Olympia: Capital vs. Providence?

[Kauneus]

Anyone have an opinion on Capital (or is it Capitol?) Medical Center vs. Providence/St. Peters? I know the basic differences in size, scope of care, etc. I'm an ICU nurse, moving there very soon, trying to make the decision before I get there, though:) Just wondered if there was a nurse's point of view I could benefit from....

Thanks!

[futurenp]

I'm a nursing student in Olympia so I've only seen it from the clinical perspective. I think they're both fine. CMC is smaller and at least from my experience in clinicals seemed a little slower than St. Petes. The good thing is that if you find you don't like one hospital, you can always move to the other. I know people that work at both. A friend of mine just graduated and was offered a position at CMC in the ICU. Good luck...you'll love Olympia!

[Corvette Guy]

Susan & I love the Olympia area! We live in Tumwater close to South Puget Sound Community College. I work at Madigan Army Medical Center & Susan works at ST Peters, Stepdown Unit [we are both RNs]. Susan does not like the Stepdown Unit at ST Petes D/T they do primary care nursing. Some of her patients are very ill, but while she is monitoring a patient with AFib/RVR the clerk is calling her about another patient down the hall that needs the curtains pulled back. I could give you other examples, but it really depends on the actual Unit. Susan has talked to other RNs that work in different areas of ST Petes that are very happy with where they work.

Good luck!

[RN130]

You are probably in Olympia now. Sorry to miss this post. Hope which ever one you are at you have found your nitch. Olympia loses alot of new nurses to Tacoma because of poor working conditions ,(30%turnover in first year/50% in second.) Sorry. It is tough /suck it up from the managers --I hope the staff treat you well....on my unit we try--but there is little extra energy for nurturing our new people.