Moving to Boston

Published

I'm moving to Boston with two years of cardiac experience under my belt. Where do you suggest I work when I want to work in a cardiac or ICU area? I would like feel empowered and make good money. Doesn't everyone? Anyway, have you heard anything about Faulkner Hospital??? Have you heard anything about cardiac or ICU units at some of these hospitals? In general, what are the physician's like in the Boston area? I know there can be much variability; but, maybe there is a different culture in health care out there than in Iowa.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

hi telenurse,

welcome to boston! yes, i live near the faulkner. years ago it had a bad reputation but has improved significantly. it is also a part of the partners system and a sister hospital to the brigham & women's which is one of the country's top 10 hospitals. the faulkner is i believe around 300-350 beds and they are looking for icu nurses. as for the md's, they're different everywhere. at 1 hospital i'm thinking of in particular, the doctor's egos are huge where in other hospitals they're much more down to earth. as we both know, there's always a few in every group. where will you be coming from? and where will you be living in massachusetts? anything else, please don't hesitate to ask me anything.

leslie

Up Vote Up Vote ×
hi telenurse,

welcome to boston! yes, i live near the faulkner. years ago it had a bad reputation but has improved significantly. it is also a part of the partners system and a sister hospital to the brigham & women's which is one of the country's top 10 hospitals. the faulkner is i believe around 300-350 beds and they are looking for icu nurses. as for the md's, they're different everywhere. at 1 hospital i'm thinking of in particular, the doctor's egos are huge where in other hospitals they're much more down to earth. as we both know, there's always a few in every group. where will you be coming from? and where will you be living in massachusetts? anything else, please don't hesitate to ask me anything.

leslie

sorry sweetie, i didn't read that you came from iowa. it's an entirely different culture in boston, but the pay is pretty darn good!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Which hospital are the MD's known for having huge egos? I have heard that the east coast uses more ARNP's than out here in Iowa. My guess is that the east coast is a little more open to new ideas. But, then again, medicare reimbursment in Iowa is the lowest in the nation! So if Faulkner is associated with the Brighams, then, are they unionized (nurse) as well?

Is every nurse in MA a part of the MA nursing association? I thought I heard that.

Also, how long do you think a typical orientation lasts for a newly hired nurse with 2 years of experience? I am thinking I want to work in an ICU or CCU.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you want to work in an empowered environment, how about one of the Magnet hospitals? Mass General, or Winchester Hospital which is just north of Boston. The Caritas Christ Healthcare system is preparing to apply for Magnet status though that will take a while. St. Elizabeth's in Brighton is a Caritas Facility.

fyi, Faulkner has been in stalled contract negotiations with their RN's for quite a while; I am sure you may read about this if you access Boston.com

Good luck with your move and welcome to Massachusetts!

Paula

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/CCU (PCCN); Heme/Onc/BMT.

Can't say much about the hospitals or Doc's in Boston. I lived in Boston decades ago, long before I became a nurse. But I absolutely LOVED Boston. Graduated from Berklee College of Music which is located there. . . oh so many years ago. Boston is just such a wonderful city!!! Lots to see, lots to do, lots of fun!

Enjoy! :)

Ted

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi Telenurse!

Welcome to Boston! I work at Brigham and Women's in the cardiac surgery dept. (not in patient care areas though).

Anyway, the work environment here is great. Cardiac Surg. ICU here consistently has the highest nurse satisfaction (per yearly in house staff survey). We are unionized and contract is due for re-negotiation in Sept.

We are part of the Partners Network, which includes Mass. General (another fabulous hospital), Faulkner (great and improving, but smaller units), Newton-Wellesley (community hospital), North Shore Med. Center (combo. of Salem and Union hospitals), McLean (psych.) and Spaulding (rehab.)

The doctors here....well, let's see :rolleyes:...

You have to understand that the staff are affiliated with Harvard University. They are among the best and the brightest in the world. Also, we are a teaching facility, so...they can be a little hard on the residents.

But, all that being said, let me tell you, from the patients' perspectives, they LOVE their surgeons. I hear it all the time.

They do expect a lot from the nurses, but they are on 'our side', they are interested in the best outcomes for the patient.

I work with 6 surgeons and I respect and admire them all. There isn't one that I couldn't go to with a question or problem.

Now, I'm not saying that it's always sunshine and roses...there are issues, there are the 'negative nellies' that will find fault with heaven, but, overall, I would recommend any facility in this network.

Hope that helps. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Here's the link to the Partners Network Job Listings:

edited

Best of Luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You all are making me so HOMESICK!!! I want to go home - love Boston, will be there this summer for a vacation (my family is still there). Need to find a job for my husband, and we will be back in a shot. Good luck with your move - I am jealous!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have been trying to find out on this forum, what the pay scale is like in the Boston area since I am considering moving back. I already know about salary.com and I have found that in most major cities the numbers are a little off. I worked for partners in the past (in a non nursing capacity) and am wondering what the pay scales look like for their hospitals (eg: the Brigham and MGH). From what I recall from living there in the past was that the pay had yet to catch up with the rising cost of living and I am just trying to find out if this still holds true. Thank You

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I just finished a 4 week rotation on the cardiac/telemetry unit at St. Elizabeths Medical Center in Brighton. I enjoyed my time there, it wasn't a large unit, maybe 30 beds or so.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi 275Main

To answer your questions:

The pay at the major Boston hospitals is good and getting better.

Sarting salaries (based on years experience and specialty) are around 45-50k Lately, it seems like only unionized workers (nurses, teachers, cops etc.) are getting raises (at least around here). My friends in other professions have to fight for raises and, if lucky, get 1-2%.

Of course, non-unionized hospitals are similar (to compete with the unionized ones), but I can't speak to them.

We also have pending legislation for minimum staffing requirements (RN to patient ratios). If it passes, the job market should be wide open here.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi there,

I am studying for a BSN in the Uk and after that would love to move to Boston, mainly because i have this cutest child with ASD and nothing in terms of help or individualised education for him here,which breaks my heart, i have also been there in Boston several times and could see the schools were great. As I understand in the US the study program for an RN is far more generalized than the Uk, and that at the end of the degree i might have to top up with some hours of pediatrics, and mental health...i have decided to do the degree here as i was told if you don't pass with 75% you could be out of the program, and i could not afford to take that chance for the reasons stated above,..does anyone here have had the chance to meet any foreign Uk educated nurses and know what was that they had to do to find a job there...many thanks in advance .

carla

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion