registered nurse - medical / surgical

pharmacy technician

registered nurse

travel nurse

registered nurse - operating room

Cook County Health & Hospitals System

This position evolved beyond the original job description and required frequent support of Sterile Processing (SPD) operations despite being hired for a clinic-based technician role. These added responsibilities came with little adjustment to workload expectations and created a demanding environment, particularly during high-volume periods.

Interactions with SPD staff and leadership were often difficult. Communication could feel dismissive, and collaboration between departments was limited. At times, the tone within SPD felt unwelcoming toward clinic technicians assigned to assist, which made the work environment tense and uncomfortable. Concerns raised about workflow, expectations, and communication were not consistently addressed, and support from leadership appeared limited.

There were also challenges working across departments, including strained interactions with nursing staff, charge nurses, and physicians. Requests were often urgent, while resources and staffing were limited, which placed technicians in difficult positions. These dynamics contributed to a high-stress environment where expectations were elevated without corresponding support.

Operational issues such as outdated equipment, delays in replacements, and workflow bottlenecks further increased pressure. Being required to assist SPD while maintaining clinic responsibilities often led to extended hours and a workload that was difficult to manage. These combined factors contributed to low morale and a workplace culture that could feel hostile at times.

Overall, clearer role boundaries, improved leadership support, respectful interdepartmental communication, and adequate resources would significantly improve the experience for technicians placed in this position.

Let’s first start off by admitting the benefits and pay are great. Pay for job classification are usually at least $3-4 more than if working anywhere else. However, there is no real training, if any at all.  You’re basically left to figure it out on your own. Therefore, making it harder for advancement or if attempting to switch to another company because odds are you will not have learned the ins and outs of your position while there to succeed elsewhere. I will say depending on the dept you are in and who works in that dept the people there may be willing to train you. There’s this culture at CCHHS though that “it’s not in my job description to train you,” and they will not if they feel as though you’re trying to take their spot or if they are just being miserable. This had been a persistent issue at CCHHS. Moving into upper management. They are not in touch with their employees (the little people) they walk around do not introduce themselves, they are mainly held up in their offices in virtual meetings. They have been hiring basically anyone, people are ghetto, loud, not patient focused and shouldn’t work in healthcare. Once you find people there that like their job, are friendly, helpful and all around want to work as a team, it’s very easy sailing. I eas lucky some years to find that in cerrain departments but its a toss up. all jn alm CCHHS need to do better. Better with selecting great candidates, better with providing real training, better with communicating and better with reprimanding lack luster employees that bring down the moral of the team. 

Working for cook county has been a journey. I have worked for cook county for over 7 years and man I am over it. Management takes no accountability for any problems or help with resolutions. The culture is very toxic because you want to be great at your job and grow but at the cost of your mental health because you could be giving your all and then management sees it and takes advantage and gives you more work that you don't get paid more to do while other people get paid the same to do but have a way easier day. There is no room for growth, you could be exceptional at your job and going above and beyond which is great but once you see someone get a higher position for something that they look good on paper for but lack experience for is very frustrating. They have a very tough hierarchy of staff that have no idea of how the system actually works. Many employees do the bare minimum and do not go out of their way to help. If you are someone who doesn't care to stay stagnate in a position and watch other people barely work and having a management system that doesn't do anything for you this is the job for you. The only thing keeping me here is that sick and vacation time is accumulated and does not reset. 

A typical day at work would be open the clinic, see which doctor is coming in today, make sure their rooms are stocked and everything has been sanitized. At the start of the clinic the whole team huddle and discuss important issues such as: does the doctor have any walk ins, is there any double-booking on the schedule to be aware of, basically is there a change in pattern or anything the doctor needs from us. We do this twice a day. I learned not to take anything personally, the main focus is the patients. Thats our number one priority, Ive learned to multi-task at a faced past. My co-workers are very supportive, always willing to help, always willing to keep the workplace from becoming stressful. I would say that the hardest part of my job is keeping the clinic flowing. We experience a very high volume of patients and just making sure to avoid things that would slow me down. Always being proactive and thinking ahead. The thing that I enjoy most about the job is just being a part of a team that is for the patient, being a part of a team thats work to better the health of the patients. Hearing the patients responses to how professional, and very patient oriented I am.

During my time here, I gained valuable experience working in a fast-paced healthcare environment while providing quality patient care. A typical day involved rooming patients, taking vital signs, assisting providers, documenting information, and supporting clinic operations. I learned how important teamwork, communication, and adaptability are in delivering excellent patient care. The most enjoyable part of the job was interacting with patients and building relationships with coworkers. The hardest part was balancing a high workload during busy clinic days. Overall, the workplace provided opportunities for growth and learning, and many team members were supportive and dedicated to patient care.

They refused to let me shadow others within my expertise for training. I was given incorrect and lack of information so not able to do my job to full capacity. It took 2 weeks to have access to a computer and 5 weeks to get computer training for their electronic medical record. Many people sit around and talk while a few do all the work. They are bad at budgeting. I contract and had to apply for the position once it was posted. The salary they wanted to pay was 20K less than my last job for equivalent level. The salary is for an entry level (even a little below) person but the job itself requires an advanced practitioner. The nurse coordinator has a huge ego and very condescending. The clinic nurses and medical assistants are wonderful. The residents and attendees want nothing to do with the other staff unless they need to tell you what to do. The patients are wonderful and appreciate the help. I hear employees get a 15% pension and great paid time off benefits.

Overall cook county (managed care) is an OK place to work. The job itself was not difficult. It's the constant changes that were being added with no support or even acknowledging you when you did well. The pay is reasonable,  benefits not so much. To my knowledge they didn't offer a significant annual increase or bonuses. You have to wait 6 months to use any PTO. You also have to start on HMO health plan for 1 year. They do have a union but the nurses union is better than other job titles. Management structure on the MCO side is terrible. No support from upper management/ directors. Managers can run their teams however they want and there is no unity or consistency amongst rules/ policies across the board. Some managers are managers just because they are nurses and have absolutely no leadership skills/ qualities and minimal previous management experience. They also expect you to be on site when managers get to be at home. 

Unfortunately, this role was made extremely difficult due to poor leadership. Management appeared deeply insecure and often created unnecessary chaos among staff rather than fostering collaboration or trust. Communication was inconsistent and frequently dishonest, which made it hard to feel secure or supported in the role.

There was a pattern of attempting to manufacture or exaggerate misconduct in order to write employees up, rather than addressing issues constructively or providing guidance. This created a culture of fear and defensiveness instead of growth and accountability.

Not surprisingly, the department has experienced an extremely high turnover rate in a very short period of time since this director took over. Many capable employees left not because of the work itself, but because the environment became unsustainable under this leadership style.

This position could be a good opportunity under different management, but as it stands, the leadership issues overshadow the role itself.

There was one day of organizational orientation but no department orientation, so I never really learned the ins and outs of the department. I received intermittent training during my first two weeks. There were no policy/procedure manuals to use as references. The supervisor stepped down from overseeing the department, leaving no supervisor or manager. The assistant director told me she was too busy to answer my questions when I went to her for clarity. The staff is AWESOME! Very friendly and willing to help but they had tons of work to finish and weren't able to teach me all I needed to know. 

Benefits are good, no work on federal holidays. Arriving at your scheduled time and leaving at the end of your shift are very closely monitored.

The institution does not value hard working employees, unfortunately. You must work at a very slow rate or you will have other employees, that have been institutionalized, beginning to harass you. Telling you "that you are disrupting their work flow". Management has a code of silence when it comes to union members harassing other employees. The unions works closely with Human Resources, if you are considered to be on the chopping block they will work with the union to terminate you. Employees are often at a disadvantage here. You will make it if you are "one of them". The only way this can possibly change is by closing this place for good. The unfortunate ones that suffer are the residents of cook county that need the health care and the tax payer. Higher up position possess a sense of entitlement and superiority. This places runs on its own rules!

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Registered nurse - medical / surgical 1 salary reported	$51.00 per hour
Pharmacy technician 15 salaries reported	$24.77 per hour
Registered nurse 1 salary reported	$52.50 per hour
Travel nurse 23 salaries reported	$2,482 per week
Registered nurse - operating room 1 salary reported	$57.50 per hour

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