Need info on Vancouver area hospitals

fergus51 · Oct 12, 2005

I have friends who work at St Paul's and like it there. It is right downtown and has an interesting clientelle (I was born there;)). Have also heard good things about Lion's Gate in North Van.

Fiona59 · Oct 12, 2005

My best friend works there (coming up to 25 years now). They've always been flexible with her time off.

There is a story going around Vancouver that the powers that be are planning on closing St. Paul's and relocating it to the False Creek area. (Well, we'll believe that one when the building permit is issued!). But it is the only hospital right downtown. Interesting clientele, street people to those from the 'burbs who's docs only have admitting rights there. My nephew was born there, many moons ago.

It's also thought highly of in the HIV/Aids circuit. Dr. Peter's Hospice or programme works in conjunction with them.

Stay away from Surrey Memorial. Haven't heard a good thing about the place and I have friends and family who live in Surrey.

noworries · Oct 13, 2005

St.Pauls would definately be a good place to work if you like a fast paced enviornment.. its located right in the heart of downtown pretty much, so usually at night time when clubs are open, and fights break loose, people will go there.

Also, alot of homeless people live around that area as well, there are quite a few of the 'drug deals gone bad' that occur there, and agian, they come to St.Pauls..

If you'd want something slower, try out Vancouver General Hospital (VGH)

and ofcourse theres also a childrens hospital..

Hm... if you want scenery, try UBC hospital.. I think its mostly geriatric type work though.. I don't see many other types of people there..

But yeah, its awesome scenery there. Just walk around the UBC campus when your done work, catch the sunset absolutely stunning!

Don't know if you want to try oncology nursing.. but theres one near granville street I think its called Fairmont medical center (Granville is another pretty popular shopping area for tourists.. still pales in comparison to robson though).

There is also Mount Saint Joseph. My aunt actually worked there, but she said it was SOO slow and very boring..

So.. anyway in greater vancouver (vancouver) area..

there is - St.Pauls, Mt.St. Joseph, VGH, Fairmont medical?, UBC.. and a few others that slipped my mind.

Sorry I don't have really good details about the stuff... I'm still a student, not even a nursing student yet!

I'm just telling you what I know based on what I hear.

noworries · Oct 13, 2005

Stay away from Surrey Memorial. Haven't heard a good thing about the place and I have friends and family who live in Surrey.

I'm not sure about working conditions.. but on the news a couple months ago, a few people came to that hospital to sue them for having bad equiptment.

I think about 4-5 people caught the flesh eating disease after surgery due to unclean operation tools..

Fiona59 · Oct 13, 2005

I think it's the BC Cancer Clinic that is being referred to. I seem to remember the Fairmont Medical Centre being an office tower type building right on Broadway (kind of in front of VGH).

Doesn't Mt. St. Jo's provide a lot of LTC to the Chinese community? They don't have an ER (or is it closed at 8pm?)

There are also a few private surgical clinics around the Cambie Surgical Clinic comes to mind and there's one in False Creek.

Not to mention BC Children's and Womens Hospital on the old Shaughnessy Hospital site.

ghostcat · Oct 13, 2005

Thanks for all the information! It's helpful to have some input from people who at least know the reputation of various places. As I told my husband, even if I visited all the hospitals, I wouldn't really be able to get a good picture of what it's like to work there. It's also hard because in the states one of the ways to shop around for jobs is to compare salaries, but that is taken out of the picture in BC, so I'm trying to look at working conditions more.

We definitely would like to stay close to the core of Vancouver, and I like busy, so it sounds like St. Paul's would fit me pretty well. If I can't get a position in IV Therapy then I will probably work on a surgical floor for a year and then try to get into one of the specialty training areas (ER,OR or ICU). I don'tr really want to go back to maternity - too many years of high stress level 3....

The only thing that is confusing me is that Healthmatch BC is telling me that since I have made contact with St. Paul's I should stick with them until I get an offer, then if I don't like it I can look at another place. They are saying that employers don't like you "shopping around". Down here it's understood that's what you are going to do if you move to a new area - and the best offer wins!

fergus51 · Oct 13, 2005

I don't think there is anything wrong with shopping around, but you won't get any difference in salaries so it can be kind of pointless in that regard.

Fiona59 · Oct 13, 2005

You'll need to remember that Canadian nurses are unionized as well. Ultimately you have to get a position within the hospital, work for a while, gain some seniority, and then start applying for the jobs you really desire....