What is the best NYC hospital for a fresh grad?

bruinlaura · Sep 14, 2006

I was recently a patient at Columbia Presbyterian and very surprised to learn that the staff and patients are not allowed to use the drinking water to drink, brush teeth, or shower without the docs permission. All nurses and patients get bottled water. There was a Legionairres Disease scare there 2 years ago, and someone died. They still continue the precautions. I didn't shower or brush my teeth for 5 days. I wasn't really comfortable there. I don't feel like working there anymore. Does anyone have any more information on this? Would it bother you? Am I being too much of a hypochondriac?
Krisssy

Legionella exposure occurs through inhaling mists or droplets of contaminated water or micro-aspiration while drinking contaminated water. This seems unlikely to happen when working as a nurse unless you drink the water and you said they provide bottled water for both staff and patients. As a patient you should have been provided on of those "bath in a bag" things (your caregivers are so not cool for neglecting that) and you certainly could have used bottled water to brush your teeth (which they should have explained to you). No wonder you were uncomfortable. I would be pretty uncomfortable too after 5 days of no showering or brushing teeth.

In addition, exposure doesn't mean you'll get sick. In fact very few exposures result in pneumonia. Those at highest risk are immune-compromised in some way (oncology, transplant, hiv, etc).

So that's what I know. Good luck at wherever you choose to pursue employment.

kathy_bear · Sep 16, 2006

anymore info about other hospitals?

how about mt sinai?

krisssy · Sep 17, 2006

anymore info about other hospitals?
how about mt sinai?

The forty-seven hundred: The story of the Mount Sinai Hospital School of Nursing

by Janie Brown Nowak

I just ordered that book from Amazon.com. Try it. You can buy it used for $2.00. Krisssy

krisssy · Nov 18, 2006

I've heard only great things about the orientation at Mt. Sinai. I'm going there for an interview and tour in 2 weeks so I'll have to fill you in when I get back...It's supposedly one of the top hospitals in the US so hopefully they will be as awesome as I hear!
:)
Lily

How did you find Mount Sinai? I am interested in working there after not working for a very long time.

Krisssy

BunnyRN · Dec 1, 2006

I was born in that hospital > over 23 years ago. It became Interfaith, but I think it no longer exists. It was in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.