Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue, Wa

[luvNpassion4nursing]

Can anyone tell me anything about this hospital? Do they only look at local applicants? What is the payrate for new grads in the area? How much is the cost of living in the area and where would be a good city to live in close by? My husband and I are looking into possibly moving to Wa and I recently applied to Overlake's New Grad program. Thanks for any info

[paddingtonRN]

I had been a patient at Overlake, have done clinicals there and have good RN friends there. Overlake has a good reputation in the area. They recently expanded and it's a beautiful facility. Two years ago when I was a new grad the pay was 25/hour, I don't think it's changed much. Overlake is in Bellevue which is 20 minutes across Lake Washington from Seattle if traffic is smooth. Bellevue has a lot of new high rise condos coming in and Microsoft recently opened large campuses right across from the hospital. I grew up in Bellevue and it's changed a lot over the years. Housing prices have increased substancially due to proximity to Lake Washington and increasing number of large computer/computer related companies. It's overall a yuppie suburbia- not saying that's a bad thing.. Seattle is a vibrant city with lots of variety in neighborhoods and housing prices. Really depends on your taste. If I can tell you anything else please let me know!

[Rkay10]

I am a nursing student in Bellevue (graduate in June). I have had clinical at Overlake Medical, as well as working there as a nurse tech. I believe the starting pay for a new grad is now about $26/hr. And I think they started to interviewing process for the new grad RN residency, so good luck! From working there, personally I think Overlake is a bit pretentious. They have this perfect 10 policy for patient care. They are really into the numbers on patient satisfation....which is not a bad thing, but there was a lot a flaws in their system. And, I found there was a general lack of support for staff. Many floors are under staffed. I'm sure all hospitals in the area have this problem.

Anways....living in Bellevue, you can expect rent (apartment) to run about $950-1500/months. Depends on how much space you want (usually get less than a square foot per dollar)....there are a few places where you can find an affordable price, like crossroads area, but you'll probably end up moving again when your lease is up. I lived in an older 2bd/2ba apartment near Overlake a few years back for $875/mo, it had a w/d which can be hard to find....down side was the train was so close I could toss something and hit it from my balcony....which I guess wouldn't be all bad unless you worked nights and wanted to sleep during the day. I don't know what rent is in Seattle. Kirkland is about the same, maybe a bit higher than Bellevue. Renton can be a bit lower than Bellevue. Either way, there is traffic (it is a metro area).

Good luck.

[luvNpassion4nursing]

thanks Rkay. I havent heard from Overlake yet. Do you know if they mainly only take locals in their new grad programs? Are you interviewing for the new grad there? Thanks for all your insight, I really appreciate it.

[Rkay10]

When I was hired as a nurse tech, a new RN in my orientation was from Hawaii, so just they hire outside of WA.