amylburk

Hey guys, Does anybody know of any hospitals in Michigan that hire new grads in the ER and have a good orientation program? I had a summer externship in the ER, and work in the ER right now as a tech in a level-one ED, St. Joseph Mercy in Ann Arbor. I love it here, but they don't hire new-grads. I graduate in May from U of M with my BSN. Med-surg nursing is just not for me, and I am well aware of the controversy in hiring new grads in the ER. Let me know if you know of any hospitals that hire new grads!! -Amy

Hey Guys, I'm a senior in the nursing program at the University of Michigan.. and it's coming time to think about what I want to be when I grow up. I'm looking at hospitals around MI, and have heard SO many good things about Henry Ford (although I've never even seen it). I've been poking around on the websites and stuff and I'm really interested. Does anybody know anything about Henry Ford ERs? Apparently there are several... which is the best? How's West Bloomfield? Are they a level-1? Do they hire new grads? How are benefits/pay/ratios? I know, working in the ED as a new-grad is a whole different (controversial) conversation that I'm not interested in having. I WANT to work in the ER, and I can do it (yes, I realize it's gonna be tough) - I've been working as a tech in the ER at St. Joseph Mercy hospital in Ann Arbor through nursing school and also had a nursing externship in the ED so I feel somewhat more prepared than most new-grads. Anyway, feedback would be greatly appreciated!!!

So far through school I have worked as an aide for 1.5 years in Rehab at the University of Michigan hospital, done a 3 month nurse externship in the ED at St. Joseph Mercy (50 bed, level-one trauma ER), and am working currently as a tech in the ED. I have one more year in the nursing program at U of M (SO ready to be done, as I'm a super senior this year due to my change in majors from Psych to nursing) and would really love to work in the ED eventually. I am skeptical about starting out in the ED as a new grad, which is clearly a controversial topic! I think I'd be eaten alive, not so much by the workload, or by the patients, but by the other nurses - and I don't want to have to deal with that. Already working quite a bit through nursing school, I am really comfortable with a lot of my skills - especially communication, being comfortable with patients, etc. etc. BUT I think it'd be a good idea to get experience elsewhere before starting in the ED before I start killing people. What's the best sort of unit to work on?? ICU? SICU? Step-down? Med-Surg? Let me know what you think!

Could you let me know what hospital you work for?? I'm going to be in the market for an ER job and I don't want to end up there. I work at St. Joseph Mercy in Ann Arbor, MI and the most we have at a time is 4 patients, maybe 5 if there is a hall patient... and it's a 50-bed ER and level-1 trauma center. Your hospital needs to staff WAY more!

I am totally lost. I am going into my senior year in the nursing program at U of M. I just finished an externship at St. Joes hospital in the ER, and work there now as a tech. I also worked at U of M hospital as an aide and wasn't wild about it (parking, seniority/political stuff). I don't see myself staying in Ann Arbor, though, and my fiance and I will be looking for a new place to live come next summer when I graduate, our lease in Ann Arbor ends, and we get married. He wants to stay in Southeast Michigan (Royal Oak, Southfield, etc.) region, which is most likely where we will end up... however I'm thinking about the Lansing area as well (where I'm from). I'm just clueless about where I want to work. Anybody have any good selling points for different Michigan hospitals? I love the ER, but I'm not sure if that will be a possibility as a new grad. I'd like something more on the acute side, though, as opposed to Med-Surg. Any input is more than welcome. I've heard good things about DMC, and I hear they hire new grads in their ER and pay well... but I can just imagine that would be a hell of a drive (how's traffic around there?) and the pt. population could maybe get a little tiring. Any advice? I have heard nothing good about working for Beaumont. I really love that I can just park and walk to where I work now (which was something I never got at U of M). Let me know if anybody has any advice!!!! -Amy

Hey everybody... I just recently got engaged, and I am trying to figure out when exactly I actually want to get married. I still have one year to go left in nursing school at the University of Michigan, and I'm wondering if I can get your opinion... Should I try to have my wedding right after I graduate, BEFORE I take my NCLEX? Orrrr should I wait till later on afterwards, like September? From what I hear, there's a big chunk of time after graduation before you can even really register to sit for the boards... so I'm wondering if it would be smart to sneak in a wedding while I'm waiting for that (early May?) so afterwards I can focus on studying for my boards. Would I be consumed in wedding details while I'm supposed to be studying if I have my wedding AFTER my boards? Just wondering if any of you have any advice!