Pros
Excellent onboarding experience with great relocation package before I oriented. Great staff and ancillary support. Incredible critical care competency exam to assess my current knowledge and deficits. If you can master Swedish's critical care exam, you are well on your way in having baseline knowledge to sit for AACN's CCRN certification. This exam surpassed the BKAT (Basic Knowledge Assessment Tool for ICU). Excellent pay and benefits with great caregiver support. Scheduling is fair and equitable. Unionized with clear contract language. I have yet to use my back like I did at other health care organizations. This institution does everything possible to protect nurses' backs. Balanced skill set between the nurses while working and everyone is eager to help. Supportive education to excel in learning new critical care concepts. Facilitate evidence based practice and up to date resources in their standards. Accreditation and certification is through the DNV-GL versus The Joint Commission. DNV-GL surveyors are more collaborative and foster dialogue that is aimed to improve the system. Nurses can apply critical thinking skills unlike academic medical centers where residents dictate care and you wait for their order. A nice balance of seasoned nurses
Cons
No all night food venues for night shifters. Bring your lunch! Attrition. Nursing is hard but given the nursing shortage and many younger nurses leaving to become APNs. Its like every ICU in the nation, which seems to be a revolving door of nursing staff.