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Here’s a breakdown of what travel nurses have said about working at LewisGale Medical Center in Salem, VA, based on reviews and the comments collected from social media sites.
*Note: Chatgpt is an amazing tool that I think 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.
Work Environment
Traveler Friendly: Many travelers mention that LewisGale is very traveler-friendly, with supportive management and flexibility, especially with scheduling.
Staffing and Support: The staff is generally friendly, and travelers appreciate the teamwork, especially in units like Med-Surg and Oncology.
Management: Management can vary. Some travelers appreciate how management works with them, while others find it micro-managing, particularly around policies like whiteboards and justifications for things like foley catheters.
Training: Orientation can feel rushed with limited hands-on training. Training for systems like Meditech and general competencies can take up to 20-30 hours before starting the actual job.
Patient Demographics and Case Load
ER: The ER is frequently at capacity, and patient ratios can be unsafe. In some shifts, nurses report up to 10 patients at once, with no tech support. The hospital won’t turn away patients, even if they’re already overloaded.
ICU and Med-Surg: ICU nurses often float to other units, including Med-Surg, where the ratios can range from 5-7 patients, depending on staffing. On busy days, the ER charge nurse could be handling 9 patients and performing triage simultaneously. The acuity of the patients can be high in some units.
PCU: Nurses report an average of 5 patients in PCU, although it can go up to 6 on occasion. However, floating is common, especially for travelers.
Facility Conditions
Charting System: The hospital uses Meditech, which many find outdated and cumbersome. Travelers mention difficulties in charting and tracking patient information.
Equipment and Monitoring: Some ER rooms have malfunctioning monitors, requiring nurses to swap out cords constantly. Additionally, there’s a lack of centralized monitoring in the ER, which can make it harder to manage multiple patients at once.
Safety and Housing
Workplace Safety: Many nurses express concerns about the unsafe patient-to-nurse ratios, especially in the ER, where nurses report feeling overwhelmed by the number of patients assigned. The risk of compromising patient care is a common issue.
Local Safety: Salem and Roanoke are considered safe areas to live and work, with plenty of outdoor activities like hiking and biking. Several nurses have mentioned that they feel safe both at the hospital and in the surrounding area.
General Sentiment
Positive: Some nurses, especially those who worked in units like Oncology and Med-Surg, had a positive experience. The hospital is described as “very traveler-friendly” with opportunities to extend contracts and good relationships with coworkers.
Negative: The overall sentiment from ER and ICU nurses is often negative, citing overwhelming workloads, unsafe nurse-patient ratios, and the lack of support in critical situations. Many travelers reported leaving early due to safety concerns.
Advice for Travelers
Be Prepared for High Ratios: Expect a busy environment with a high patient load, especially in the ER, where ratios of 1:6 or higher are common, and sometimes up to 10 patients.
Flexibility is Key: Be ready to float between units, especially if you're assigned to PCU. The hospital has a high percentage of travelers, so it’s important to be adaptable and ready for changes.
Know Your Limits: If you're not comfortable with high patient ratios or feel that patient safety is at risk, this might not be the ideal hospital. Several nurses have mentioned that they had to leave early because of the unsafe working conditions.
Outdoors and Housing: If you enjoy hiking, biking, and the outdoors, the area around Salem offers a lot to explore. Housing in the area is generally considered safe, and there are plenty of local amenities.
In summary, LewisGale Medical Center offers a supportive environment for some travelers but may be overwhelming for others, particularly those working in the ER due to unsafe staffing levels. If you’re considering a contract here, be prepared for a demanding workload, high patient-to-nurse ratios, and challenges with the hospital’s outdated systems. However, if you are comfortable with the pace and conditions, you’ll find supportive colleagues and a beautiful area to explore.
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