St. Louis ICU

ernrs2b · Dec 3, 2008

I live and work in St. Louis, moved here a year ago and found that Barnes was the highest paying at the time, however if you work in the city you have to pay city taxes if money is the ultimate issue, SSM offers a weekend program which pays the same as if you were agency..

Bocephus71RN-BSN, BSN, RN · Dec 3, 2008

Barnes Jewish is a magnet hospital, tertiary care center, work with Washington University Doc's rated amongst the highest in the nation, and Barnes is I believe the 8th top ranked hospital in the USA. The medicine floors stink but the ICU's are better. St. Louis University also has a good ICU.

circusgirl · Dec 3, 2008

Do you know if SSM has high acuity? I doubt that I could do the weekend option without previous ICU experience. I'm trying to get my foot in the door for ICU. I see that Barnes will pay back student loans if you are a new grad, but I have 3 years experience. Do you think they will help with SL for someone with 3 years exp?

Thanks for the replies.

leosasha · Dec 4, 2008

I also live in Southern Il. and commute to work through Agency to St Louis and surrounding area. Have worked at most hospitals in the area either as staff or through agency. Bocephus is correct about the medicine floors. They are a nightmare :no: . ICU is better. If you want vast experience Barnes or SLU would supply it. Am not sure about acuity at SSM. As far as pay goes you'll probably do best at either of these also. Am not sure about you background or time in nursing. Remember that pay is always negotiable. Also check to see if lodging is available through either.

circusgirl · Dec 7, 2008

Why is ICU better? I'm a little nervous because Barnes Jewish seems to have a bad med-surg rep. Anyway, how long does it take for your to get to St. Louis? Do you stay there in between?

Thanks for your reply.

leosasha · Dec 8, 2008

That bad rep is well earned. Time factor is all according to where you are coming from in Southern Il. Probably at least 2-3 hours. Yes, I do have somewhere I stay. ICU is probably better because morale is better there for one thing (unless they are habitually giving that third patient. Check on that one). It's high acuity but the numbers are more managable. Traditional ICU is staffed 2 patients to one. Also there are less petty trifling dynamics. Nurses are more cohesive and work together more smoothly. You are working awfully close to death there and I beleive there is a sense of the seriousness there.

circusgirl · Dec 9, 2008

Yes, that's true. I will have to look into the patient ratio. That's definitely important. I'm also thinking of St. Louis University Hospital because they have a trauma ICU. BJH just has so many credentials--it is impressive. Thanks for the heads up.

mama_d, BSN, RN · Dec 9, 2008

SSM seems to be getting rid of weekend option, just FYI. Many of our floors have phased it out, at least.

But SSM does do loan repayment regardless of if you're a new grad or not (it's something like $4200/year with no lifetime cap as of now). They also do tuition prepayment if you're interested in going back to school. Things are a little screwy around here right now with restructuring, going to computerized charting, and rolling out relationship based care model. You just gotta go with the flow.

circusgirl · Dec 9, 2008

That's a big consideration. I think SLU Hosp. only pays the loans for new grads, which is unfortunate. I do still have some loans 3 years out of nursing school. Thanks for your input.