I like orthopedics because our patients are generally healthy and well. We do a lot of restorative care and elective surgery. Patients are receptive to their care and we conduct pre-op teaching prior to them being admitted. The length of stay is decreased and patients are a lot happier because they know what to expect.
The ultimate in scheduling flexibility.
I work three 12-hour shifts, and I love the flexibility. Most people in our department have kids so we’re really good about trading schedules. People will always switch shifts with you. We have 82 employees on our floor and a lot of them stay because of the flexibility. We also have per diem nurses who are always on-call. They’ve worked here previously, so they know the floor.
In fact, per diem nurses are required to work two shifts a month so they can stay in the loop.
Your education is our priority.
We’re a Magnet hospital so we have a lot of nurses with advanced practice degrees. Our college of nursing is offering a NP and PhD program. If you work as a patient care tech, there’s a learning center that provides college courses to get you on track. There are many opportunities for advancement through online instruction, and Barnes-Jewish offers full payment for the classes. I’m working on my Bachelor’s now. For nursing, it’s not a reimbursement. It’s actually paid for upfront.
The Barnes-Jewish difference.
Our manager is on the floor with us every day, and her door is always open. She used to be a staff nurse, so she’s very involved and knows what’s going on…At Barnes-Jewish, everyone is friendly, outgoing, compassionate, and non-judgmental. It’s a great place to be.