VentMaven

I know that the upstate facilities are not really the topics of many threads, but I'll give this a shot and see if I get any bites. Even a nibble would be great! haha I'm a Reg Resp Therapist with 5 yrs academic Level 1 Trauma experience (2 years at the charge level) and I am going into nursing now. I've worked in the NYC area and now in Vermont. I've liked both and could go back/continue at either. But we're looking for someplace affordable and I have family in upstate NY. I'm trying to narrow down where to apply as a new grad this summer. So I am thinking of applying upstate anywhere in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany corridor. I'm also considering Ithaca, Corning, Elmira, Watertown, Saratoga or Binghamton. (Yes, I'm OK with a long, dark, grey winter. Bring it, lake effect snow!) My preferences: -I want nightshift only- 12 hour shifts. -I'm not too concerned with pay- most places pay $22-25. Whatever it is, it is. -Good tuition reimbursement is a big plus. -I want really good experience. -Full modern computer charting and ordering (Cerner Epic etc) -Pyxis meds -Protocols -I want to be in an adult ICU or mixed adults/peds -Preferably SICU, CVICU, CCU, Trauma ICU or Neuro ICU- or maybe a really hopping progressive MICU. -I like my patients *sick*. Intubated, 3 pressors, half dying, in ARDS on nitric and oscillator and CRT with a Swan, going to code any minute= sign me up. Transplants, ECMO and LVADs=super psyched. -I like docs and nurses who can handle that stress well without taking it out on people. I won't be screamed at or derided by stressed out surgeons or snapped at and undermined by tired whiny coworkers. -I like a good amount of pt turnover- I don't want to be seeing the same pts every shift for 4 weeks. (A MICU full of trached long term vents= hell for me.) -I prefer a level 1 trauma center bc that's what I've excelled in so far, but I'd also consider strong community hospitals that do a decent amount of open hearts. (St Joseph's in Syracuse, Cayuga Med etc) Above all: I want a fun, friendly, social, supportive group of people to work with. I've worked with awesome tight crews of nurses in some of my units and it really makes so much of a difference for me. Great/warped senses of humor, good relationship with the residents, breakfast at the diner after hell shifts, birthdays, BBQs, Christmas parties, with minimal whining, minimal backstabbing and few Debbie Downers. Old, young, kids, no kids, country boys and pink haired lesbians -doesn't matter. It might sound like an unrealistic utopia, but I've worked in many units like this so I know they exist. But which units are like this at Buffalo, Strong, Upstate and Albany Med? Or in other upstate hospitals? I think I'm ready to settle down and I want to make sure I find a good fit. I just don't want to get stuck in an evil unit and then claw my way through a year before I can transfer. Even if you don't know any units like this, tell me which ones to *avoid* or any general information about any upstate hospitals that would be awesome. PMs are fine too if you don't want to brag or rag about your unit in public :) Thanks so much! Have a good holiday! Ho ho hoooooo -VM

I thought Expat Exposed was a bunch of Debbie Downers too until I checked it out. Although I'm sure some posters' personal circumstances contribute to their unhappiness, you shouldn't discount what they have to say on that site completely. My husband is a Kiwi and his whole family is in Auckland. I'm a respiratory therapist and I was looking at going to work in NZ once I'm done with nursing school. After brief shadowing experiences in Auckland I decided against it. The money isn't worth it, and the role is very different then in the US- very little autonomy. The pay scale is a joke. I have instead decided that once I have enough experience in critical care I will probably take travel contracts or go per diem and work a lot of overtime for a few months at a time stateside and then spend time off in between there as a visitor in NZ instead. Don't get me wrong-New Zealand is great ... but much much better if you don't have to worry about making a living there.