New Grads at Albany Medical Center

AleksCNOR, BSN · Aug 8, 2012

Let me know how it goes... I might be interested :)

Good Luck!

NYbabyRN, BSN, RN · Aug 9, 2012

I started a year ago at AMC as a new grad. I feel they are very supportive of new grads; it's a teaching hospital so I believe that helps immensely. You have a lot of ancillary support (i.e. respiratory, phlebotomy, clinical support for IV starts/NGT or foley problems, stat RNs you can page with concerns or questions) which helps especially when you are brand new. Later on you can become more autonomous. Orientation on the floor is usually 3 months and they have a new grad residency program, which serves mainly for peer support through the 1st year of nursing. Some of the floors also have great nurse to patient ratios.

I wish you well wherever you get your 1st job!

nurse56789 · Aug 9, 2012

I started a year ago at AMC as a new grad. I feel they are very supportive of new grads; it's a teaching hospital so I believe that helps immensely. You have a lot of ancillary support (i.e. respiratory, phlebotomy, clinical support for IV starts/NGT or foley problems, stat RNs you can page with concerns or questions) which helps especially when you are brand new. Later on you can become more autonomous. Orientation on the floor is usually 3 months and they have a new grad residency program, which serves mainly for peer support through the 1st year of nursing. Some of the floors also have great nurse to patient ratios.
I wish you well wherever you get your 1st job!

Whats the best way to apply for a new grad position at Albany Med? How does it differ than St Peters? Thanks much!

Cait720 · Aug 9, 2012

11RN, thanks so much for answering! That makes me feel a little more confident about this. Do you know anything about the medical cardiology unit (D4N) or post cardiothoracic unit (C8), by any chance? And what do you think about the Albany area?

nurse56789, I don't know much about how it differs from St. Peter's, but I just applied online and they called me about 1 month later. I did a phone interview with a nurse manager and I'm going up to shadow next week.

NYbabyRN, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2012

The best way to apply for a new grad position is to search for job postings that state " new grads welcome to apply". Many of the surgical floors and med-surg floors post positions in which they consider new grads. The same unit may have 3 positions listed and one or two of those positions may have that specific sentence.

I applied to 6 or 7 openings from two specific units, within three weeks I had an interview and was hired. :) I've never worked at St. Peters but we have nurses on our floor that have either worked there or tried to get a job there. I hear that nurse to patient ratios are higher. It's not a teaching hospital, so in general they are not big on hiring new people to train, although they do offer new grad preceptorships each year. AMC teaches everybody, the overall environment is more accepting of "newness" and precepting, educating people. They are used to people coming to get experience and knowledge and then leaving, from residents to nurses. You get to see so much at AMC, all the patients that other hospitals can't treat, patients on research trials, etc.

Both places, I'm sure, have their strengths and weaknesses.

NYbabyRN, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2012

Cait720,

I work with a RN who started as a new grad in D4N and worked there for 3 years. Her words about the floor were basically: It's very busy, but you learn a lot. She says she wouldn't go back there now.

I know people who have worked or are still working on C8, they said orientation was hard, but it gets better. They prep people for cardiac surgery and also receive patients 1 day post op from the cardiopulmonary ICU after having had CABGs, etc. I've been tempted to go there in the future to get more cardiac experience.

Albany is decent, I've lived in nicer areas so it's taken some getting used to. Its actually not bad, but we've had car break-ins in the AMC parking garage and creepy people stalking med students in broad daylight. There's nice neighborhoods and not so nice neighborhoods. Most of the neighborhoods around both hospitals are decent. There is several colleges, two malls, a downtown, historic downtown which is nice to live in, and it's centrally located to clifton park, colonie, and saratoga, which are nice places.

Good luck Cait270!

nycnursey · Sep 17, 2012

Hi, guys. I'm currently considering taking a job at Albany Medical Center. I live outside NYC right now but I'm moving because of the terrible job market. I was just curious if any other new grads are/will be working there? If so, what do you think of the hospital and the Albany area in general?

Hi Cait720, Im a new grad RN living im nyc and have also had a hard time finding a job here. I applied to AMC recently and just wanted to know if you had any prior healthcare experience or did any externships. I have only done volunteer work and just want to know what my chances are. Also, were you able to do a phone interview or did you have to go upstate for the first interview? I would really appreciate any answers! Thanks!

Cait720 · Sep 17, 2012

Hi, nycnursey. I did have experience as a patient care assistant while I was in school. I was able to do a phone interview and then I went up to AMC to do a 2 hour job shadow. I did end up turning down the job because of the low pay. I went to school in Buffalo and even the pay there is better than at AMC. It's about $21 if you have your Bachelor's. $20.50 as an ADN. That is enough to live on in Albany for most people but I unfortunately had no help with paying for school so I have pretty big loan payments each month and could not make it work.

nycnursey · Sep 17, 2012

Hi, nycnursey. I did have experience as a patient care assistant while I was in school. I was able to do a phone interview and then I went up to AMC to do a 2 hour job shadow. I did end up turning down the job because of the low pay. I went to school in Buffalo and even the pay there is better than at AMC. It's about $21 if you have your Bachelor's. $20.50 as an ADN. That is enough to live on in Albany for most people but I unfortunately had no help with paying for school so I have pretty big loan payments each month and could not make it work.

Thanks Cait720 for your reply! $21/hr is pretty low but I would be willing to take it if they offered me a position. I have no prior healthcare experience so I know finding a hospital job here in nyc will be nearly impossible for me . I am hoping AMC will give me a chance! Do you mind telling me what kind of questions they asked during your phone interview? I just want to be prepared in case they do call me! If you could let me know I would appreciate it ! :)

CP1983, ADN, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2012

I just applied there and hope they call me! I have no experience and trust me, 21 isn't that bad compared to what I am making now, :). I am trying to be very hopeful. Thanks for all the helpful tips; everyone on this board is extremely helpful. I am so happy I found this website. It's because of all of you, I am still trying to find "the job". :) Good luck to all you.

cookiss777 · Oct 21, 2012

Hi CP1983,

How was your application with AMC? Any updates? I have send my application online today. Im just wondering if how long did they call you after sending in your application?