BostonRN84

Massachusetts, state does not have a "safe ratio" law like California but where I work in Boston, ratios are very good as acuity is much higher compared to community hospitals.

6 or 7 on days???!!! That is very high and no offense, but once hearing that on an interview I would head for the hills regardless of this economy as I wouldn't want my safety and others, not to mention license on the line. I've been an RN 6 yrs now, just turned 29. After reading several posts, I feel fortunate for the ratios of the 36-bed General Surgery and Trauma Unit I work on in Boston at a level 1 trauma center teaching hospital, been on unit 5yrs now and hospital is not unioned for RNs. Ratios on day shift are 1:3 if full staff, sometimes 1:2 if census is down during holidays which is a rare treat. If short, ratio can be 1:4 max on days. Eve shifts are 1:3 or 4 and Nights are 1:4-6 but max is 6 for any nurse and would be a "bad night." Although it's a general care unit, acuity can be extremely high in addition to dealing with entitlement and psych issues to complicate things of patients and working with demanding families. "Walkie-talkies" are far and few between now and we're more of a step down unit as I get the SICU transfers. Most general care units now have patients what would have been ICU patients 10yrs ago. We have 3 PCAs on day shift who each have 4-5 patients, 2 PCAs on eves in which they are each assigned a side on floor, and night shift is just 1 PCA. Night shift is especially heavily dependent on nurse to nurse teamwork. When interviewing, ratios was first question I asked. My first new grad job was in a community teaching medical/surgical hospital that's unioned but acuity was no where to what I deal with now, why I left to challenge myself at a level 1 trauma center. My ratio was 1:4-5 on days and 1:5-6 max on nights as I was a day/night rotator. PCAs did all VS, finger sticks regardless of being "assigned" to patient and I never did one bed bath but was challenged with what seemed like never ending med passes, dsg changes, tasks. Now I'm day/eve rotator with no nights (yay!) and oritenting to day charge soon, yikes! I'm anxious about that even though I was thrown into charge on eves but hopefully it will be ok, it better! Having strong support helps too, like active Nurse Manager and CNS to provide support for floor needs. Good luck on your new position and I really hope that ratio will change, regardless of acuity.

Are you kidding? MGH administration HATES the word union (I should know as an MGH nurse). Having come from a unioned hospital prior, I see pros and cons of working for a unioned hospital as well as non-unioned. But, MGH has to be competative with non-unioned hospitals in the area, it's still a business. I'm content with the base pay I make as a nurse with almost 5 yrs experience so can't complain and benefits are decent. What does suck is that cost of living raise was eliminated as a budget cut and annual wage increase on anniversary date of hire dropped from 3% to 2% (nursing is ALWAYS the first thing they cut back on, of course not CEO/administration salary....). Raises take a while to accumulate and we don't get "bonuses" like in the corporate world, however at least it's job security (once you're in a position) and steady salary after a few years of nursing but will take 25+ yrs to make "the big bucks." MGH was ranked the top 3rd best hospital in the country for 2010-2011 by US News and World Report and certified Magnet as a desirable place to work for RNs. It's why I'm working here in the "medical Mecca of the world." As soon as I shadowed the position I now have at MGH, I thought this is where I'm going to work. Congrats to new grads who scored an internship position even if not guaranteed a staff nurse position. While I do agree the wage for the internship should be higher, your experience from it will take you far in the end whether that be within MGH or another hospital in MA or out of state.

As an MGH nurse for a little over 3 years now, I can say this is a great opportunity for new grads desperate for experience regardless of the measly wage, but you get benefits and experience as a REAL nurse. It's a new grad residency program, not a new grad staff nurse position. It's a resume builder at the very least and when hospitals across the country see any Boston teaching hospital in your experience, it's a huge plus. I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to be hired as a new grad at an MGH affiliated hospital in 2006, although not my first choice and was a community hospital. However, it was my foot in the door to get in a major level 1 trauma center either at Mass General or Brigham and Women's. It was unioned but union dues were discounted for new grads and health care was covered in full as a union benefit, so it's all relative. My starting salary was $24.11/hr 40hrs/week (not including differentials and I was hired as day/night rotator, definitely did more than my fair share of nights than I probably should have). But, I was thrilled as it was a job with benefits even if I felt for the Boston area was rather a low hourly rate at the time. After my year/year and a half, itched to apply for Boston to see bigger and better. I scored a position in my first choice area of specialty at MGH being surgical trauma and have been there since Dec 2007. :) This September I'll hit 5 years as a nurse and will be able to be a Clinical Instructor. My point is, even if you're offered something that's not ideal including a nursing home position, take any opportunity you can get especially during these rough times in the job market. Once you have some experience that's when you'll get what you REALLY want. You may even have to relocate to get the job if it's an option, Connecticut is looking for nurses including new grads. The economy affects even the "best hospitals" in the country such as MGH. Even toiletries are no longer name brand that we offer patients since that affects the "budget." Cut-backs are everywhere and I'm grateful I was able to secure a job at a world renowned teaching hospital when I did....