UCLA anyone????

thinking about moving to L.A. and working at ucla. i'm looking for the scoop on the NICU there. also anyone have info regarding the tele floors or step down units

I worked at UCLA when from 1979 to 1981 after I moved there from NYC. I loved it!! I worked in the 4 West Coronary Observation Unit (COU), a cardiac step dowm unit. Coming from the a North East med- surg floor with horendous staffing, it was like, " did I die and go to heavan on the airplane?".

I found UCLA to be very supportive education- wise, lots of inservices & education, offerings. A fun to place to work because most of the nurses that I worked with were also from out of state, and we stuck together, especially at the holidays. One person would have a Thansgiving dinner, christmas dinner, and everyone of the "out of state orphans" was invited. Westwood, where it is located, is a fun town also. It is a college area, and lots of night life.

I went to work at Long Beach Memorial after that, and stayed until I got married and moved to Washington State. I always regreted the move because it was not the same. Everyone there was marrried, and there was not the sense of camaraderie that there was at UCLA. I don't know what it is like know, but it is still the same college town, and surrounding area. And by the way, if you are interested, UCLA offers reduced tuition for employees. One of the nurse that I worked with got her MBA there, dirt cheap.

Hope this answers your question.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, WAshington

PS: I got my BSN at Cal State Long Beach

I work at UCLA right now as a Care Partner (nurse's aide), in the float pool. So I have been to pretty much every floor in the hospital, but I am transferring to work as an IP RN in the PICU there. I have unfortunately NEVER been to their NICU so I can't tell you how it is in there.

Personally, I don't like med-surg or tele floors (I am much more into ICU), but compared to other hospitals, I think UCLA's med-surg/tele floors are very very nice. UCLA is a teaching hospital, the equipment is always available, and the staff is generally pretty good. (There are always a few bad apples)...

I know UCLA has the best benefits on the west coast, and they will be finished w/the new Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (across the street from the current hospital) in about a year. Private rooms for every patient, computer charting w/internet access in every room, etc etc....

Great place to work!!!!