Washington Hospital Center

Soliloquy, MSN, APRN, NP · Sep 28, 2013

I'm interviewing there soon, but I'm curious also as to why people seem to have such bad opinions of WHC? (And what is meant by "ghetto"? The state of the hospital? Or the area around the hospital?)

I actually happen to like it. The pay is good. It's one of the highest paying for new grads in the district. I feel that the nurses work as a team, that you have resources available to YOU, that you're never on the unit all by yourself because people are there to help you when you need it. I'm on a med/surg unit so it can be very busy many times but I never feel stranded or isolated because on the unit there are clinical care facilitators, managers, doctors, social workers, pharmacists, techs, and unit clerks, who are more knowledgeable than I am and willing to help so I can always ask for something. They encourage it and as a new nurse that's very beneficial.

I think sometimes people have issue with their patients, but they don't get to me as much because I realize that they're patients. They're sick, they're not well, they have issues far more than I can count or even can understand at times. I just let those go. As long as I can have good support from my coworkers, I know I'm in a good place. And best of all, I feel that our managers actually try to make make our transition smooth and if we are ready to move on to a new unit, they are willing to help set up that process so we can do so. That's great! WHC has a bridge program that allows you to have a much more smooth transition to other units in the hospital.

I wouldn't send anyone away from here. They're good.

RNt211912 · Oct 5, 2013

dorenavant I tried to reply to your message but it won't let me do it since I don't have 15 or more posts yet. but I am happy for you that u got the interview. how did it go?? I hope it went well for you. as for me I still heard anything from them. I emailed the recruiter again but nothing so far. I am guessing I am out the run since the starting day is almost here. and do you thing I should call the HR and ask for my status?

renardeau, BSN, RN · Oct 5, 2013

There's no harm in trying. I know they send out a bunch of stuff saying "please no phone calls" because they do get a lot of applications, but at the same time, one of my friends who got an offer from them a few months ago said that she called a few times to check on the status of the application and that she thought it helped.

The interview went well! The clinical questions were challenging but very doable. If you're willing to look around the area (not sure if you are from DC or nearby), I know University of Maryland Medical Center is hiring because they are expanding some departments. I got an interview from sending in some applications (maybe 6-7 in the last couple months, but I was looking for very specific positions). The interview was also not for a job specifically for new grads, though they have some new graduate positions up as well last I checked. Good luck!

FFEMTRNED, BSN, MSN, EMT-P · Oct 11, 2013

I was offered (and accepted) a position for the upcoming residency program in the ED. I found the whole process to be very quick, cordial, and overall a good experience. Coming from a Level III suburban hospital as a tech to this type of facility will be a huge change, but I think people don't always realize exactly what they are getting into at first, hence some of the discontent. And its DC, so of course there will be politics and what not.

But I would love to hear from people who work/have recently worked there, about what they thought of the hospital, good and bad.