Re: TV Regional Hospital
 

Kahuna,

Welcome back...another well-thought-out post.

When I tell people about the Villages, I am proud to say that the community/developer is great about building amenities and facilities (and shopping) in advance of demand. Very unlike other communities.

But, I tell them, that the medical care seems to be lagging behind the demand. Medical providers and facilities continue to grow and expand here but not seemingly as fast as the population. That is probably one of the very, very few negatives I can come up with about life in TV.

Long waits for less traumatic problems do seem to be a sporadic issue at TVRH. I read that their new leadership is evaluating the need for a 24 hr urgent care center to handle these lesser emergencies. There are urgent care providers (the one in Lake Sumter Landing gets good ratings)....perhaps their existence is not that well advertised?

Re: TV Regional Hospital
 

Kahuna, as usual, nailed it.

I meet with a recruiter last week at TVRH for an RN position. How many other hospitals would have spent the time to talk with this guy:

hasn't even finished his college work
won't be taking the RN boards until next year (never mind passing it)
still owns a home in MA that would need to sell
has no home in TV (yet)

Yet they gave me an hour of their time to talk about the hospital and why i should work there. She gave me a tour of the entire building (beautiful new rooms on the new floors) and has already answered some follow up e-mail questions.

I can only imagine how they must wine and dine new physician's!

Give them time and your patience and together with the sister hospital in Leesburg we'll develop quality care for all of the 100,000 eventual residents of the Villages and surrounding areas.

Re: TV Regional Hospital
 

I agree that we can "chill" if we are waiting for a restaurant, gas station, or barber shop to mature and work out the growning pains. Emergency care is another thing. I guess I could "chill" if I had a skin emergency. But when my wife is crying in pain with a broken arm, even the advice from the "higher authority" rings hollow.

Re: TV Regional Hospital
 

TH - Just wondering:

At any time during the wait did you call (or have TRVH call) Leesburg to see if their ER could take you? It's only about a 15-20 min. ride from TRVH.

And who exactly is the 'higher authority' you are referring to? Certainly you aren't disrespecting a fellow TOTVer are you?

Re: TV Regional Hospital
 

Russ,

Have I ever told you how much I admire you for the Career ahead of you you have chosen? I know I have thought it a gazillion times but I thought it was time to tell you.
can I ask you what motivated you?

Re: TV Regional Hospital
 

The dilemma is always, are you the next one that they are going to call? Or, if you go to another ER will you be starting the clock all over again, with another 6 hour wait?

What's this about "disrespecting a TOTV member? There are lot's of "higher authorities" around us. Recognizing a "higher authority" is showing respect, not disrespect. :dontknow: There are lot's of "higher authorities" around us. If an individual wants to believe that such a reference is about him, that's his prerogative.

After some thought, I am going to change that to "greater authority."

Re: TV Regional Hospital
 

Thanks Nonie,

In fear of hijacking the thread, I'll keep my answer simple:

I can't sit still!! If i keep doing the same mind numbing job that I've been doing for 30 years I'll go crazy. Why nursing? I like helping people and CARE is at the center of any nurses skill set. Also nursing allows me to flexible in my location should (when) I decide to move out of MA.

What village is the closest to the Regional Hospital. I am an RN who wants to continue working. I am one minute from my hospital now. My husband will not be working. He deserves his retirement. Staffing is an issue everywhere. There are Nurses now that graduate and cannot find a job. The hospitals dont staff well by choice.

Northeast area is closest to the The Villages Regional (half a dozen or so older villages)(no new homes)(around a ten minute drive - and golf cart accessible)

Far South area is closest to Leesburg Regional (half a dozen or so newer villages)(only area with new homes)(about a 20 minute drive - not golf cart accessible)

.

Hacienda East is about 5 min from the Village Hospital. It is one of the first villages, but we love living so close to our doctors, vet, groomer, shopping, square, restaurants and, well, you get the picture. All by golf cart.

Staffing at TVRH is really bad. I recently spent 8 days there with pneumonia. The nurses mostly work 12 hour shifts. I had the same night nurse for 7 of the 8 nights that I was there. Yes, she was working 12 hour shifts. The difference in her approach by the 6th night was unbelievable. She went from being caring and concerned to an absolute grump! This woman had worked 84 hours of the 168 hours in one week! She said that the money was great for working those hours, but I question the hospital administration in allowing that many hours to be scheduled for one person in a week. How could she possibly be at the top of her game by the end of the week? I am married to a retired RN who said that the hospital would rather pay her the overtime than hire more staff as it was more economical for them to be paying benefits to just one person.
Before anyone asks, I don't think that my particular care was compromised as I was alert and aware of what my needs were and made sure that I utilized the nurse's services as little as possible except for changing my IV"S. But I wonder what it was like for someone who could not express their needs as I could and needed more assistance than I did.

Seems to be the norm a lot of hospitals. I did 15 days in RI Hospital in providence and it was the same for hours for the nurses. I had great care but those are long hours and there were days they still was there after 12 hours doing paper work.

I have worked 31 days straight before. All on a MedSurg unit.

Whartonjelly! I thought you were here already!! Any village with a Spanish sounding name puts you close to the hospital.

You sound like a dedicated nurse. Good for you.

Yesterday, I continued with some tests at Lake Imaging. Still another tech who was experienced and kind guided the machines taking pictures.

We took our grandson to the hospital for an asthma attack last year and he was treated expertly and kindly.

So far we G's are liking what we see.

Nursing
 

I have worked in many areas of Nursing. Although I have spent my last years in Labor and Delivery and Newborn Nursery, I will be willing to work where I am needed. We are getting the house ready for the market and have high hopes of moving by next year. Then I must get a Florida Nursing License. So many things to thinks about. Thanks to all for the Info!!