leaving work at night?

[meghan91]

ok this might sound really stupid but i just have to ask, i am in nursing school now an might be getting a job as a NA at a hospital for the 3-11 shift until i become a RN. Now the hospital isnt in a good area at all really i mean it could be worse but its not the best anyway. Dos anyone else find it weird when leaving work at night to be walking through the parking lots like the ones with muliple floors (im going blank and cant think of the name of them)? If so, how do you deal with it? And did that worrying go away after a while?

Im not really scared but when i have been there before late at night and NOBODY is ever around in the parking area, on the streets, or really even walking around the hospital unless your on a specific floor. It just freaks me out a little.

[RxOnly]

All the tips above are great but I just wanted to add one that I swear by- park in a well-lit area! I try and park right under the light-posts in our lot.

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

I try to move my car closer to the employee entrance, if I don't get a spot in the parking lot. But the area I work in is a very safe neighborhood.

[idahostudent2011]

I used to work 3-11 shift. It was an ok area, but people had been mugged before. Usually if I left at 2300 we had a group of people, including some big guys, which made us all feel safe. Unfortunatly when I was on call, I would have to walk out by myself. A couple of times a security car would drive by and I would get a ride along with lectures not to walk by myself to my car at night. Just go to security and get a ride(or walk) to your car.

[meghan91]

Thanks everyone! You all have great tips and reading these have helped me, especially since i now fully realize i am not the only one how has this thought on their mind while leaving a hospital at night or anywhere like that. I hope i never have to actually put some of thoes "tricks" into use like with the key between fingers to fight and stuff but im glad i know them at least. Hopefully if i get the job or even if i dont an when i am a RN and work at a hospital i will know this stuff and hopefully ill be able to bond with a few people on my floor so we can kind of pal around and walk out together because i dont think this hospital really has security that is to willing to walk people to their car, i have seen them and no offense but i think i could protect myself better than they could ever really help me. Im not 100% sure of where workers park at this hospital because there is a certain nice well lit area near the ER for Doctors and valet parking to park but for the rest of us we either park in the parking garage or on the street i guess? I deffinitely wont park on the street especailly alone because there is a good amount of crime right in that area plus it isnt too many street lights either.

**But how does that work if you park in the parking garage???

**Do the workers have to pay the fee to park there???