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Hi,

My husband and I are looking into moving to the Santa Cruz area this winter. I graduate with my RN-BSN in December (I can't wait!) I was wondering if anyone has first-hand experience or has heard about either Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz or Watsonville Community Hospital in Watsonville.

I've spoken with each facility, but any info would be great.

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I haven't worked at Dominican Hospital, but I have friends who have and they have said nothing but good things about Dominican......as for Watsonville, I've never heard anything about the hospital....although I had a friend who worked there and ended up transfering over to Community Hospital Of Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP)..........

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CHOMP has a great reputation among travellers, but sadly only offer night shift travel assignments. Stay away from Natividad in Salinas.

Do you know anything about Dominican's OB service? Just curious. I'm working in Santa Maria CA right now and living on the beach south of Monterey Bay. I wouldn't mind going to the Monterey Penninsula next.

To the OP: you might try the delphiforums travel nurse forum. You will probably get the info you need there.

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CHOMP has a great reputation among travellers, but sadly only offer night shift travel assignments. Stay away from Natividad in Salinas.

Do you know anything about Dominican's OB service? Just curious. I'm working in Santa Maria CA right now and living on the beach south of Monterey Bay. I wouldn't mind going to the Monterey Penninsula next.

To the OP: you might try the delphiforums travel nurse forum. You will probably get the info you need there.

Stay away from Natividad? Do you care to elaborate on that? I know several nurses who work for Natividad and they absolutely love it.....I know that Natividad does have some financial problems, but the care there is great...My brother was born there and my mom liked it there.....Some of the nurses over at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital ALSO work over at Natividad, and those are good nurses.....

Do come out to the Monterey Bay, it's a great place...

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Stay away from Natividad? Do you care to elaborate on that? I know several nurses who work for Natividad and they absolutely love it.....I know that Natividad does have some financial problems, but the care there is great...My brother was born there and my mom liked it there.....Some of the nurses over at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital ALSO work over at Natividad, and those are good nurses.....

I was referring to the L&D floor. Perhaps my statement would not apply to other floors at Natividad. I don't know about Salinas Valley. A new travel RN at my hospital just finished a contract at Natividad's L&D floor and she told me the medical care was unsafe and dangerous.

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Specializes in ER.

I've done clinicals at both sites. Watsonville has a great small town feel to it, the staff was wonderful and receptive to new learners. It is a for-profit facility, run by a group out of Tenn. The clientelle is predominantly spanish speaking, so that would be an invaluable skill to have. The OB unit is VERY busy, and does not employ CNM's. Being small, they are just now implementing a rapid response team.

Dominican is a CHW facility, and has recently went all computerized charting. The staff has been nice so far, but from what I know, you essentially need a day-shifter to die if you ever want to get off nocs. It is definitely the larger and more technological of the two facilities. Dominican does have a birthing center & CNM's, as well as a level II (i think) NICU.

Also look into Sutter. Depending on where you live in Santa Cruz, the commute to San Jose isn't bad, especially since the drive is before the morning commute. San Jose has a far greater number of hospitals. I have also heard great things about CHOMP and Salinas Valley Memorial.

Good Luck!

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I was offered a position at CHOMP for 29.00 an hour. How much are you going to be making because 29.00/hr seems way too low considering new grads make about 35.00/hour in northern california.

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SVMH has terrific benefits, better than you'll find at a lot of places. Natividad is one of those places you either love working at, or you hate it. CHOMP has a whole different personality than the Salinas hospitals, but I know some who are happy there.

I don't know about Watsonville but when I graduated 19 years ago they did not have the best reputation. Dominican is pretty good, but Santa Cruz is a very liberal town and not everyone is suited to working/living there.

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