Job Interviews

I went on all 3 job interviews this past week. I like certain things about each hospital...and I don't like other things about them. I haven't been offered a job yet at any of them.

Here are my thoughts on them:

Hospital #1:
My hometown hospital (I was born there. I had 2 of my children there.) Fuzzy/warm feeling when I am there. I know most of the nurses and doctors on the OB floor there. I've done all of my clinical training at this hospital. Very familiar to me.

But, they pay the least amount from all three of them. And, they require that you work as an RN in a department other than OB for 1 full year before you can go to OB. Major down side. Each room is a LDRP, so you would do labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum/baby care for each patient. I like that set up a lot. Not self-scheduling. 8 hour shifts.

It doesn't seem to me like nurses are valued much here. They are occasionally yelled at by Drs and mandated to work over-time. They just formed a union and are considering picketing.

Hospital #2:

Unfamiliar territory. They have the unit split up. Labor/Delivery on one side. Postpartum on the other. And, baby nursery in between. With a different nurse for each part. I'm not fond of the compartmentalization. Additionally, there is a general medical hallway on the floor for women (hysterectomies, gyn, ect.) and a peds unit there as well. All nurses rotate throughout all areas: L&D, PP, nursery, general & peds. This interests me because a new nurse would not "lose" her skills as many experienced and specialized L&D nurses complain of. You would have to stay sharp on Heparin/aPTT levels, surgical drains, etc.

They have self scheduling and 8 hour shifts; no mandated overtime. However, a new nurse there cannot step foot on the L&D side for 1 full year after they start on the floor. Major down side. But, at least you can get experience with PP, newborn, etc.

Overall, I do not have a good feel about this hospital. Each time I've been in it, for some reason that I cannot put my finger on, I come out feeling like it's not a place I would feel comfortable in.

Hospital #3:
Very unfamiliar territory. My interview was my first time I've step foot in this hospital. But, it is impressive from the start. Very up to date, modern feel about it. Nice coffee shop/cafe' in the lobby. They were the hardest of all to get an interview with. They requested formal transcripts and letters of recommendation from 2 of my clinical instructors before they would even see me. Then, they administered a 50 question medication theory/calculations exam to me immediately after the interview - of which I could score no lower than an 80% or they told me they wouldn't even offer me a job. The exam was not a push over either... It was detailed. But, they did grade it right there and told me I passed. Whew! Talk about a pressured interview.

They value their nurses a lot and are on tract to receive "magnet" status. The pay is in between the other two hospitals. And, I would have to drive on a major interstate highway to get to work every day. They have 12 hour shifts (which is a plus in my book), and no mandated overtime.

They have a NICU and take care of high-risk pregnancies there. New nurses can be hired directly onto OB (AWESOME!) or NICU - another area I would consider. Their orientation seems the most in-depth including 6 weeks of orientation with a classroom aspect to it, which is unit specific - you learn how to be an OB nurse for example. Then, you have your regular 12-16 week orientation.


So, now the waiting game. Will I get an offer. Will I want to accept it?