Suggestions on L.A. hospitals

Gomer · Aug 25, 2005

UCLA is your best bet. Excellent benefits, large teaching hospital. You need to check if your job will be at the Westwood campus or Santa Monica campus.

Huntington Memorial is also a good hospital and located in a good area of LA, e.g., Pasadena. Not really "rich, picky" people. (Many of the LA area hospitals have VIP areas and there are many "rich, picky" people in LA).

Good Sam would be my last pick due to location and reputation.

If you are a new grad I would suggest picking a hospital with the most extensive new grad program. Once you have a year's experience you can go any where. Good Luck!

livtek · Aug 25, 2005

thanks for the replay.

I will see today, but I like Good Sam better. They offer me very extensive training for a 1 year. Six months at postpartum and 6 months at L&D training.

Even salary will be much higher than Huntington hospital. I don't know I didn't like interview with the mamager, she was making me feel like I'm stupid don't know anything because I'm foreign train, but she hired me anyway. She even

told me I will be dealing with higher class people.

I got job training for 6 months.

Today I will go to UCLA nurse recruiter and I will see.

What do you mean with good Sam reputation?

Gomer · Aug 25, 2005

Good Sam has a reputation for not treating its employees very well. Example: a couple of years ago a nurse found a hidden camera (it was installed behind a clock) in the breakroom. According to Good Sam's administration they had installed over 18 hidden cameras around the hospital for the "protection" of the employees and they had not turned on or had they informated the employees there were hidden cameras in the breakrooms. The employees felt the hospital didn't trust them and protested.

I would suggest you look beyond the salary issue. Compare the benefits offered, amount of orientation (some hospitals make big promises but at the end of two weeks you might find yourself on your own....so get any promises in writing), and, in LA, location (safe area) is also important.

livtek · Aug 26, 2005

thanks Gomer,

well, I got hired today in UCLA and the dep. is liver transplants with oncology, but major is liver transplants.

And tomorrow I got interview for peds. position at UCLA also.

I will take UCLA Westwood center The mattel children hospital.

I/m very excited. I hope I will do good decision.

It is realy UCLA so good?

Gomer · Aug 26, 2005

UCLA is excellent....good for you! (Only negative I can say about them is the union....but then I hate unions).

livtek · Aug 27, 2005

I got hired at UCLA.

I just got one small problem and it is that I had a hip surgery 14 months ago and I would like to work at UCLA. I'm just worrried it is going to be to much for my hip. It is going to by to busy?

I need time for my hip sometimes , need to sit down and rest for couple of minutes, but I'm well. I got slight limp but is not even visible.

I wrote on application about it but they didn't ask and I didn't tell them anything.

It is going to be hard for me or not?

Katie612 · Jan 20, 2006

I interviewed in the Liver transplant ICU and in the PICU and chose PICU. I really really liked UCLA. When do you start?

livtek · Jan 20, 2006

Well, I'm working already 6 months in Good Samaritan hospital in newborn nursery and postpartum and I loved it. The place is not stressful very relaxing.

I went to UCLA for a day and I didn't like it, I didn't feel right there. In good Sam we are very good team and we always help each other. It is happy unit and I have so much fun there. Next year I'm going to NICU, which I'm also very excited. Good luck in UCLA.

Katie612 · Jan 20, 2006

Yeah, I realized after I posted that this was an old thread. I also got an offer at Good Sam for straight days. What unit did you go to at UCLA for the day? Why didn't you like it, if you don't mind me asking? Was it easy finding an apartment? How is the cost of living? Any advise or tips you have for me???

Thanks!!!

Katie