Washington Hospital Center - Good for grads?

[chachi69]

Hello,

I'll be graduating this May in New York but moving to DC -- the things we do for love -- and am thinking about applying to WHC. I want to do 6-24 months of med-surg before specializing.

Is the support/preceptoring for new grads adequate?

What are the working conditions/environment like?

These are two of my immediate concerns. I'd love to hear any advice or opinions that anyone with firsthand knowledge or even secondhand knowledge of working at WHC has to offer. Thank you.

[Padelcar]

Hello everyone,

Im going to the Dream Day on March 20, im driving from Philadelphia. I was wondering if anyone is going from Philly so we can go together. Im leaving the night before.

[malenurz]

what are the periods of time between rotating shifts at WHC? How long do you work on days, before rotating to nights?

Thanks!

[nmbuczyn]

technically you are supposed to work half your shifts 7a-7p, half 7p-7a. we self schedule, so you can arrange it however you like. i generally get what i request on my schedule. this may vary based on your unit. per the NU contract, you are supposed to have (i think) a minimum of 48 hours between a shift flip.

[chicurious]

I'm still learning the lingo, but rotating shift refers to a rotation of actual days/dates or a rotation between night and day shifts? So, does it mean you work nights consistently, but the actual dates you are scheduled rotate? Or does it mean you can work night or days and that varies?

Also, when you said you pick your own schedule, what do you mean exactly?

[ac123, MSN, APRN]

Rotating shifts means you work 1/2 of your shifts on days and the other half on nights. Nurses can sign up for the days/nights they want to work and typically are granted those requests.

[Pokytrokyt]

I'm a part time volunteer at WHC, and am applying through Georgetown for a WHC scholarship program. Both the people I work with on my unit, and the educators who managed my scholarship tour/interview at WHC were kind, professional, and proud to work there. Based on my limited exposure there, I think it's a great place to work.

- Alex

[elb252]

How likely do you think WHC would be to hire new graduates from other states? I'm a nursing student from Pittsburgh but am really interested in working at this hospital.

[Pokytrokyt]

As best I can tell, they only hire new RN grads with a BSN degree - not ADN. And I think they only interview new grads during "Dream Days." FYI, WHC has a joint scholarship program with Georgetown U School of Nursing - they give out a number of big scholarships each year, and those grads agree to work at WHC for 3 years. So first dibs for new jobs will go to GU grads. But WHC has over 6000 employees, so they're always looking for qualified people.

Look at: h t t p://w w w.w h center.org/hrjwt_template_0.cfm?id=557401 (remove blanks)

[ufblondi]

elb252,

I just started in their october program and I'd say about 90% of them are from other states...we have people from cali, pa, ny, sc, ct, florida (me), etc. Definitely apply and send in an email for dream day. There are some people in my class who were interviewed without attending dream day, but the majority of people did. No one in the october program were part of the scholarship program with georgetown.

[Pokytrokyt]

The GU/WHC scholarship students graduate in December and start at WHC in February (after taking the NCLEX), or graduate in May and start in July. WHC gives out up to 40+ scholarships twice a year.

[Hoosier03]

ufblondi, so is it true that they hire only BSN students?

[ufblondi]

I'm not too sure on that one. I'd think they are leaning more that way, especially since they are working on becoming a magnet hospital.