Move me to Chicago!

I moved to Chicago two years ago from the city suburbs and interviewed at our "big three:" Northwestern Memorial, Rush, and University of Chicago. I also interviewed at Loyola in Maywood, which from Lakeview is a 30 minute communte into the suburbs. I'll give you a rundown of what I learned when I interviewed.

I'll start with what I know: I accepted a cardiac telemetry position at University of Chicago, based on the rate of pay and staffing ratio. I work on a cardiac telemetry/stepdown unit. On days, the ratio is 4:1 for a regular assignment and 3:1 for stepdown. After 7p, the ratio is 5:1 until 7a.

UofC is a union hospital, so there is a bit of that union culture, but it's an organization under change (FINALLY getting computer charting, an Epic product) and we are using lots of contract nurses right now. There is a new oncology telemetry unit that currently uses about 8 travel nurses, and between the two cardiac telemetry units we currently have 3 or 4. UofC is a Magnet hospital, and it's in the U.S. News and World Report "Honor Roll" due to all of the research we do. It's in the Hyde Park neighborhood on the south side of the city. It's a pocket of wealth on the south side, so safer than many other areas. I live in Lakeview and my commute is 20-30 minutes by car. There's free street parking or $90/month deck. Sorry, don't know what agencies we use but could certainly ask.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital is located on the "Magnificent Mile" in the downtown shopping area, in the Streeterville neighborhood. From Lakeview, a bus or the Red Line elevated train can get you there in 15-30 minutes, depending on how close to the lake you live. My husband works in the pharmacy there, and says the travel RNs seem to be mostly weekend duty. When I interviewed, telemetry ratios were 4:1. I chose not to work there because this hospital is extremely "professional," in the sense that they pay 3-4 less than everyone else and HR takes forever to call you back, but that should be totally okay because it's an "honor" to work there. It is a beautiful hospital, they have paperless charting, are Magnet, and are conveniently located. Their RN staff is very young. May be a nice travel assignment, but wasn't somewhere I'd want to spend more than a few months.

Rush was my first choice when moving to the city, but HR took too long to get back to me. Rush is located on the near west side in the "Medical District" or "Tri-Taylor" neighborhood. The commute is 15-20 minutes by car from Lakeview. The Rush campus is next to the University of Illinois-Chicago and the Stroger Cook County hospital campuses. The ratio at Rush is 5:1 on days, but they use far more ancillary services, including telemetry techs and NSAs that draw labs. Rush also has paperless charting and is a Magnet hospital-I don't know about their agency use. They were my first choice because they have a reputation for a strong nursing culture and have a highly rated graduate nursing program.

Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood has a successful cardiology telemetry program. There are 3 units, and medical telemetry is intermixed with cardiac. The ratio is 5:1 or 6:1 here, but they also have ancillary services. Thery are also Magnet. I have several friends who work in telemetry here, and would not join them. It seems to be a punitive work environment, the units are not workflow friendly, and they say their 5:1 or 6:1 assignment is very heavy. They do use a lot of travel nurses.

Man, I hope this is helpful, because this is a LONG post! If you'd like any advice on realtors or rental companies, cost of living, etc., I'd be happy to share. I live in Lakeview and think you're moving to the best neighborhood in the city. Illinois Masonic also has a great reputation, and I've thought about trying a per diem job there, so please let me know how your fiance likes it!

WOW! Thank you so much! That is the most helpful post I've ever gotten! I learned more from you in a few paragraphs than I have scouring the internet for days! Those hospitals were all on my radar, however, the only way I can get in as a traveler is to join the appropriate agencies. Right now, I'm working with two that seem promising. I'll keep all of your advice in mind- you've been so helpful. As for the real estate, we've taken the easy way out and taken staff housing from Masonic. I hear the place is dark and a little depressing but it's dirt cheap and until I get a job- dirt cheap is gonna have to be the way to go! I'm very excited to live in Chicago, it sounds like a great place. Who knows? Maybe I'll end up on your unit!! Thank you again!

Thanks, chellebelle, very thorough.