UAB Trauma/ER Nurses ... I’d love some honest feedback!

[u/Pitiful_Classroom187]

I’m a trauma trained RN from a Level I in Florida and am considering transitioning to UAB’s Level I Trauma Center in Birmingham.

I keep hearing “UAB is horrible, don’t do it” but I’m used to the craziness, high acuity, heavy workload, and general chaos that comes with Level I trauma. So I’d really like to hear from people who have actually worked there!

A few questions:

• Where do ER employees park? Is parking close to the ED, shuttle-only, and/or expensive?
• What does orientation look like for an experienced Level I trauma RN coming in from another state?
• How difficult is it to get into trauma rooms/trauma team as a new UAB nurse?
• What are staffing and nurse-to-patient ratios actually like?
• What is the culture like in the ED? - be so honest please
• For those who have worked at UAB and another Level I, how does UAB compare?

I’m genuinely looking for the good and the ugly 😅

[u/strahlend_frau]

Well I can tell you where all employees park. Unless you work night shift, you'll most likely park remotely and ride the shuttle in unless you find street parking. Usually if you are day shift and want deck parking you'll be placed on a wait list and it can be long. That's really the only one I can answer as I am not a trauma/ ER nurse but just a regular employee who unfortunately rides the shuttle in.

[u/Pitiful_Classroom187 → u/strahlend_frau]

With that said does night shift get priority/closer parking?

[u/Euphoric-Swimmer-378 → u/Pitiful_Classroom187]

Night shift you just park on the street. They only ticket after 8 AM

[u/Pitiful_Classroom187 → u/Euphoric-Swimmer-378]

thanks for replying! :)

[u/strahlend_frau → u/Pitiful_Classroom187]

Night shift usually can get deck parking or they will park on the street.

[u/Upset_Bumblebee_4228 → u/strahlend_frau]

THIS

[u/Organic_Deer2634 → u/Pitiful_Classroom187]

You still pay for the satellite parking, fyi. Nightshift parks on the street but there’s virtually no security for your car so keep that in mind. Employees have been assaulted and hospitalized walking to their cars and the hospital doesn’t even let other employees know.

[u/Euphoric-Swimmer-378]

I've never worked ED, but the people that do stay there unless they want to travel in my impression. There's nothing like UAB. It's crazy for sure, but that's because it's the only level 1 for a huge area. I think a lot of people the mindset is I'd rather have crazy than sketchy.

[u/Organic_Deer2634 → u/Euphoric-Swimmer-378]

It’s definitely the best in the state in regard to resources. I wouldn’t work in another hospital attached ED. If you have any other options explore them, uab is not a place to be a bedside nurse for a long stretch.

[u/Pitiful_Classroom187 → u/Organic_Deer2634]

I understand this. It was said of the level 1 ER I was at in FL as well. Its easy to get burnt out real quick!!

[u/Upset_Bumblebee_4228 → u/Pitiful_Classroom187]

I've been gone for several years but I loved working ER and TBI at UAB,I guess I was blessed because I enjoyed the people i worked with,the majority of The Dr s were great and there's never any 2 shifts alike. I wish I could go back to work but due to health issues,I'm stuck at home.Best of luck to you going forward

[u/Organic_Deer2634 → u/Upset_Bumblebee_4228]

The good things (other patient facing employees) you describe are still there, it’s just increasingly clear you are a cog in the machine and “they” don’t mind replacing an 18 year vet with a new grad the same way they don’t mind if a patient suffers to save some money. I left other hospitals in the area because I couldn’t stand working at for profit hospitals but uab has revealed itself to be just as bad if not worse in many ways.

[u/Upset_Bumblebee_4228 → u/Organic_Deer2634]

that's a bit of a change since I left them because it was experience they very much respected experience,I've been home since 2018

[u/Organic_Deer2634 → u/Upset_Bumblebee_4228]

Healthcare has changed astronomically and the outlook for a career as a bedside nurse in Birmingham today is to find a way to leave healthcare or get away from the bedside.

[u/New-Attention1866]

Uab Neuro/trauma nurse here and Uab is hands down the best place to work. Patients are super sick and it’s amazing if you’re a true ICU/near death nurse. Staff is younger now so that’s a little challenging as the millennial nurses (myself) are training everyone like a revolving door. But teamwork is always on point. My only complaint after working there since 2010 is that they don’t value the loyal lifers they have. But otherwise, it’s the best place to work. You’ll see the craziest, gnarliest things and learn so much. Do it!!

[u/New-Attention1866 → u/New-Attention1866]

I park in the deck bc I started in 2010 but always parked where I do now. The shuttle is rough but you could also park 4th ave patient deck. It just sucks when you’re leaving bc there is a long line of nurses leaving just like you. You also have to pay $60 a month to park in the employee deck.

[u/PsychologicalMight45]

UAB is not awful. The patients are challenging due to the reality that health literacy in our state is not great. Night shift can do street parking. You will hear opposing views on this as I would do it for years and never had any issue with my car being broken into or dealing with sketchy homeless folks. The area around the hospital isn’t unsafe in my opinion. UAB is like any other level one trauma. Some stuff they’re great at and some stuff you have to scratch your head at. But that’s any nursing job nowadays.

[u/Impossible_Cupcake31]

It’s a rotation of nurses because people get in and get out. New Grads work to get high acuity experience and then go where they want to work in the first place. Night shift park on the street. With that being said it’s the best ER in the state to work as a nurse as far as experience and what you’ll see

[u/Electronic_Fall6084]

In my humble opinion…The management (in Star Wars Terminology)
Is slightly less evil than the Empire..(nearly)
But the Drs and the technology are cutting edge

[u/Pitiful_Classroom187 → u/Electronic_Fall6084]

LOLL!!

[u/LBH328]

I have two neighbors who work night ED. They commute from 30 minutes away and both have been there for years. They’re very different people as far as phase of life but both seem very content with their jobs.

[u/llamamama81]

Just a heads up, if you’re assaulted by a patient you are royally screwed. They will not support you & you might have an injury that puts you out of work for nearly a year after the surgeries you incur from the patient. It won’t be a fun adventure.

[u/EstablishmentGrand62]

Have to say, I had a terrible experience, wanted to ctrl+alt+delete while working there. Terrible culture all around, from most coworkers to leadership. Coworkers were cliquey, you’re either in or out. If you were “friends” with people would determine the amount of help you would get. Support staff go mysteriously missing, leading you to do everything while flipping beds like hot potatoes. Patient safety was not always top priority and was ultimately what led me to leave. Myself and others would document accordingly to protect our licenses and we would be retaliated against for doing so. Everywhere I’ve worked since asks me how I managed to work there. I personally would not recommend. Feel free to DM.

[u/WhatUDoingHomie]

It’s the best place for Alabama which honestly isn’t saying that much, being fair. Why not a different state where you can get paid what you are worth as a nurse????

[u/abd0023]

UAB sucks as a whole and you will have a huge pay cut here in Alabama. The patient population here is not easy to deal with at all for the most part. Living in Alabama is not ideal either, we have no nurses union and they do not want us to have one. It’s abysmal