New Grad needs info on St. Francis Hospital in LI

j2mp79 · Oct 31, 2014

I'm an RN on one of the med-surg/tele units at St Francis and the ratio is usually 6 patients per nurse; occasionally 7. We usually have 3 PCAs and 3 CCPs on the floor...one PCA and one CCP work together and are paired with two RNs and their 12 patients.

MurseJJ · Nov 1, 2014

I'm an RN on one of the med-surg/tele units at St Francis and the ratio is usually 6 patients per nurse; occasionally 7. We usually have 3 PCAs and 3 CCPs on the floor...one PCA and one CCP work together and are paired with two RNs and their 12 patients.

Thanks, that's very helpful! Do you enjoy working at St. Francis? Do you think those ratios are ok? On my tele unit at another hospital, we have a similar ratio for the RNs, but for PCAs, the ideal is to have 5 PCAs with 6-7 patients each. On the somewhat rare occasions we're short staffed and have 10-12 patients each, it always ends up being a very difficult day, so I'm trying to imagine that being the norm as you describe at St. Francis, though I'm guessing it's different since each PCA is paired with a CCP and they work together? How does that work?

How do you like working at St. Francis? How is the "vibe" there? Does the Magnet status make a difference? Thanks again for sharing.

stephRN21621 · Nov 4, 2014

hi j2mp79 are you a new nurse to the hospital? Do you remember taking the pharmacology test per-employment. I take mine on Thursday and I was wondering if you had an advice or information on what to focus on!.. Thanks ! I'm just stressed because this is dependent on the job!

j2mp79 · Nov 4, 2014

It's been awhile since I took the pharm exam but I do remember it had questions on side effects/interactions, indications, etc for the most common drugs we see. I'd focus on hypertension meds, beta blockers, anticoagulants/anti platelet drugs, and insulin to name a few. Also review some basic calculations.

If the process is still the same you get two chances to pass the exam and they provide some remediation to help you prepare for the second if you don't pass the first. Good luck!

j2mp79 · Nov 4, 2014

Thanks, that's very helpful! Do you enjoy working at St. Francis? Do you think those ratios are ok? On my tele unit at another hospital, we have a similar ratio for the RNs, but for PCAs, the ideal is to have 5 PCAs with 6-7 patients each. On the somewhat rare occasions we're short staffed and have 10-12 patients each, it always ends up being a very difficult day, so I'm trying to imagine that being the norm as you describe at St. Francis, though I'm guessing it's different since each PCA is paired with a CCP and they work together? How does that work?
How do you like working at St. Francis? How is the "vibe" there? Does the Magnet status make a difference? Thanks again for sharing.

I do enjoy working at St Francis though like anywhere some days are better than others! As far as the PCA/CCP working together goes, think of it as there is one support staff for every six patients, so not unlike where you are now. They do similar things except the PCAs handle all blood draws, ECGs, and glucose checks, among other things.

Overall I think the ratios are good, but on some days depending on your specific patient mix it can seem either great or not enough. And on days when we work short it can be a bit more challenging of course.

As far as Magnet goes, I can't really say how much of a difference that makes as I've not worked anywhere else. Nurses participate in councils and committees so we do get formal input into certain things. Not sure if that's the norm at non-magnet facilities.

MurseJJ · Nov 6, 2014

I do enjoy working at St Francis though like anywhere some days are better than others! As far as the PCA/CCP working together goes, think of it as there is one support staff for every six patients, so not unlike where you are now. They do similar things except the PCAs handle all blood draws, ECGs, and glucose checks, among other things.
Overall I think the ratios are good, but on some days depending on your specific patient mix it can seem either great or not enough. And on days when we work short it can be a bit more challenging of course.
As far as Magnet goes, I can't really say how much of a difference that makes as I've not worked anywhere else. Nurses participate in councils and committees so we do get formal input into certain things. Not sure if that's the norm at non-magnet facilities.

Thanks, this has really been helpful! I actually had an interview there very recently (I bit the bullet, applied and was called like 2 days later), and had a good feeling about the place. I mentioned my interest in continuing there as an RN after I graduate, and they said that they do hire internally, provided you have the GPA (3.4 I think). The only thing is, the salary is a dollar and some less than I make now...If it was the same or more it would be a done deal, but now I'm not sure. The commute is great (~20 minutes, no tolls vs 45-over an hour from LI to Manhattan, plus toll if traffic is crazy that I do now), there is PARKING (vs no parking where I work now, which is stressful), cardiac focus that I like, they have a few 3 days/week positions that I like (much better for school vs the 4 days I do now), etc. BUT, the salary is less...wish this was an easy decision like I thought it would be...

Anyway, thank you again for your perspective!

HopefulSRNA1234 · Nov 6, 2014

It seems like all roads say take it! The dollar less really isn't much in the long run. Being a new graduate RN I would have been ecstatic to work as a PCA in school at a place that could hire me as an RN. The job market is extremely brutal so if this is a place that you'd like to work at as an RN, I'd say take it. You'll make up that extra dollar and hour during the many months you (may) have a job as an RN before anyone else. That's just my two cents. But I say do what makes you happy :)

esorielirol · Dec 30, 2014

Hi stephRN21621 and nurse597,

Did you guys start orientation yet? If so, when did you start? I'm curious because I have applied to St. Francis as well.

Thanks!

lindsaypaige123 · Feb 12, 2015

IS anyone starting RN orientation on feb 23rd?

smiley28 · Mar 19, 2015

bump* just wanted to see if anyone had any updated input regarding this hospital/interview process/work environment. I will be having my first interview for an RN position with them very soon and I'm very nervous.

All the information that has been given previously has been very helpful, just wanted to see more recent opinions. Thansks

Ranik · Mar 26, 2015

I had an interview there today it was easy questions but the nurse recruiter overall energy was very "weak" . She didn't even asked my name and asked what your strength, weakness, why I want to work there ect. she said I will get another call in two weeks to have second interview with nurse manger and after that if we don't call you in a week assume you didn't get hire if you do you will hear with in a week .I am SBU BSN , got my license in Oct 2013, currently working in a school which doesn't count as experience . have applied everyyyyyyyywhere . just want to get hire already because I cant take it anymore. Can someone tell me about the second interview process. it would be much appreciate it ...

Ranik · Mar 26, 2015

@ smiley28 ...I had an interview there today it was easy questions but the nurse recruiter overall energy was very "weak" . She didn't even asked my name and asked what your strength, weakness, why I want to work there ect. she said I will get another call in two weeks to have second interview with nurse manger and after that if we don't call you in a week assume you didn't get hire if you do you will hear with in a week good luck if you haven't gone for interview yet