Providence St. Joseph (Eureka, CA)
📍 Location: Eureka, CA
🩻 Modality: X-Ray
👩⚕️ Role: Staff Tech
📆 Year Worked: 2025
⭐ Overall Rating: 4/ 5
🚐 Travel Friendly: Yes
🔁 Would Work Here Again: Yes
Summary -
Staff positions are unionized, so be prepared to deal with that can of worms. As a direct result, however, starting wages are on the higher end for techs, even with zero experience outside of school. There are many travel techs contracted here, so hopefully that means the on-boarding process has been ironed out. Be prepared to work in the radiology department somewhat understaffed at any given time. Patient volume is not excessive, but it can get heavy, so sometimes it feels like a mad rush.
St. Joseph is a Catholic hospital, though you do not need to be religious to work here. Providence recently bought out the hospital and merged the institutions, so there are still weird transitional things being worked out or integrated. Surgical services are offered here. SJH is a level 3 trauma center servicing the greater Humboldt Northern California region. The next largest hospitals would be 3-6 hours drive away in Redding, CA or San Fransisco, CA, so this is why patient volume CAN get heavy. Very new tech friendly and staff are willing to teach fresh grads surgical workflow, fluoro exams, ED, inpatient, outpatient, etc.
Communication between departments can be lacking and frustrating at times. Management also seems more concerned with patient numbers and department metrics rather than direct feedback from employees on areas of improvement. All that being said, SJH is not a bad place to work or even start out as a new grad, but feels more like a stepping stone location or temporary gig unless you absolutely fall in love with the local area.
Disclaimer: This review reflects an individual’s personal experience and opinion and should not be interpreted as guarantees of working conditions. Experiences may vary by department, modality, leadership, and time period.