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Here’s a breakdown of the travel nurse review, experiences and key insights about Ascension St. Francis Hospital in Milwaukee, WI, based on online reviews and comments from nurses who’ve worked there.
*Note: Chatgpt is an amazing tool that I believe comes in handy for analyzing reviews. This information was gathered by me, Kristin Farnsworth, from travelers at Atlas Medstaff as well as various social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit and then filtered through Chatgpt to put it all in an easy-to-read format.
Ascension St. Francis Hospital - Milwaukee, WI: Travel Nurse Review
Work Environment
Team Dynamics: Many staff members, including travelers, appreciate the provider group in the ER, describing them as helpful and supportive with medications and discharges.
Management Issues: Some reports indicate that their manager was not supportive of travel nurses and looked for reasons to terminate contracts or place nurses on a "Do Not Rehire" list unfairly. The unit was not listed and it's possible this manager no longer works there.
Nurse Support: 90% of the nursing staff are travelers or resource nurses, leading to mixed experiences in terms of support.
Charting System: The hospital uses Epic, which is a preferred system for many travel nurses.
Floating: Med-Surg nurses frequently float to IMC/ICU or ER.
Patient Demographics & Caseload
Community Served: High number of Spanish-speaking patients, making it a good opportunity for bilingual nurses or those wanting to practice their Spanish.
Emergency Department Activity: Mixed reports on ER volume – some days are very busy, while others are slow.
ER Nurse-to-Patient Ratio: 4:1 max; providers help with meds and discharges.
Med-Surg Ratios: Higher than average, often lacking CNA support.
Patient Transfers: 80% of patients are transferred out due to limited resources.
Boarded Patients: Rare in the ER, according to current travel nurses.
Facility Conditions
Old Building & Equipment: The hospital is outdated, and some equipment frequently malfunctions.
Limited Resources:
No transport services, meaning nurses are responsible for patient transport.
No CNA support on Med-Surg units.
Minimal security presence, requiring staff to handle safety concerns independently.
Plum pumps used for drips.
Fast Lab Results: One of the hospital's positives is quick turnaround times for lab work.
Safety & Housing
Neighborhood Safety: Bay View and St. Francis are the best areas for an easy commute.
Other Recommended Areas:
Safe Areas: Wauwatosa, Brookfield, Oak Creek, Greenfield, Greendale, Garden District (near the airport).
Avoid: North Milwaukee, which has higher crime rates.
Housing Options:
Several travel nurses and staff members have recommended housing in Bay View, Cudahy, South Milwaukee, and Greenfield.
Private rentals available, including a 2-bedroom house near the airport and a unit in Wauwatosa.
General Sentiment
Pros:
Small, easy-to-navigate hospital.
Free parking with an easy commute.
Friendly, supportive providers in the ER.
Good for Spanish-speaking nurses or those looking to improve their language skills.
Flexible floating policies for those open to working in multiple units.
Cons:
High patient ratios on Med-Surg, often without CNAs.
Security concerns and lack of hospital resources.
Frequent patient transfers due to limited services.
No transport services, requiring nurses to move patients themselves.
Advice for Travelers
Stay in Bay View or St. Francis for an easy commute and safer environment.
Be prepared for a lack of resources—you may need to take on additional responsibilities.
Watch out for management issues—some travel nurses have had unfair terminations.
Make connections with fellow travelers, as they make up 90% of the staff.
Use this as a learning opportunity if you're interested in improving your Spanish-speaking skills.
Final Thoughts
Ascension St. Francis Hospital in Milwaukee is a small community hospital with significant staffing and resource challenges but a supportive provider group and many fellow travelers. If you're comfortable in a fast-paced environment with limited resources and stay cautious of management dynamics, it can be a decent assignment. The housing options in safer areas and free parking are additional benefits.
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