My sister has worked in a hospital for quite a few years now. Other than praise for (very) few of the doctors, some of the nurses, and a few support people, she has nothing good to say about it.

Management is based on your stupidity level. If you're off the top of the SC (Stupidity Chart), you're hired. Management doesn't want anyone who knows what they're doing, but they love the game players.

Submanagement consists of ineffective, frightened, easily bullied people, who aren't capable of deciding which color socks to wear today.

Personnel at night does seem to be very limited, from what I've seen personally and what my sister describes. Most of the crimes that take place within the hospital happen then.

If you're going to be relatively mobile (or could be, with proper incentive), I would ask immediately if there will be a place to put a briefcase, as you'd like to get a bit of work done if you feel up to it <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />. Keep a cheap briefcase at home packed with your kit. Start with flashlights, several flashlights. A pry bar could be useful. Try to know where the various exits are.

I don't know about hospitals elsewhere, but the Providence system here on the west coast gets an F in almost every category. They're not places for sick people.

The local hospital had a fairly bad gas leak recently. The engineers decided that it wasn't bad enough to call a Code Yellow (Big Trouble). Some people were nearly passing out and vomiting from the gas, so they reluctantly told them to leave. They moved a few patients. The big 'cure' was to open some of the outside doors for ventilation. Someone with at least a partial brain finally called the fire department, which stationed trucks at each entrance.

One of the CYA managers sent a memo around the next day or so, saying that the gas leak was OUTSIDE the building and was not a danger to anyone inside (which, of course, was why they opened the outer doors: to let the gas IN). The whole memo was a coverup for incompetency.

And if you want to see the Marx Brothers mixing with the Three Stooges, attend one of their annual Disaster Drills. They really ARE a disaster. And they don't get any better.

And avoid the elevators at all costs: they're always breaking down.

Sue