Nursing at UVA

Hi Annointed-

I left UVA last March to take up travel nursing and I can tell you staffing/nursing is not really good. When I left, the hospital was denied magnet status..again. They don't do much for retention of their nurses, yet they paid 25K a piece for foreign nurses to come and work. I know the unit I use to work in is using more travelers now than they were 3 years ago when I was staff (was staff there for about 5 yrs), and utilized the pool staff as well. Felt the CNO (corp. nurse officer) really wasn't behind her nurses...more focused on gaining Magnet Status and one of the main criteria IS NURSE SATISFACTION AND RETENTION!!! (can't stress that enough).

What area do you want to work in? For new grads they offer a mentorship program where you work w/ a preceptor for 6 months (where you get weaned from your preceptor) and then work for a probationary period for another 6 months. You have to fulfill this one year commitment before you can leave to go to another unit or unless you feel you don't feel comfortable in your current setting. I went through the mentorship program 5 years ago and they have made some improvements to it. I believe you are given a bonus at one year as well as a raise to "commemorate" your status level from Clinician I to Clinician II (have to turn in a portfolio of course) and then another bonus at 18 months. Go to these links and they will explain about the program... http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/human-resources/description.cfm; http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/human-resources/faqs.cfm. Hope this information helps. Where are you attending nursing school? I'm just curious. I'm hoping to return to UVA for a travel assignment this spring. I may see you there if you work on my old unit. If you have any other questions let me know.

I want to work OB, and yes I am a male, what unit do you work, and what do you think my chances are of getting placed there? Go to school in NC

Thanks

Hi Annointed

I worked in the PICU. I'm not sure what you're chances are getting a position in OB. Probably not good, but I really don't know; I didn't know any of the OB nurses. I think they ask you where you like to work during the interview process. It doesn't hurt to apply. I remember getting a phone from HR after I interviewed asking me if I wanted to work in an adult unit, which I turned down b/c I didn't want to move to Charlottesville to work w/ adults; I had interviewed for an adult position in Richmond where I went to school. But did get a phone call the next day for a PICU position, which I accepted. Send in an application and see what happens. You never know unless you tried. In the beginning I really never considered moving further west for a job, but all the Pediatric positions in Richmond were either already taken by my classmates or that weren't hiring new grads or the nurse recruiter at hospitals was a jack*** who didn't return phone calls. Anyhow, do whatever you think is best for you. Good Luck.