over most south and central america and is doing research with hospitals and universities in europe, so you have to step up your game and push your self to be the best you can be. i know that sounds like an old commercial but it really is true. perhaps that is why that recruiter was not so positive that you would be a sure thing. he should have been more positive but he does not want to give you false hope and those programs cost the organization money and time and resources. theyare investing in you and they want to be sure that you know what you want. but really, at this point, few new nurses do. and that is normal. i work for both um and for jackson and i have not heard of the versant program but i will ask. i hope that i have been helpful.

rossin83 · Sep 7, 2008

do you guys know by any chance if JMH is a federal facility?

Thanks:)

DeER~RN · Sep 27, 2008

It is a county (government) facility.