Working in Mississippi

Originally posted by PedsNurse07

How do you feel the working conditions for nurses fair in Mississippi, on a scale of 1-5, with fiving being the highest. After I graduate from nursing school I plan to work in Jackson at UMC, Baptist, or St. Dominique(sorry can't spell that one to good), or in a hospital in Hattiersburg. Do any of you work at either place? If so what are the working conditions like?

Do any of you know anymore good hospitals for new grads in Mississippi? Also, what is the pay like for new grads (RN) in Mississippi?

I currently work at St Dominic's on one of there telemetry units. I've worked there pretty much since I got out of school in 98. I enjoy it there because I not only enjoy the people I work with but we work well together as a team. I think that administration is pretty much the same everywhere here in Jackson ---- crappy!! I took a job at the VA recently for six months because of pay. They pay more if you have your BS, where other hospitals don't. However the management was lousy!! After six months I gladly took a $3.50/hr pay cut and went back to St Domonics where I work a set schedule Mon-Thurs nights one week, Mon-Wed the next and have every weekend off. St D's has a weekend program were nurses only work weekends, therefor I'm not obligated to work the usually "every-other weekend". When I got out of school I was working nights and having anywhere from 6-9 pts on the telemetry floor. Now the max is 6, which is not bad at all, considering most nights I only have 5, and some nights I only have 4. Now from my understanding it is not like that on every floor in the hospital, but the cardiac floors hang and titrate a lot of IV cardiac drugs so they have lowered our nurse patient ratio. I think most hospitals in the area are giving sign on bonus and are very competive in their pay. Meaning when one hospital gives an "across the board raise" the other hospital give one as well. I know that St Dominic's is giving $5000 with a two year obligation. You get the first $1000 on your first pay check then, $1000 every six months for two years. I feel that St Dominic's is one of the best hospitals in the area, if not the best! However, if you are looking to work in peds, we don't do much there with children. We do have an L&D with a nursery and NICU but that's it. We tend to specialize in Hearts. You may accually like taking care of heart patients (critically or on the floor). I never imagined that I would ever work in this area---but know it's all I know and it's all I'll do! I wanted to go into L&D when I got out of school but St D's have a L&D unit then, so I went to work on the tele floor and have loved it ever since. Good luck with school and your new career as a RN!!! Remember to CARE!!!

Thanks for being so informative. Nothing is set in stone as far as the specialty thing goes, I am open to anything especially the NICU and I have always been interested in the heart as well (wanted to be a cardiologist lol).

Thanks again!

i work at umc

i have also worked at st. dominic(HATED IT), and VAMC(HATED IT)

i have also worked at Baptist(LIKED IT)

i must say that UMC has THE Best benefits(VA is slightly better)

st dominics does not pay for holidays---we get 12 paid this year

we also get 25% diff on the week-ends

no sign on bonus that i know of, or "week-end" program per se, but the schedules are sooo flexible

if you want NICU/L&D/Critical Care experience UMC is the best place to come--you will get great experience here. they once gave NICU nurses $2.00 more an hour than the other units, but i would never work NICU(Too teary)--don't know if they still do that

st domnics is well known for it's heart program

pay wise, i don't know what new grads make

but last year i made $80, 000 working full time night shift--my banker said that's good for MISS.

on a scale of 1-10, i would give UMC an 8,(no place is perfect-----i don't think) i would give st dominic a 2, and VA gets a 4

it's all in what you want

but then i am thankful to GOD(who opened this door), and I give HIM a 100!!!!

mabye this helps...

Thanks, I always loved UMC. It has so much action going on there. It woud be a dream come true to get a job at umc when I get out of nursing schoool.

Do you know if they offer loan repayment program?

:) YES They do

Thanks, I always loved UMC. It has so much action going on there. It woud be a dream come true to get a job at umc when I get out of nursing schoool.

Do you know if they offer loan repayment program?

[/b]I am a RN student in Alabama i would love to move to MISSISSIPPI. I heard that Miss has the multi licensure program so thats good. I would like to know some nice hospitals to work at, benefits, starting pay for new grads,sign on bonus. Graduation May 2004. Please help

i work at umc

i have also worked at st. dominic(HATED IT), and VAMC(HATED IT)

i have also worked at Baptist(LIKED IT)

i must say that UMC has THE Best benefits(VA is slightly better)

st dominics does not pay for holidays---we get 12 paid this year

we also get 25% diff on the week-ends

no sign on bonus that i know of, or "week-end" program per se, but the schedules are sooo flexible

if you want NICU/L&D/Critical Care experience UMC is the best place to come--you will get great experience here. they once gave NICU nurses $2.00 more an hour than the other units, but i would never work NICU(Too teary)--don't know if they still do that

st domnics is well known for it's heart program

pay wise, i don't know what new grads make

but last year i made $80, 000 working full time night shift--my banker said that's good for MISS.

on a scale of 1-10, i would give UMC an 8,(no place is perfect-----i don't think) i would give st dominic a 2, and VA gets a 4

it's all in what you want

but then i am thankful to GOD(who opened this door), and I give HIM a 100!!!!

mabye this helps...

What department do you work in? 80,000 IS very good. Are you a NP or just a RN?

I work in a small Ed in central Mississippi so I can't talk about UMC or ST. D's, but as for nursing in general in MS, I think we have it pretty good. I have been reading other threads and we make about average as far as wages go. We do have the multi-state licensure,( not sure what states are involved). We have a strong nursing organization MNA that lobbies for nurses at the state and national level. The thing I think is the best is that most hospitals, even the bigger ones, are very community based. It helps pt and nurses feel better when they feel like they are taking care of "family".Any way Mississippi is a beautiful state with plenty of "stuff" to do out side of the hospital. But I am partial. :)

However, if you are looking to work in peds, we don't do much there with children. We do have an L&D with a nursery and NICU but that's it.

I lived in Jackson for a while (1994-1998 - worked for AMR as medic). St. D didn't do anything with expectant mothers let alone peds. Methodist was the place to go for that. What happened to them? Haven't heard much about them lately.

Roxan

I lived in Jackson for a while (1994-1998 - worked for AMR as medic). St. D didn't do anything with expectant mothers let alone peds. Methodist was the place to go for that. What happened to them? Haven't heard much about them lately.

Roxan

Wasn't Methodist the one that became Central Mississippi Medical Center? The only Methodist in Jackson now is Methodist Rehab and it is attatched to UMC.

Wasn't Methodist the one that became Central Mississippi Medical Center? The only Methodist in Jackson now is Methodist Rehab and it is attatched to UMC.

The Methodist I remember was way out by I-20/I-220/Hwy 18. They had done a major revamp on the ER (moved it to another area of the building), redid the L&D, nursery and NICU areas. They were "the" place to go for labor and NICU.

I work in a small Ed in central Mississippi

Hey! I used to work in a (VERY) small ER in central Mississippi. Actually, a couple of them. Carthage and Canton. I have worked many places since then and have eventually ended up in Indiana but some of the best times I've had, has been in those small ER's. I found them more challenging than the large ones I've worked in since then. Nearest Level One 50 miles away...me...one doc...a tech if I was lucky....~sigh~...don't you love it??! :)