Sinai Grace Working Conditions

RN1982 · May 4, 2010

Well, it's on the west side. I did my OB clinical there and it wasn't bad. You have to start somewhere. Also, a lot of ICUs will not hire new grads. They usually like at least a year of critical care experience.

djmatte, ADN, MSN, RN, NP · May 4, 2010

I work in DMC at harper. While I can't specifically speak for Sinai, it does have some ideal things going for it. It is one of the few in DMC who have attained magnet status. While some may not care, some do and it could be something you can take with you down the road. Realistically, the job market isn't so hot for new grads (took me forever to get my offer) and an ability to start out in tele can be an awesome launch to a new career. I'd say take it and absorb as much as possible from the new job :)

23Nurse · May 6, 2010

This is for PurpleRN2B...I can't send out a private message because I am a new member to allnurses.com and do not have the required 15 or more posts created.

Thank you so much for the information you have given me! It is really helpful and eyeopening. First of all, I did not realize that there is a 1 year requirment to transfer; I thought it would be 6 months. So do you think that since I want to be in ICU (and not have to wait a whole year) then I should say no to the telemetry position and tell the recruiter what I am really looking for??

And to answer your question, I have a BSN. They told me the base pay is 23.46 with a 2 dollar and something differential for being on midnights.

I'm glad to hear that we both had the same concerns and that it is not as bad as it looks!

wife&mommyRN · May 7, 2010

Hi Glad I could help, when u interviewed did you tour the telemetry unit? If not, I would tour the unit 1st to see if that is a place you could see yourself for a year. I found that out through speaking to other DMC employees regarding the 1 year commitment (none of this was discussed in orientation) and the recruiter told me that you must have @ least 6 months on the job to job share (ex: contingent position), unless you get promoted to a higher position and she verified the 1 year commitment because I did not believe it at first :). Speak to the recruiter and let her know what you are looking for because I know for a fact that they were looking to fill many positions in their ICU and I'm sure they hire new grads. Also, not sure what area you are looking to work, but Sinai Grace Huron Valley has many positions open also and it seems like a very nice hospital. I think the other hospital sound a little better considering it pays more and you probably won't have a 1 year commitment to the M/S position. I met quite a few employees through the DMC that had to do the one year commitment and missed out on many positions that became available. This way you can work at the other hospital and when an ICU position becomes available through the DMC/ any other hospital you will be free to transfer. After 6 months you will probably be able to transfer. The DMC is such a big institution and you may see a position you really want in the future. Something to think about, but look at it this way @ least you have some options. Most grads are leaving school just now realizing jobs are not being handed to them. Good Luck :)

djmatte, ADN, MSN, RN, NP · May 8, 2010

Honestly, you bring up an interesting point purple...new grads are just around the corner. That means the ability to get a new job is gonna be even harder. 23Nurse, is there something in you're background that puts you at a distinct advantage to hire into an ICU environment? (Something along the lines of working in one as a PCA or SNA in ICU or PACU). If not, you could easily be overlooked on an ICU job for someone more qualified. Also, Sinai Grace has a ton of jobs that have pre-screen questions on many of the harder jobs like ICU. These pre-screens won't even get your application through without 6 months to a year of experience (I know because I apped to quite a few positions there before I caught onto the pre-screens, asked a recruiter about them, and eventually got picked up at Harper PACU). 6 months or even a whole year in tele won't be a bad place to be. You get an opportunity to familiarize yourself with working with people with serious heart conditions, establish some really good time management, and work with the equipment needed to monitor them.

I hate to sound too pessimistic, but with nursing schools pumping out so many new grads, I am a big fan of the policy of not looking a gift-horse in the mouth. In this market, hospitals have their pick of the litter and can stand to be choosy. Even I want to work in ICU at some point, and I chose PACU because it was a nice step in that direction because I take care of some pretty critical patients (albeit only for a couple hours each). Tele can be a very nice step as well toward your goals when a lot of hospitals require med-surg experience just to work on a tele floor.

Just my $.02 :)

23Nurse · May 8, 2010

Thanks guys. I am becoming more comfortable with the fact that I am going to be starting on a floor I did not want for myself at first. I do not have the background that would help me stand out for the ICU so I know it is harder for me now but easier in the future. It is also a really good suggestion to take the med/surg position at another hospital and come to the DMC in 6 months so that I won't be stuck with the 1 year committment. I am definately going to have to consider that but I would also like to talk to the recruiter at Sinai Grace and ask her a few questions about the one year floor commitment. Do you guys think that being completely honest with the recruiter will hurt me? I wouldn't want her to think I am just using the tele position to get my foot in the door (although I kinda am) after I told her that I wanted the position.

djmatte, ADN, MSN, RN, NP · May 9, 2010

On many interviews, your employer often asks you where you see yourself in X amount of years. Under these circumstances, its not uncommon to say "I hope to be working in critical care or ICU level nursing". I wouldn't be blunt and say you are using the tele position to get your foot in the door. They recognize that regular floor jobs aren't everyone's first choice...but that should remain unsaid. Also, I think you are a bit undervaluing the critical nature that telemetry floors truly are. Most med surg floors don't need telemetry, telemetry usually has a higher standard and extra things to monitor for when assessing these patients.

I am assuming off of your login that you are 23. Six months or even a year pale in comparison to the benefits of floor experience to a career that will last the next 40 years. As a DMC worker, I can say nobody mentioned any minimum time needed in a position, but I also didn't enter my job with setting specific requirements. At the least, this is an easy access into the DMC system, which places you at a higher spot if you wanted to transfer to ICU than if you went to another hospital. Also the tele experience gets you in a better spot compared to a med-surg position.

23Nurse · May 9, 2010

You are absolutely right. I do think that I am forgetting that tele patients will expose me to a level that is more critical than just a med surg floor. And being in the system will help me move around the system rather than applying to an ICU position in the future as an external applicant.

I still have not been able to get a hold of the recruiter to ask if there is a time commitment but I am going to try to contact her just so I know. I think I am just worrying a bit much about positions coming and going six months down the road and passing me by. I really need to put those worries aside and be grateful I have been given this opportunity.

Thanks!

UMichSCN07 · May 10, 2010

Time commitments are not uncommon. Mine was 15 or 18 months, I forget which. It's mostly due to the amount of money the unit has to pay to get you trained. I had to do a week of "central nursing orientation" plus a week of "critical care orientation," plus a couple other little merit badges required by the position. Added all up, it's several thousand dollars that comes out of the unit's budget, and if you don't stay long enough for the unit to make revenue on you, it puts the unit in a bad financial position. That's not to say that transfers aren't possible in extreme circumstances, and I know more than a few nurses who have left for a different facility in less than their commitment time.

Also, if I'm being honest, looking at it as "opportunities passing by" while you're in your commitment period can be a distraction from the opportunities that you already have. Like others have said, getting a job offer this quick as a new grad is rare right now. A few students that I've precepted have said that they're being told that they may have to wait 12-18 months just to get a job offer, to say nothing of trying to get into their preferred unit. Plus, you never know what unit-based stuff you can get into that will look outstanding on a resume: committees, research, special care opportunities, etc.

Mike in Michigan

07302003, ASN, RN · May 23, 2010

You need to protect yourself by finding out what is the acuity of the patients on the floor, and what the nursing-patient-CNA ratios are. What types of diagnoses, procedures, etc. Post here for feedback

Best of luck