I was cruising the hospital websites as I do everyday as a new grad and came across this:
The Department of Nursing at Massachusetts General Hospital is running a New Graduate RN ICU Residency Program for six months from April 2011 to September 2011. RN residents will be hired and trained to work successfully in an intensive care setting.
Qualified applicants MUST have:
- a Baccalaureate of Science Degree in Nursing
- a current MA RN license
- less than 10 months of professional RN experience in a healthcare setting
- completed a clinical practicum in an ICU or experience in a patient assistive role in an ICU.
RN Residents will be eligible for benefits and paid a salary of $11.44 per hour. The schedule will be 40 hours per week with five 8-hour shifts. Day/Night rotation with weekends and holidays required.
11.44 an hour? They can't be serious...can they? They pay their CNAs more!
My opinion: Only highly desired hospital, large teaching type facility can offer any internship worth what MGH is offering.. and yes , if it becomes a trend we will be eating crow but does not really matter as MGH did not ask our opinion. Yes, it is a great marketing chance they took but obviously if 4000 applied they were quite successful in their chances.
Unfortunately, the country is very different now then 2 yrs ago and things most likely will never be the same,, not for nursing, business, education or anything else for that matter.
You have hospital CEO's and bigwigs, many of them making millions of dollars each. Grossly overpaid worthless executives, who really know very little about nursing. Despite a lousy economy, they continue to make big dollars with all the perks. And yet, nurses everywhere...new grads and experienced are fed the nonsense that they're broke, and can't afford to train, can't afford to hire staff. This is all propaganda.
Let the CEO's accept the pay cuts. Why should working nurses suffer? Yes, training costs money, but training is also an investment. And MGH can afford more than 11.44 an hour when they most certainly have CE0's making big dollars.
Do you realize this is happening in fields other then nursing? Look at social workers with nice degrees and terrible pay. I think it is great nurses with ASN degrees can in most cases obtain employment at a decent wage with just 2 yr degree ( i know it takes more than 2 years but..).. Many career fields do not even accept anyone without Bachelor's or higher. Some make great money, others do not.
The CEO's get richer, the rich get richer and middle class is an endangered species.
Yes of course I realize what you are saying. It's true and unfortunate. But we are talking about nursing. The majority of new grads are given decent wages. And I live in a country (not the US) where ALL nurses...yes..even new grads, are unionized. So that's where my perspective arises. We are all paid good wages as nurses, and rightfully so.
And social workers make terrible money, considering their role, and the fact that a degree is required. Many professions are underpaid. That is one of the reasons I switched careers, took out loans, and returned to school...for nursing. I knew I could have a career I would enjoy AND make a good living doing it.
Yes of course I realize what you are saying. It's true and unfortunate. But we are talking about nursing. The majority of new grads are given decent wages. And I live in a country (not the US) where ALL nurses...yes..even new grads, are unionized. So that's where my perspective arises. We are all paid good wages as nurses, and rightfully so.
And some of us posting here are nurses at MGH and other Boston area hospitals and know first hand just how terrible the employment situation for both new grads and experienced nurses is. That's where our perspective is coming from. That being said, it's different perspectives that make for a good debate.
MGH is located in US, where most nurses never get any opportunity at belonging to a union.....I am thrilled new grads in your country are unionized and get far wages.. Things just are not that way in US at present time..
I know MGH is located in the US. I'm Canadian, but I'm not that far north. I feel for all you nurses. It just really sucks that you have very little recourse with respect to your wages and working conditions. I'm sure many Canadian facilities would pay less, too. But there would be mass riots up here by all nurses if they tried.
Thank you ; ) I call it as I see it. I think more of you should try to organize unions. Realistically, I know this is very hard. Either that or make your way North.
Staff note: I just want to say how nice it is to see civil debate and good communication. We can learn from each other when emotions don't get in the way. This has been a most interesting thread.
hi i was wondering what the opinions of the nurses are regarding this program. as is do they feel new grads should start off in the icu. do you feel this program will train the new grads as they should be trained to be safe and efficient in an icu?
BrookeeLou_RN
734 Posts
My opinion: Only highly desired hospital, large teaching type facility can offer any internship worth what MGH is offering.. and yes , if it becomes a trend we will be eating crow but does not really matter as MGH did not ask our opinion. Yes, it is a great marketing chance they took but obviously if 4000 applied they were quite successful in their chances.
Unfortunately, the country is very different now then 2 yrs ago and things most likely will never be the same,, not for nursing, business, education or anything else for that matter.