Overlake Hospital Bellevue, WA

NedRN · Feb 12, 2016

Remember, it is only 13 weeks! Most of the time you will be there you will not be working. I don't have any specifics on the hospital to share, but most hospitals in WA are unionized, which usually means good working conditions.

nursespinka · Feb 13, 2016

Thanks! And another question...is it typical that orientation is only a low hourly and no stipends? My agency told me that the hospital does not allow billing for orientation so they are just paying a low hourly and no stipends. Is this possible?

NedRN · Feb 13, 2016

Yes. The other option for your agency is to lower your hourly for the entire assignment to an average rate. I think the way they are doing it is the better way although emotionally you will like it less than if they had just quoted you a lower hourly rate in the first place.

Apparently this hospital uses a vendor manager that all agencies have to go through (basically the hospital is outsourcing HR). No pay for the first 15 hours (or whatever) is a selling point for their services to lower traveler costs to the hospital. But this makes the agency make a rather no win choice on how to compensate travelers with no pay from the hospital.

Dranger · Feb 19, 2016

That is a plush contract. Usually travel nurses get sent to garbage hospitals, but you got sent to one of the nicest areas of WA with the best patient population. Do you know how many terrible hospitals they could have sent you to in WA? The list would be seemingly endless.

You should have literally nothing to complain about, I would love to work at Overlake and not even as a travel nurse.

nursespinka · Feb 19, 2016

Lol...thats why I was asking because I was not sure. Ya I took the job and excited because it will be my first assignment. I have heard they are still short for nurses. Not sure of your specialty if you would like to travel there as well. Let me know. I'll give you my info.

RN4EVAH · Feb 21, 2016

Nursespinka,

I worked at OLH. Very high new grad nurse ratio. OLH also takes surgical patients from Group Health. This causes callback issues. You also need permission from your Charge Nurse before you can call a MD. Floor nurses cannot place IV's. You are usually alone when admitting/transferring patients. There is not a strong sense of team work. Process is not fluid. Very pretty hospital.

My advice is be sure to review the patient chart carefully to ensure nothing important was missed and never delay calling for orders because they can take a very long time. Advocate for your patient. Protect your license.

I won't provide additional information in a public forum.

RN4Evah

nursespinka · Feb 21, 2016

How long ago were you there?

NedRN · Feb 21, 2016

What are callback issues?

nursespinka · Feb 26, 2016

I am assuming they meant that there are issues getting MDs to callback for orders???

pinktermite · Feb 26, 2016

That's why I work in the ER. I can nag directly if I don't get what I want.

NedRN · Feb 26, 2016

I am assuming they meant that there are issues getting MDs to callback for orders???

Thanks. Never heard callback used in that context.