Wilmington- moving & need info on RN jobs

RNBSNGRADUATE · Jul 31, 2007

Jenny ~~ I sure wish I had some answers for ya ...when you receive some, I wonder if you wouldn't mind sharing. I'm a bit west of the coast and intend to move to Wilmington myself after graduation! Best of luck to you! Where in FL are you? I've lived there 2x --Tampa & Orlando. Take care:)

UNCgirl · Aug 1, 2007

Hi, I am not an RN yet but am finishing my BSN at UNCW this December. I have never set foot in Pender, but it's quite small (I think about 80 beds). It, as well as Cape Fear Hospital in Wilmington which used to be private, are part of the New Hanover Health Network. Cape Fear is small but larger than Pender. New Hanover is where we do most of our clinicals. I also did some of my clinicals at Onslow Memorial, in Jacksonville. It is also a lot smaller than New Hanover but I did think the work environment, staff, and especially the nurse managers were friendly and seemed to enjoy their job. Also, Brunswick County is nearby and has a hospital (larger than Pender) that is affiliated with Novant. Personally, I am thinking of moving away after I pass the boards since the pay here in general is low in comparison to the cost of living. Where are you planning on living? That is a consideration also...Pender or Brunswick could both be quite far depending on where you'll be. Hope that helps.

ChadleyNC · Aug 3, 2007

Hiya, and welcome to the area I moved here 4 years ago and took a job at a local Substance Abuse facility in finance. I graduated nursing school in may and I begin working at NHRMC on 8/13. I can tell you a few things about the community here so far as nursing jobs in hospitals go.. New Hanover owns all 3 hospitals in the area. NHRMC is the largest employer in the county. Cape fear hospital is a smaller facility with only 3 floors. They see more orthopedic cases there, and they do have an ED though it is much smaller.

NHRMC itself is pretty large, with 10 floors. full range and compliment of services, departments, and thus most positions for nurses.

Pender hospital is a nursing home on one level and I think, about a 30 bed hospital on the other. they also operate a home health facility out of the same campus. it is very small and while owned by New Hanover, lacks some of the more modern seeming conveniences.

in school we did clinicals in all 3 locations. I liked the intimacy afforded by Cape Fear, but my ICU internship is to be done at New Hanover Regional.

My partner, on the other hand, works in the ED at Brunswick Community Hospital. It's a rural facility located about 40 miles southeast of Wilmington. Sure it's a lengthy commute, but they are owned by Novant Health now, and things are well on the rise there. They are even breaking ground soon on a whole new location and campus soon. They also actually tend to pay more there than what NHRMC will in terms of base pay rates.

Regardless of where you go, you may run into the same problems with HR departments in both places. If at all possible, I highly recommend following usual protocols, and applying as you normally would through them, but if you don't hear anything back, it can NEVER hurt to find out who runs the area you want to go into, and call them directly.

Hope this helps some. Take care, and welcome to Wilmington

nuberianne_RN · Aug 3, 2007

in school we did clinicals in all 3 locations. I liked the intimacy afforded by Cape Fear, but my ICU internship is to be done at New Hanover Regional.
Hope this helps some. Take care, and welcome to Wilmington

I noticed that you are about to start your ICU internship. That is what I would like to do when I graduate next year. Did you have any previous experience as a CNA perhaps? The reason I ask is I wonder what my chances are for getting that position. I don't have any CNA experience.

ChadleyNC · Aug 3, 2007

The internship is applied for the same as any other position. They only conduct it once a year, and it begins in the fall. Application, interview and selection is in the spring though. My interview was in march, and offers were made within a week. To answer your question, No, I did not have previous experience in any clinical position. I am 34 and have worked in hospitals and MD offices for 17 years but all of it has been clerical. I am not sure if it would have helped me more to get in if I had had some clinical background. I do know that a few classmates of mine who I thought would be certain to get a slot, did not. I don't know a great deal about the selection criteria. The interview is a bit nerve wracking since there's you and 7 directors at a table and they can ask you absolutely anything. Mostly standard questions though, like why ICU, and What do you bring to the table etc.

It is possible to work a year in med surg at NHRMC and transfer to the units, BUT it's not a lengthy orientation like the internship which is 6 months with floating between units during that time. Apply early, like in January or February and list ICU as your first choice if you are asked to prioritize. they are changing the way things are done in HR so it may be different by then, but I would make early HR contacts if you are a spring grad, by doing it in the first or second month at the lates of your last semester.

Best of luck

ChadleyNC

JennyeJenn · Aug 15, 2007

Thanks, guys....

I am actually coming up there tonite...our best friends beat us moving there, and we are spending this weekend up there vacationing.

I am trying to figure out exactly what area I want to do- I am an IVT RN and MS, but I am actually kinda also looking into perhaps home health, but still associated with the hospital for the benefits. I am planning on just dropping by on Friday to NHRMC to talk with a recruiter. Any suggestions?

I can't wait to get out of Florida.... :lol2: Hope to meet some of y'all soon.

RNBSNGRADUATE · Aug 15, 2007

Hey Jenny!!

Funny thing -- I am hoping to head that way myself this upcoming weekend as well! I know there was an original plan for my girlfriend to surprise me and head over there this upcoming weekend as an early b-day gift! Not sure if it's still in the works, but boy oh boy am I hoping so! What part did your friends settle at? We usually stay @ a little place right before crossing the bridge heading into Wrightsville Beach. Though, I was hoping that we'd stay @ a place 1/2 the price in order to stay 2 nts instead of just 1, lol. We'll see!! I hope you have a safe and terrific weekend! Wish I knew for sure if we were going, maybe we could catch up w/one another! Best of luck in your job research/hunt!!

Rebecca

JennyeJenn · Aug 15, 2007

I think they moved to the Ogden/Mayfaire area into an apartment. We will be staying with them. I was reading some other posts about NHRMC and noticed some things- their insurance is high & pay is relatively low. This will be my first time changing hospitals as an RN and I was just gonna go talk with the recruiter.

RNBSNGRADUATE · Aug 15, 2007

It's a great & wise idea! I hope you find out all you need to! Let me know what you find out!!

Stay safe & enjoy visiting your friends!!!