Terrible. Horrible. I wish I were exaggerating.
Pros
Helping children, although there is often so much drama with management that this is easily forgotten. Resume-building experience for new grads. As much overtime as you want. Better than no job, I suppose.
Cons
Severely understaffed, often unsafe nurse:client ratios. Units that should have at least three nurses (according to management & regulations - in reality, there is enough work for four or more) on shift often have one, and sometimes have no nurse overnight. Promises made during interviews are not kept because "things change" or because they supposedly can't hire more nurses. Ex: Being told you wouldn't have to work weekends once they hire more staff, then finding out there isn't even a budgeted position that would make this possible even if they could fill open positions. Regularly scheduled nurses get $22-$27/hour. Flex nurses paid $35 (less than 5 years experience) or $40/hour, still work full time hours (or more and get OT) and get insurance. Flex nurses aren't supposed to work that much but they are so short-staffed that there is no choice. Understandably, regularly scheduled nurses are upset about this. Management is inexperienced and out of touch, consistently making decisions that negatively impact staff/clients without realizing the impact that it will have. These decisions aren't always fiscally responsible, though management may think that they are because they have no idea what actually happens outside their offices. Nursing management works weekdays only and uses every hour of their paid time off when staff nurses aren't able to because there isn't shift coverage. They bully nurses into working extra shifts or changing their schedules. Some treat their staff like children. Training is non-existent. You shadow a nurse who is so overwhelmed that there is no time to train you. During orientation (which teaches you about Kidspeace, not your job) they make a point of telling you that "I didn't know I was supposed to do that" is not an excuse for not completing something but there is NO WAY that you could possibly know what needs to be done because you are not properly trained. Ever. At all. Staff who are lazy & do the absolute bare minimum with are not disciplined because they cannot afford to lose even a terrible employee. All of the above create a work environment full of resentment.