Hi. I'm an RN that will be relocating to 29 Palms with my husband. I'm researching the area hospitals. I am wanting reviews on both these hospitals. Either from people who have been patients there or who have worked there in any capacity, although a nurse's perspective would be MUCH appreciated if you've worked as a nurse in one of these places. 

Hi Desert Center is a band-aid station, and Desert Regional is great. 

DRMC will keep you alive, HDMC maybe not!!!! 

I would say look at DRMC, I've been told (unsure how true it is) that people will not even put HDMC on their resume because of being associated with the medical center. 

What department are you looking to work in?

Hi Desert needs good nurses in their med-surg department. They were awful!
Their L&D is wonderful. I worked in Family Birth for years and I was so impressed with their care. Everyone went above and beyond.
I'm impressed with their ER. We've never waited more than 15 minutes to be seen. They are great with kids and have saved me both times med-surg didn't do their job. It's not a trauma center. More of a glorified urgent care. You may be bored if ER is your thing.
It's a small hospital. You'll probably have more one on one time with your patients.

Desert Regional is a larger hospital.
If you like the ER this is a busy trauma center.
Med-surg had some great nurses. Great care during a crappy time.
L&D is like a baby factory. Your in and out. I wasn't happy with their NICU. But I came from a smaller Catholic hospital that was a level 2 NICU. (Oh HDMC doesn't even have a NICU). Nurses and Dr's lacked communication. I know it's because they were very busy. But as a parent with a sick baby it was frustrating.
I've heard great things about their cancer center.

If your looking to build your resume DRMC is the way to go. You'll be busy. Consider the fact it's about an hour away. Chances are you be put on the night shift to start.
If your wanting more of that family feel you'll probably like HDMC. You'll have more time with your patients and probably a smaller patient load.
You also might consider the naval hospital and home health. 

Hey Jen,

Is this their normal practice to start new employees on night shift at DRMC? I don't do nights and I'm not a new grad, so that's kind of a bizarre practice. I probably would not consider working there at all if they offered me night shift only. I've actually never heard of a hospital doing that unless it was a new grad or something.

Right now I drive an hour to work, and work in a small hospital that's still on paper charting so I don't really mind. My specialty is Oncology, but I also do float pool and can do tele, ortho, post-partum or med-surg.

Wondering if it might just be better to stay where I'm at now, rent a room and commute to 29 for my days off.

Thanks for the info! 

A couple of things to consider with HDMC is that they are several million in the hole. Because of this they are making cuts wherever they can. You don't have a lot of one on one time in the ER as it's very busy, mostly with minor issues. Serious injuries are sent down the hill.

There is an oncology clinic in Yucca Valley.

When taking into account that hour to get to Desert Regional (or add 15 minutes for Eisenhower), this hour consists of two mountain grades. If it snows, there is an accident or fire one or both grades may be shut down. 

A couple of things to consider with HDMC is that they are several million in the hole. Because of this they are making cuts wherever they can. You don't have a lot of one on one time in the ER as it's very busy, mostly with minor issues. Serious injuries are sent down the hill.

There is an oncology clinic in Yucca Valley.

When taking into account that hour to get to Desert Regional (or add 15 minutes for Eisenhower), this hour consists of two mountain grades. If it snows, there is an accident or fire one or both grades may be shut down. 

Oh yuck! Snow and rain! I hadn't even considered that. I'm not used to that in Cali. Where I'm from and where we are stationed now (Camp Pendleton), I haven't had to even deal with that. Thanks for the tip. It's something else to consider. 

I've only seen the Morongo grade shut down once, but I don't go down that way every day. How often does this happen?