Parallon

The ugly is that HCA hospitals are for profit, and the last hospitals patients would want to find themselves. High patient to nurse rations. I don't know of any good, except that there are some exceptions to the rule. Best of luck finding one!

I've worked at for-profit hospitals that weren't bad. And since I work ICU, I doubt I'll have a big problem with ratios. I was looking more into how Parallon worked but now that I'm on, guess I'll find out firsthand. Thanks for the response!

Perhaps I worded that badly. HCA hospitals are bad primarily because they are HCA, not because they are for profit. Sometimes one is reported to be OK to work at, but those reports are very rare. As per diem, you are not stuck the way a traveler is on a 13 week contract so you will find out cheap. You might even like it if you are used to Florida and Texas hospitals.

Yes..thankfully, I don't have to sign a contract.

I am a traveler through Parallon contracted at St. David's North, but I work in the NICU, so my advice may not fully apply to you. I really like working for Parallon and I think my pay is good as is my recruiter. However, I do not like working at the St. David's North hospital. There are a few other St. Davids, main, round rock and south. I also had to "float" to the st. David's main hospital which is in downtown Austin, but I personally liked much better. At the North location, the majority of pt's are wealthy and insured, but also demanding. I think that translates to the staff who seem to have a snobby attitude and that they are better than everywhere else (however, having been to 3 other hospitals, I don't think they are any better than any other hospital). And granted, it may just be my unit. At the main downtown location, I found the staff to be much more welcoming and everyone seemed to be happier and laid backwith their job and honestly the physical layout and set up of the rooms was much better (again, I have no idea what adult ICU's are like) but at main, a much higher percentage of pts are medicade/spanish speaking only, which is a population I have much more experience working with. The big thing that is bad about HCA is Meditech, which everyone universally hates.

This was posted almost a year ago. I have now worked with Parallon for almost 9 months now. I actually love North Austin Medical Center and have been told some not nice hints for St. David's Main (at least in their adult ICU). To each their own! :)

For what it's worth, I have just finished two travel contracts with Parallon, and did not have any problems whatsoever with the company. On the contrary, pay is timely and accurate, and if a problem arises, they have my back. HCA hospitals' business model does not promote the best working conditions, though. But anyone working for Parallon already knows that.

Can not stand HCA hospitals..... But would I work for them again, yes.... if no one else is hiring and the bills are stacking up...

Parallon should be the last choice. It is better than not working but it is by far a good place to work. They are also getting cheaper and cheaper with pay. They have went from $45 per hour to $42 and are now paying 37 per hour. Also you have to work with the worst charting system in the world....meditech.

The good is if you work per diem you can work whenever you want because they all ways have a need.

The bad is they are always short staffed

The ugly is more often than not they will give you more patients than you are supposed to have. Med/surg will get 6 instead of 5. PCU will get 5 instead of 4 and so on

Another Ugly is you have to learn to use meditech

If you have an option then choose a hospital that is not HCA.

All of these posts about meditech sucking and always getting extra patients/ short staffed/ always having needs is soooo....true LOL.

Ive been with them for 3 years and although I love the money, I can not stand working in HCA hospitals. Idk maybe the VA has spoiled me, but lord help me I am looking for a new agency to add to my list of options as we speak lol.