San Diego Hospitals - ICU Nursing - Opinions on the best hospitals?

[RK1212]

Hi all of my fellow RNs!

This question is very specific to ICU RNs located in San Diego so not sure how much response I'll get but any information would be great!

I'm not about 2 years into my career as an ICU RN here in NH and I've decided that I'm going to make the move to San Diego to be with one of my best friends (and get away from the winter for a while). I've noticed that there are a few large hospital systems down there including Scripps Mercy, Sharp, UCSD Med Center, and Kaiser. I'm wondering what kind of experiences you've had as an ICU nurse in these hospitals? Are any notorious for taking poor care of their nurses? Do any stand out above the rest?

I'll be coming from a 16 bed general ICU in a Level 2 Trauma center where our staff is extremely close knit and the teamwork is absolutely unbelievable. I guess I'm hoping that I'll find similar dynamics in ICU's over in SD but any personal experiences would be great to hear about!

Thanks in advance ?

[fsuao2006]

I work at scripps, not in the ICU but I do go up to the ICU floors daily since we work very closely with the NST nurses doing Neuro and vascular access. The nurses are great, the rooms are all brand new and HUGE (less than 5 yrs old). No lie I would happily move in one of those rooms instead of my tiny apartment.. they have floor to ceiling windows overlooking the mountains of san diego. Anyway, we are a level 2 trauma center that is moving forward to being a level 1. Working conditions are great, no union but we do get breaks. I am part of the interview panel for my unit and we just interviewed an ICU RN who wanted to come to our department (burnt out on ICU) but she worked there 10 yrs and she did say that was the best teamwork she's ever been a part of. San Diego is a great place if you can get into one of the hospital systems! good luck!

[RK1212]

@fsuao2006 this is extremely helpful! Thank you so much! Do you know how many beds the ICU is? And is it a general ICU or is there a Surgical and a separate MICU?

[fsuao2006]

NSTICU (Neuro surgical trauma) and CVICU I think they both have 38 beds each

[hollycamillex3]

Hey! Wondering if you had found a job in San Diego.

I am originally from there, and moved to Maine just for nursing school. I am wanting to move back, and wondering what the Job Search is like out there for new graduates. I know you already have experience, but still curious on how things went for you!