I have been @ BIDMC for 30 years. I too started on medical floor with telemetry. It was great experience and recommend it to all of our nursing students. Great way to learn total systems approach, as opposed to just a knee, gallbladder etc. Very professional staff and great place to learn in the Harvard Teaching hospitals setting. I have never been union. Its not that I am opposed to it. They definitely help push up pay scale for everyone. Only thing I don't like is if they have layoffs, someone with more time can bump you out of a job, even without experience in that specialty. (this is what I have been told). If you got offered a full time position take it!!! Hard to come by!