What do you know about HCAs???

Specialties Travel

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In my travel nursing journey :D I'm beginning to read things about HCAs. One of the companies that I am actually speaking with told me today that they are owned by the HCA systems. I've gathered this means that I will be working in an HCA hospital.

What does this mean?? I looked HCA up online and found out that it's the Hospital Corporations of America. I've found some old threads on this site, basically stating that HCAs are a nightmare, meaning you will be extremely short staffed. However, I have read that the pay is higher at these places. Is this true??!!

My background of floor nursing comes from a VERY busy neurosurgery step down and neurology unit in a large university teaching hospital. I worked there for 2.5 years as a new grad and I know that I can keep up with a very fast pace. I guess I'm just a little skeptical of everything, being new to traveling..... Anyone out there who can shed some more light on what an HCA is and what it's like to work in one?? Any good stories?? :nurse:

Specializes in ER, ICU, Tele, LTAC, LTC.

HCA? Where to start.

I've done quite a few over the last three decades and its usually fairly predictable. All the horror stories I know, but if you know that in advance, at least you won't be surprized. Here in FL they're hard to ignore - too many of them.

They're shameless too. The CEO who got caught with his hand in the Medicare cookie jar to the tune of a billion (with a B) dollars in the 90's, is now our governor.

They have also used the archaic Meditech DOS charting since it came out. Its a riot.

That said if its the only game in town, make your peace with it and hold on.

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What I don't get about HCA hospitals is how in the world they make a profit. The savings on the front end have to be used up on the back end by low patient satisfacation/non-returning business and the cost of high staff turnover. I would NEVER work there due to the horrible stories I have heard from friends. Life it too short. I'm so happy to have chosen to work at a great hospital from the start and listened to stay away from HCA. Honestly, I would be embarrased to be associated with their poor performance. Eeek!!

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Specializes in 3 years MS/Tele, 10 years total ICU, 5 travel.

The HCA I work at both is and isn't bad. Our nurse-patient ratio is generally 5-or-6 to 1 on nights, though that's with no support staff. I can't imagine the 28-to-1 that emergently dealt with. I'd have walked out, as would everyone else on my floor (med-surg/tele, btw). Days tend to be lower. I do know every traveler we've had this time around had been horrified, and many have left. A lot of us have tried to help them as much as we can, but... it's not enough, apparently. And yet our patients tend to say they'd come here rather than other area hospitals, so make of it what you will.

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I got a call the other day talking about MedSurg/Tele in Vegas. It actually sounded more like a Travel Registry job, if there is such a thing. I am guessing it was for the HCA.

The deal was you had to work between 3 hospitals and give 5 days of availability. I do not have a NV license but the 36hr week guarantee and $42/HR didnt sound bad. Does anyone know what I am talking about? The dude wouldnt tell me the names of the hospitals (red flags)!

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Specializes in ICU.
I got a call the other day talking about MedSurg/Tele in Vegas. It actually sounded more like a Travel Registry job, if there is such a thing. I am guessing it was for the HCA.

The deal was you had to work between 3 hospitals and give 5 days of availability. I do not have a NV license but the 36hr week guarantee and $42/HR didnt sound bad. Does anyone know what I am talking about? The dude wouldnt tell me the names of the hospitals (red flags)!

Tango,

My travel partner and I got word of this assignment too. We are contemplating this but there have been a few red flags on our end as well. It's funny you mentioned this, as I read more and more detail in your post I was like, "Yup, thats exactly what they told us".

Did you happen to ask why they are requiring extra staffing? We were told it's because they are training for the CPOE module in meditech. Be nice to try to qualify these statements as fact or fiction. I'll post more infor here as I get it.

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No I did not even ask what the deal was. I just figured the NV license and not knowing which nights between 3 different hospitals is what created the need. I will check through my old emails because I think this has been an on-going need. I am certain more than one company has been recruiting this.

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There is seemingly always needs in LV based on the age of population:nurses. Walk through state though, cheap housing.

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HCA is a blackballing piece of ****! Stay away. Read my post regarding "blacklisting in Texas." They are a private institution and every dollar counts no matter how they get it. SNAKES!

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You can get through anything for 13 weeks. What I have learned in travel nursing is to get everything in writing. When I interview, I ask for the RN to patient ratio. I have it stated in my contract. If they try to alter it on the job, they are in violation of my contract, and I can cancel. If it's not written down, it never happened. If you are traveling, be smart, and keep an open mind. There is a reason hospitals need travelers, no one wants that job. You will work hard and have the crappy assignments, but you will have 4 days off a week to explore a cool place. I am in Houston right now. I work at an HCA facility. It's very hard work, but I have not felt like my license was on the line. I work my 3 days, and then enjoy the beach on my 4 days off. What I have encountered at HCA is they are very unorganized. Most people are nice. The ones that are not, are unhappy people in general, and usually have an attitude that they should get paid to sit around. I have worked harder at other facilities not owned by HCA. Hospitals in general are always looking to cut costs. Don't expect to travel and have the facility roll out a red carpet for you. They have a need, and expect to hit the ground running. Take initiative to learn the routines, you will not be given a lengthy orientation. Don't expect to change their ways. Focus on delivering good patient care within your scope of practice. If you are put in an unsafe situation, speak up for yourself. Most people do not, and that's where they get into trouble. Your license and your life are not worth losing over cutting corner's.

Traveling is a great way to make good money and stay out of politics. It's 13 weeks, broken down, that is 39 shifts.....easy.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Rehabilitation,.

What hospitals in Dallas (and surrounding Dallas) are under HCA?

I am currently looking to move to Texas and apply for a new job. I wouldn't want to get into HCA without even realizing it.

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