[catrn10]

Well, I took everyone's advice and quit working in the back water facilities the agency kept trying to send me to. I took a 13 week assignment in Macon , Georgia as an ICU Float nurse. I hope that's not another term for screwed. I have high hopes, and it is close enough for me to drive 4 hours to home on my days off. I hope this is the begining of a good thing...Cat

[Mimi Wheeze]

Good luck, I hope you love it. This may be the start of something wonderful....

[Brownms46]

Welcome to the travel nurse ranks Cat! Sounds like you got a good deal there by being close to home. Good luck and watch out now...traveling can become addictive!

[nightingale]

CAT:

It sounds promising! I hope this works for you and gives you what you need.

Let us know how you make out.

[ShandyLynnRN]

Good luck!

[mattsmom81]

Congrats and let us know how you like it! I have also considered working as a traveler 'close to home'...sounds like the best of both worlds!

[renerian]

Good luck cat and stop by and let us know how it goes.

renerian

[catrn10]

Well, the hospital is a good one and is trying to make magnet status. However, the paperwork is horrendous. As is their flow sheet. The only real complaint I have is that I was very upfront about wanting to work my shifts in sets of three, with my recruiter and the hospital, so I could go home to be with my family. They said it would not be a problem, but they couldn't guarantee my shifts would fall that way all the time. I told them that would not be a problem, I could understand an occasional week where I couldn't go home because my days were spread out. Well, so far, I'm stuck here and can't go home . The occassional part has turned out to be working 3 shifts in a row. I kinda feel like I have been decieved. So, I now live on the net.

[Brownms46]

Catrn10 have you talked with the HN or NM about this?? How far in advance is the schedule made out?? Are any of the staff there or other traveler willing to trade shifts with you to get your shifts together?? What has your agency had to say about this??

[catrn10]

The song and dance routine goes something to this effect:The Agency:"Now you know, we TOLD you we couldn't guarantee that your hours would be scheduled in blocks". The Assistant Manager who makes the schedule:"The agency never told ME that, all the other traverlers want THEIRS spread out". My reply:"Well, I told you in the interview and was VERY Specific. You personally assured me it wouldn't be a problem, to schedule MOST, but not ALL, of my days that way. That was my understanding when I took this position. And unlike the OTHER traveler, I am NIGHTSHIFT, not dayshift. I don't work on one, off one, etc. at home, and I won't do it here either. I was extremely specific about THAT point in the interview..I also told YOU that in the interview." Reply: "Well, I'm working on the schedule next month, and it shouldn't be a problem." So, the tentative schedule comes out and I am written in all over the place, one week with a block of three, the rest everywhere, but thankfully, no on one, off one,on ones. Plenty of on one, off twos though. Just enough to keep me stuck here. It's not set in stone, yet. I did hear one of the regular employees complaining to another that she had requested not to work both Wednesday and Sunday in the same week so she could go to church at least once a week. He has written her down to work every sunday and wednesday of the schedule now. The other employee said,"Well, you know______, he just throws away requests and makes the schedule any way he pleases.You would have been better off requesting to work every wednesday and sunday, then you wouldn't be scheduled for ANY." Didn't lift my spirits much. I decided to remember the girl's name in case there were a few nights we might switch off. I can go without going home for exactly 2 weeks before depression and resentment set in. I learned that much in California. And I was on days there. I got this position close to home because I knew I really couldn't stand being away from my family for thirteen weeks. I am NOT an adventurous person. I am a Mother with 3 kids at home, one 9, who misses his Mommy. And I have a grandchild with a young mother, who needs her own Mother from time to time. Everything I love is at home. My family, my garden, my horses. I only did this because I needed not to work at the only hospital I want to work at for 90 days so I could hire on there at a much reduced income. But I am to a point in my life where the money isn't worth it. Knowing I will work 3 days a week is. $32/hr is great if you get the 3 days a week in, but you end up sleeping all week to do it because of cancellations. Some weeks you can sleep 7 and work 1. What kind of life is that?I figure $25/hr for 3 guaranteed days a week with a set schedule beats that to pieces. So, here I am in Macon on travel assignment. I don't drink, I don't party, I don't know anyone, I have no tv. Thank God for the lap top. I highly recommend one for anyone who is a wimp like me. You can get a video cam and a microphone and do live netmeeting with your family, provided they have the same. So, you can see AND yell at your kids, just like home. And when they aren't around, you can amuse yourself by coming here or looking up places you know you won't go see in the city you are in...Love y'all....Cat