Reno - Washoe Medical Center?

LilRedRN1973 · Dec 7, 2003

I did my ER time for my EMT license at Washoe. It's not a bad hospital to work at, but I have heard that St. Mary's is better. Washoe pays more than the others and has a trauma center (level III, but still a trauma center). I am actually applying for a Nurse Apprenticeship there because the other hospitals want a written committment and Washoe only requires a verbal committment to work there after graduation. They pay about $14 for the Nurse Apprentice program and then I think starting RN's make about $23-24 an hour plus diff. Don't quote me on that, though, as I'm not 100% sure.

I'm not sure where you would be moving from, but know that the cost of living is pretty high here. At least in my opinion. I moved here from Houston in 1994 and have been poor ever since! :roll

A decent house will run you around $210-215K, but of course, we have no state income tax. Property taxes are fairly cheap, but things like utilities are some of the highest in the country. I don't want to discourage you from moving here because it is a beautiful place (only 20 minutes from Lake Tahoe and within an hour of about 15 ski resorts). I just want to let you know what kind of expenses you will incur here.

Washoe Medical has an online site where you can apply..it's http://www.washoehealth.com

I hope this helps!!

mandykatrn · Dec 7, 2003

Thank you RNnTraining1973! I'm in Oregon right now. I really want to get out of the rainy Willamette Valley!!

What is the Nurse Apprenticeship program? Is that the same as the "paid internships" Washoe mentions on their web site? The apprenticeship pay sounds ~kind~ of low if you're already an RN. I'm making slightly more than $17/hr as an LPN. I won't move until I graduate next spring and pass the NCLEX-RN (knock-on-wood!). The on-site childcare peaked my interest! The hospital I work at now has no such thing. Is it common for hospitals to have on-site childcare? Does Washoe Hospital stay up to date with the most modern equipment and technology?

Sorry so many questions, but I do really appreciate your insight!!

Hope you get the apprenticeship you want!

:)

~j

LilRedRN1973 · Dec 8, 2003

LOL...I am laughing because I am looking at where YOU live right now. They pay more than here and the cost of living so SO much cheaper. But you said rainy and that kind of bothers me. I love the green and trees that come with thunderstorms, but I also enjoy sunny days. We are looking at either Portland or Salem.

I am actually a first year ADN nursing student about to end her first semester. The paid internship is something different I believe. I basically will be doing little more than shadowing an RN, then after my second semester, I will be moved up to an Apprentice II, which pays the same but carries more responsiblity. Then, after I graduate, they will move me right into an RN position, which pays about $10 more an hour than the apprenticeship.

LPN's in this area make around $14 an hour, I believe. I think that's to start, but again, don't quote me on that. I think both hospitals in this area have on-site child care. I'm not sure if this is a common occurence or not. I'm wondering if I will be able to utilize it as a student nurse while doing my apprenticeship. Sure would be nice instead of paying for daycare for my 4 year old.

I am not sure how up to date Washoe is since it's been about 2 or 3 years since I did my ER time there. But I will be going in to shadow in the next few weeks, so I will let you know. If you would like to private email me, my email is [email protected]. Feel free to ask away and I will be happy to help you with any questions, especially once I get inside and start checking it out! Also, if you want to know the name of the woman who does the recruiting/retainment for nurses there, I have her card.

mandykatrn · Dec 9, 2003

Thank you RNnTraining1973!!

I will definitely email you! You been so helpful.

:)

~j

tizmonster · Mar 22, 2004

Thank you RNnTraining1973! I'm in Oregon right now. I really want to get out of the rainy Willamette Valley!!
What is the Nurse Apprenticeship program? Is that the same as the "paid internships" Washoe mentions on their web site? The apprenticeship pay sounds ~kind~ of low if you're already an RN. I'm making slightly more than $17/hr as an LPN. I won't move until I graduate next spring and pass the NCLEX-RN (knock-on-wood!). The on-site childcare peaked my interest! The hospital I work at now has no such thing. Is it common for hospitals to have on-site childcare? Does Washoe Hospital stay up to date with the most modern equipment and technology?
Sorry so many questions, but I do really appreciate your insight!!
Hope you get the apprenticeship you want!
:)
~j

Hi,

I work with some hemo dialysis clinics in that area. Have you ever thought about training in that way? ESRD (End Stage Renal Disease) has an exploding patient population. Need great critical thinkers that like working in a team approach. These people are responsible for maintaining the health of these clients. They have tons of issues...diabetes, cardio vascular access issues, bone care, CHF (Congestive heart failure). Nurse that do this work well are very accomplished clinically.

If you want to know more...happy to help. Primarily people come from ICU, CCU, Med/surgical background.

mandykatrn · Mar 25, 2004

Hi,
I work with some hemo dialysis clinics in that area. Have you ever thought about training in that way? ESRD (End Stage Renal Disease) has an exploding patient population.

Uh, no. I want to work in Labor & Delivery (just accepted a job). But thanks anyway, I guess.

tizmonster · Mar 25, 2004

Uh, no. I want to work in Labor & Delivery (just accepted a job). But thanks anyway, I guess.

That's a very cool area of nursing. Were you able to relocate to California...or are you still in Oregon?

Hope you love it! The major thing I find from the nurses I work with is job satisfaction and doing what you love is the major part of the battle. Best wishes to you and your family!

If you'd like to check this out in the future...I'd be happy to help!

Bobbi

mandykatrn · Mar 25, 2004

That's a very cool area of nursing. Were you able to relocate to California...or are you still in Oregon?
Hope you love it! The major thing I find from the nurses I work with is job satisfaction and doing what you love is the major part of the battle. Best wishes to you and your family!
If you'd like to check this out in the future...I'd be happy to help!
Bobbi

Thanks Bobbi. I appreciate it and I'll keep it in mind. Maternity is what I love, but who knows what may happen in the future, right?

Yes, I will be relocating. It's a fantastic opportunity and I'm very excited!!

Town & Country · Aug 12, 2004

:eek: W......T........H?

I was contacted YESTERDAY by Washoe Medical Center - I have six years of experience and they offered me $25/hr!!!

My Gawd, you couldn't even LIVE ON THAT in Reno!

And the shift diff is a WHOPPING ten-percent of your base pay, which would equal a GRAND $2.50!

~~~~~BIG WHOOP~~~~~

They must be OUT of their tiny minds.

Sounds like they are EXPANDING and BUILDING and the $$$ for it is coming out of nurses' paychecks!

Twenty five dollars an hour for six years experience - ? You probably couldn't even rent a freaking apartment out there for that.

I was considering relocating out there because of all the new things at the hospital, until I found out what they PAY!!!

ALSO: RE THEIR "ON-SITE CHILD CARE:" YOU HAVE TO *PAY* FOR IT! IT ISN'T FREE!!!

:angryfire

All in all, doesn't sound too promising to me!

I'm looking elsewhere!

mandykatrn · Aug 12, 2004

ALSO: RE THEIR "ON-SITE CHILD CARE:" YOU HAVE TO *PAY* FOR IT! IT ISN'T FREE!!!

Well, I'm not too surprised you have to pay for the childcare. Honestly, I would expect to. But the way they advertise the on-site child care as one of the perks of working there is VERY misleading. There is a waiting list to get your child in (the younger the child, the longer the wait), and it only runs during the day!!! Okay, call me crazy, but it's not usually that difficult to make childcare arrangements when working day shift... try finding good overnight childcare. So much for them thinking of their noc shift!!

cagoulet · Dec 3, 2004

Hi, Austin's Mom, I live in Lincoln, about 30 miles NE of Sacramento just off of I-80 and there are tons of places you could work here!

The Sac-Sierra region is hospital heaven, and both Sutter Roseville and Kaiser Roseville are expanding their L&D areas like crazy!

If you aren't happy where you are, this is a great place -- and the pay is pretty good. -- Candy