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.

[OriolesMagic]

No they don't hire only BSN students. I was hired there and only had an associate's degree.

[chachi69]

No they don't hire only BSN students. I was hired there and only had an associate's degree.

BUT, right before I left in March 2009 in their quest for magnate status they eliminated all LPN positions. Most people feel the handwriting is on the wall and it is only a matter of time before a BSN is required. If you are not already enrolled in a RN-BSN program, do so.

The good news is that WHC offers a very generous $10K/year tuition reimbursement benefit for staff nurses.

[jlharris1]

Hi Pokytrokyt,

I was just wondering why you say WHC is only hiring BSN's. Thanks

[Pokytrokyt]

jlharris1

Re: Washington Hospital Center - Good for grads?

Hi Pokytrokyt,

I was just wondering why you say WHC is only hiring BSN's. Thanks

As noted earlier in this thread, WHC is a magnet hospital. When Magnet hospitals are reviewed, the review includes looking at what % of RN's have BSNs, and what percentage have graduate degrees. The review committee wants to see those percentages going up, from one review to the next.

So it makes sense that WHC would hire few if any ADN RN's - I've been told they don't hire any new graduate RN's unless they have a BSN, but there might be exceptions for some units. And the longterm ADN RN's I've spoken with there are all looking at upgrading their degrees to a BSN.

This is much like my experience in the IT field (my previous career): when I started years ago, maybe 10% of IT departments staff in leading companies had BS/BA degrees. By the time I left IT management, I was only hiring people with BS/BA's, because the pool of job applicants was always big enough to make that distinction. I think the same thing is happening in nursing. If you want maximum flexibility where you can work in the future as an RN, you'll need a BSN.

[OriolesMagic]

WHC doesn't have magnet status yet, unless they got it in the last 2 months since I left. One of the things I hate most is "magnet" status, where working conditions don't change but there is a bunch of committees that don't do anything. If you apply to WHC just stay away from the cardiac/4th floor.

[Pokytrokyt]

jlharris1

Re: Washington Hospital Center - Good for grads?

Hi Pokytrokyt,

I was just wondering why you say WHC is only hiring BSN's. Thanks

As noted earlier in this thread, WHC is a magnet hospital.

Correction: Oriolesmagic is right. They're not a magnet hospital - yet. So far the only magnet hospital in DC that I see on the ANNC website is GUH.

[TF4L10]

WHC doesn't have magnet status yet, unless they got it in the last 2 months since I left. One of the things I hate most is "magnet" status, where working conditions don't change but there is a bunch of committees that don't do anything. If you apply to WHC just stay away from the cardiac/4th floor.

i know this thread is old but Im curious as to why you say that. I am in NS right now and will have my complex med/surg clinical on one of the 4th floor cardiac units next semester (dont know which yet). What's the deal with that floor? I thought WHC was known for cardiac?

[tgary08]

WHC doesn't have magnet status yet, unless they got it in the last 2 months since I left. One of the things I hate most is "magnet" status, where working conditions don't change but there is a bunch of committees that don't do anything. If you apply to WHC just stay away from the cardiac/4th floor.

What's wrong with the cardiac floor their? I just interviewed with the managers of 4NE today.