Kaiser Scholarship--hot

[hello_nurse]

Hi everybody!

Can I get some input/advice/suggestion from you? So here's the deal, I applied to a nursing program this year and the school that I applied to offers a scholarship. It's called a Loan Forgiveness program and the scholarship is funded by Kaiser Permanantance to give you money to go to school, but when apply to this scholarship, you have to sign a "contract" (sort of) to work for Kaiser 3 years after you graduate. If you were me, would you apply or not? What's some pros and cons? Reason I asked becuase some people told me not to apply becuase what if the job sucks later and you have to stick w/ it for 3 years, while others say apply becuase you are guarantee a job after graduate. You input is greatly valuable. Thanks in advance.

[actioncat]

I have read about Kaiser's success in managing chronic conditions. Apparently, they are much more aggressive in following clinical guidelines than other HC organizations when it comes to managing diseases such as CHF, diabetes, etc. I think this might make it a good place to work for someone who wishes to eventually be a NP.

I have also read that they have been much better about following the staffing ratio laws and actually had lower ratios before the law went into effect.

[Sheri257]

I have read about Kaiser's success in managing chronic conditions. Apparently, they are much more aggressive in following clinical guidelines than other HC organizations when it comes to managing diseases such as CHF, diabetes, etc. I think this might make it a good place to work for someone who wishes to eventually be a NP.

I have also read that they have been much better about following the staffing ratio laws and actually had lower ratios before the law went into effect.

I worked for Kaiser and I have to say, it was one of the best places that I have ever worked at. I worked at both Kaiser Oakland and San Francisco. The pay was great, staffing was better than other facilities in the area, and I thought the patients received very good care. No, it wasn't perfect, but I would put Kaiser at the top of my list.

And just to know, Kaiser has gone beyond the mandated ratio in many facilities and has a 1:4 on med/surg. They are at 1:5 in others.

This is why I want to work for Kaiser after I graduate, even though I'll have to commute. I really want to work for an organization with decent management. I also like the way they focus on preventative care.

By most accounts, their benefits are phenomenal. One of my instructors works for Kaiser and commutes because she only has to work two days a week (24 hours) and still gets full benefits.

[actioncat]

This is why I want to work for Kaiser after I graduate, even though I'll have to commute. I really want to work for an organization with decent management. I also like the way they focus on preventative care.

By most accounts, their benefits are phenomenal. One of my instructors works for Kaiser and commutes because she only has to work two days a week (24 hours) and still gets full benefits.

That's fabulous! Full benefits for 24 hours. Can I commute from the midwest? (hah!)

[danu3]

Personally, what I like about Kaiser is that they have good nurse-patient ratio. That to me is very important because it can make lots of difference in terms of work environment. The other thing I like is the 12 week training for new grads. The third thing I like is that you can move around within Kaiser since Kaiser is so huge. Now the down side is also its size, you probably have more red tape then other smaller organization.

Now Kaiser is a HUGE organization and it definitely has its own culture. A huge organzation is going to have "bad apples" in them. So you are going to meet some not so nice people. On the other hand, you are also going to meet some very nice people.

From a member's point of view, I hear good stories and bad stories. Personally (I am a member), I had both. What I learn is that you just have to know how to work the system. For example, if I get a primary care provider I am not satisfied with (which is possible in a huge organization), I just switch on the computer, no question ask. Actually my current primary care provider is not a MD, he is a NP and I am happy with him.

Kaiser was pretty bad many years ago and I left. But I came back now since it seemed to improved a lot. One of my relative has pretty bad diabetes and they got a whole team on her and she got it under control in no time.

Way back when (a few decades ago), I had this new glasses from Kaiser. It was real poor quality. I sneezed in the lab one time and my right lens poped out and I caught it with my right hand. My co-workers did not let me off the hook for a long time. When I went back to Kaiser many years later on, I was a bit hesitent to get my glasses from Kaiser. But I took a chance and I am happy with it. I did do a sneeze test and no lens pop up out. Actually I can sneeze all I want and no lens pop out.

-Dan

[danu3]

Hello,

I understood the "payback" was two years work, not three. (If you're referring to SJSU's new accelerated program). There are other hospitals in this program: El Camino, Valley Med, Los Gatos community....

Have you already applied?

I heard about the SJSU's new accelerated program. You (or anyone else) know if a student in that program have a choice which hospital sponsor they go with or is it just assigned to you?

-Dan

[begalli]

That's fabulous! Full benefits for 24 hours.

I don't work for Kaiser and I get full benefits working 24 hrs/wk. That's generally the way it is in most union contracts, it's not unique to Kaiser.

[EDHRN]

I heard about the SJSU's new accelerated program. You (or anyone else) know if a student in that program have a choice which hospital sponsor they go with or is it just assigned to you?

-Dan

You let them know which hospital is your preferred choice and the hospital looks over your application and decides whether to interview you.

[FrumDoula]

On one hand, once I pass the NCLEX PN I hope to work for Kaiser. On the other hand, I'm not impressed with how they handle obstetric patients.

Basically, you see a doc for your pregnancy, but once you're in labor, it's anyones' guess who you're going to see. And that can be a bad thing if you have certain ideas about labor that are in conflict with the attending physicians.

One of my friends, a childbirth educator, had to get into the boxing ring with the anesthesiology department at a Bay Area Kaiser because she presented the risks of epidurals. Apparently, that got their panties in a real bunch because epidurals are the cash cow of most anesthesiology departments. She went in armed with research, and won, but it was a little disallusioning.

So there you go. I personally want to work there as a nurse, but wouldn't necessarily choose Kaiser as a place to have a baby.

Alison

[actioncat]

I don't work for Kaiser and I get full benefits working 24 hrs/wk. That's generally the way it is in most union contracts, it's not unique to Kaiser.

I have a union contract. Yes, I can get full benefits but I share more of the cost.

[infullbloom1]

I am graduating in late June with my LPN and already have a job lines up with Kaiser. Can anyone tell me what the union dues are, or do they vary from state to state???