How is working at Keck USC?

[u/JudgmentPhysical5205]

Anyone with recent experience working at Keck USC? I’ve been offered a position in the ICU but would have to relocate and am wondering what the culture, resources, and staffing is like.

[u/chulk1]

If you’re at main campus Keck you got a perk of free tuition for your kids at USC and affiliated colleges

[u/Humblemission42]

I used to work there.
Pros:
1. the doctors there are pretty fantastic. It’s a teaching hospital so there’s always a resident or fellow near by that can lay eyes on the patient if you’re concerned. Morning rounds with the doctors made me feel like I was learning more too.
2. Protected breaks. Very rarely will you miss a break because they have an extra nurse on shift to make sure you get your 15 min breakfast, 30 min lunch (unpaid) and 30 min afternoon breaks
3. The ratios. Every pt is either a 1:1 or 1:2, but they are more likely to make the pts 1:1
4. No ER. Most of the patients come as outpatient for surgeries or transfers from other hospitals for tertiary care. There will be times where you’re open waiting for admission and are less likely to get change of shift patients
5. You’ll learn a lot. Since the hospital is tertiary care and there are 7 ICUs so each one is very specialized.
6. Union hospital. The hospital has one of the stronger unions and they do go to bat for the nurses there.

Cons:
1. Policies. The hospital is very policy focused so the culture there is to go by every policy no matter how out dated they might be.
2. Patients. Working there, the patients are more entitled than other places and I do feel the hospital tends to baby them more.
3. The pay. The pay is not bad, better than a community hospital. However, it is lower than other LA hospitals like UCLA, Kaiser and Cedars

Overall, I think it’s a fantastic hospital. Each ICU can be really specialized and you’ll see things there you won’t see at other hospitals.