sassysagrn

That was beautifully put, "softstorms"! Although poo can be disgusting (and I have seen some disgusting poo!!! - wait 'till you get to wipe up a patient's poo who has a GI bleed!- sorry - excuse my "sick" sense of humor!) it's important to remember that cleaning up behind our patients is only a small part of what we do, and that we really have the opportunity to impact their lives in a positive way through taking care of them, even if it's only for 8 or 12 hours. When you become a nurse, try hard to focus on the big picture (providing therapeutic and necessary care to ill patients who need us), not just the menial details. Easier said than done, I know! (LOL!!!):chuckle:chuckle:chuckle

I've been a registered nurse (BSN) for 5 years, and have worked as a staff nurse for 2 hospitals, one in Indiana and a major teaching facility in Illinois, and currently work as an agency RN and therefore have been to several hospitals in both states. I work telemetry, stepdown, and med-surg and rehab. Alot of my friends work ICU and ER. When I was a new grad, what was most important to me starting out was "which hospital will give me the greatest amount of education and experience as a new grad, along with the most money?" The hospital you're trained at as a new grad, believe it or not, will help form the standards of how you practice as a nurse in the upcoming years. Now, money was important (and still is), but education was paramount, and, although you've been a paramedic, so you're not totally blind, you are new in the field of nursing, which as you may have learned, comes with it's own body of knowlege, etc. So be careful - alot of these places will offer you alot of money, but not alot of education - they will train you for a little bit, then want to "throw you to the wolves" to have a body on the floor. Having worked at St James, both Olympia Fields and Chicago Heights as agency, and knowing a few nurses who work there as staff, and agency, I think this hospital is one of those to stay away from. I would also stay away from Ingalls hospital, as they are recently having alot of staffing problems.They pay well, but trust me, they are VERY short staffed. And I do mean VERY. Of the hospitals I've worked at, I like the University of Chicago for several reasons: although I did not start off there as a new grad, they have an excellent new grad residency program (I don't know the technical term for it, but I believe that's what it's called), which is designed to make the transition from school and the floor easier. I know two new grads who have gone through it, and they both spoke positively of it. In addition, yes, they are union, but this will guarantee higher raises and pay as a staff nurse. Currently, my understanding is that UIC (University of Illinois, Chicago), U of C, and Cook County are the highest paying hospitals in the area. You're also going to get alot of sick patients at the University of Chicago, with alot of complex illnesses, which will allow you to learn. You'll take care of a diverse patient population also, which increases your tolerance and knowledge of different cultures. I also heard (I have a few friends which are CRNA's) that U of C is a favorite, along with Rush, of the CRNA schools in the area (there are only two, I believe). Other hospitals where you'll get good education are going to be Northwestern, which is a level I trauma center, and I heard Loyola was pretty good also. The thing I like about Northwestern is that, because they do have money, it's clean, well-staffed, and has alot of top of the line equipment, etc. But they do not pay their staff nurses alot. You pay alot for parking, but it is located in the heart of downtown (which is fun), and they have good benefits. So you have alot to think about - it depends on what's important to you at this point in time - that could change as you get older, or as your needs and wants change. What's right for you today may not be right tomorrow, etc. I hope this helps. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask - I have either worked at almost every hospital in the Chicagoland area, or I probably know someone who has!!!:nuke::wink2::wink2: