Losing your license in Nevada?

LynRN04 · Jun 6, 2005

I am currently a med-surg nurse in New Mexico. Our ratios are 6 or 7 to 1, depending on census, and sometimes 8:1 (but that's rare, and usually only for a short time). It was really difficult at first, but I spent my first year on time management...that's it! It's still tough, but you just have to learn to hit the ground running.

Also, I'm planning a move to LV in two years when my youngest graduates from high school. I have family there, and worked as an ER tech and as a paramedic off and on in the city for about 10 years. I spent some time at Valley, but mostly I was at UMC ER and the Trauma Center under Dr. Dale Carrison. (OMG, what an awesome person!) UMC is not the horror story it's made out to be. Just depends on what you are after in your career, I guess. I was younger then, and of the 'paramedic mentality', so I wanted chaos and adrenaline in my life. I loved every crazy minute of it!

Anyway, my advice to you is something I plan to do myself: do local travel nursing. Get on the web and find a travel nursing agency that is based in Vegas (I know there are several). They will give you 13 week assignments in various hospitals in the Vegas area, pay is excellent, housing is provided, in most cases all medical/dental/malpractice insurance is paid for 100%. That way, you can see where you might want to work permanently. If you hate it, it's only 13 weeks. Only one catch: you need a year of med-surg experience to travel (usually). Look into it. Maybe you can knock out a year where you are now, and then move. Good luck with whatever you decide!!! Lyn :coollook:

jayrelic · Jun 10, 2005

Congratulations on holding out for the place you wanted to work. Now, in a year's time, make sure you put in a good word for me!

Take care and keep us posted after you've started.

Guest43184 · Jun 11, 2005

Well, the job seeking process has been slow; so far I have received only 1 official offer at the Valley Health System, $22.27/hour, $2300 sign on bonus for a 2 year committment, 15% more in your base pay (which would equal 25.60) if you dont take the paid time off. Day shift 7am-7pm on a Med-Surg Floor. I didn't take the offer because I want to work at Mountainview, which is like 2 minutes away, instead of 20-30 for the Valley Hospitals. I interviewed at UMC also; the person interviewing me was 20 minutes late--then proceeds to say, that she doesn't even know if there are any new grad positions left...I felt like it was a complete waste of my time. For hospitals with 100's of positions open, they sure aren't doing much to attract new grads...don't they realize if expereinced nurses aren't flocking into NV to fill these positions, that new grads is their only alternative? The Valley hospital said their ratio was 1:7 and sometimes 1:8. UMC said 1:6. Mountainview is 1:6. So....I will update you all soon...There are still alot of houses here for $250,000, however, $350,000 buys a house that doesnt needs renovation.

I had a VERY similar experience at UMC! I read your post and I can't believe we weren't in the same interview. Good luck to you :)

kriddyboo · Jun 30, 2005

I have lived in Vegas for 11 years and it is sad to see the way things have become here. Houses are getting so expensive I don't see how anyone can afford a $300K mortgage. Gas is ridiculous and the cost of everything is going insane. With all that, the wages are staying the same and it is hard for my husband and I to survive even though we make almost $70K a year together.

I was just accepted into the RN program at CCSN and I start in the fall so I don't have any personal experience of the local hospitals. I do, however, have friends that work at several hospitals and from what I have heard, stay away from UMC and Valley. They have very high nurse : patient ratios and I am told they do not treat thier staff very well. I have heard good things about St. Rose and Southern Hills so you might want to try there.

As for me personally, as soon as I get my ADN, I'm out of this pop stand. I have 2 young children and I am not about to raise them here. With rising crime rates and school overcrowding I am not going to subject them to that kind of upbringing. For pete's sake I do not even let them play outside because I hate the neighborhood we are in and I pay $1200 a month for rent.

Good luck to you all wherever you choose to go, and I hope you all have happiness there.

LilRedRN1973 · Jul 1, 2005

Although I live north of you (Reno), I can completely understand about the ridiculous cost of living. We've sat back and watched the housing market skyrocket (Reno is one of top 3 fastest increasing housing markets in the country). The homes have increased 84% in the past 18 months!!! :uhoh3:

And the cost of gas??? Puh-leeze....what on earth makes this place so darn special that they can charge the same amount that San Diego does??? We are paying around $2.45 for the cheap stuff right now. Ridiculous. I hate paying $1100 a month for a house that is on a VERY busy street, two blocks away from gang shootings, etc. And I have two young kids (5 and 8). I don't feel comfortable letting them go out to play.

It's sad....with our combined income of just over $100,000 a year, we still cannot afford a stupid home here. Thank God my grandfather has talked to us about selling his home to us. It's a 3200sq ft, 5 bdr, 3 1/2 bath, 3 car garage he bought in 1999 for $228,000. It's now worth over $600,000 but he's willing to sign it over to us for $320,000. Otherwise, we would be screwed. And we can't move because my husband has custody of his kids....moving from here could cause him to lose custody. So we are STUCK. We've even discussed moving to Elko once he gets his Bachelor's and goes into Parole and Probation. Either that, or he transfers to the prison in Ely and I go work in a podunk town and not keep up my skills.

I wish all the Californians would go back where they came from (no disrespect to any Californians....my hubbie is from San Diego). It's just that the price of our houses keeps going up and up with no end in sight. The average cost of a home here (not new) is $353,000!!! For a home in a good area that is around 2000sq ft, you will pay around $400,000. Having a $2500/month mortgage is NOT my idea of a good time!!!!

And some can argue that the pay makes up for it....umm..no it doesn't. Because I can go make the same amount in Houston (where I grew up) and pay $150,000 for a beautiful home in a good neighborhood. Yeah, the weather sucks and traffic is horrible...but at least we would have a nice home.

Melanie

kriddyboo · Jul 1, 2005

I know it is so crazy here! I had no idea it was getting just as bad in Northern Nevada too! I will just be so happy when we can move!

I'm glad you will be getting a nice home, but $325K, whew I don't know if I could stomach that! I wish you all the best!!!! :)

I just hope people realize what they are getting into when they move here. It's really not all that it's cracked up to be. I don't mean to sound bitter, but it just isn't the place it was when I moved here 11 years ago.

Kristen

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jul 2, 2005

Been off for awhile, so I did not see your post. I am very happy you got the job you wanted. Good luck.

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jul 2, 2005

My daughter went to LV for that horse show back in the spring. She loved it, said it was a wonderful vacation but no place to live, especially if there are kids. She has lived in several different places, and she saw some of the things several of you described. She is very aware of gang activity, with 2 teenage sons she has to be, and she said it was apparent there. She said the daylight hours just pointed out some of the older, more rundown areas. I would hate to pay over 200,000.00 for a home and it need lots of work or be in the wrong neighborhood.

505girl · Jul 8, 2005

I passed the board in 75 questions; so I am "official" now.

Yah, its really disappointing to sell my 3 bedroom home in AZ for $250K, and maybe find one here for that price, half as nice. I am hoping that Las Vegas will get its stuff together and get rid of this crimeland--you can't pass a wall anywhere without there being spraypainted stuff all over it on about 75% of the freeways/walls in Vegas. I am optimistic that I will make the best out of the city, I like bowling (lots of 24 hour places here!), I like BINGO, 4x4 and camping, fishing--and try not to concentrate on the bad parts. I am here for atleast 6 more years with my husband at Nellis AFB, so I gotta stay optimistic, right? I think there are a lot of oppurtunities here for both the new grad and the experienced nurse--so many places offer nice bonuses for expereinced nurses.

If you don't mind living in a condo; there are still plenty of affordable 2-3 bedroom condos, in decent neighborhoods for around $130,000. (cheaper/cheap as rent=mortgage payment)

Ya'll keep in touch; keep your head up!

pie123 · Jul 9, 2005

Dee - thanks for the link and information. I'm 33 and a career-changer as well - I'm actually leaving technology and will be taking a significant pay cut to start at $25/hr if that's the case in LV. I guess it's true what they say - money can't buy happiness, because if it did, I wouldn't be changing careers. But then again, the right amount of money in the right situation may just be what the doctor ordered. haha
Anyway, thanks again.

Nothing.

pie123 · Jul 9, 2005

Although I live north of you (Reno), I can completely understand about the ridiculous cost of living. We've sat back and watched the housing market skyrocket (Reno is one of top 3 fastest increasing housing markets in the country). The homes have increased 84% in the past 18 months!!!
And the cost of gas??? Puh-leeze....what on earth makes this place so darn special that they can charge the same amount that San Diego does??? We are paying around $2.45 for the cheap stuff right now. Ridiculous. I hate paying $1100 a month for a house that is on a VERY busy street, two blocks away from gang shootings, etc. And I have two young kids (5 and 8). I don't feel comfortable letting them go out to play.
It's sad....with our combined income of just over $100,000 a year, we still cannot afford a stupid home here. Thank God my grandfather has talked to us about selling his home to us. It's a 3200sq ft, 5 bdr, 3 1/2 bath, 3 car garage he bought in 1999 for $228,000. It's now worth over $600,000 but he's willing to sign it over to us for $320,000. Otherwise, we would be screwed. And we can't move because my husband has custody of his kids....moving from here could cause him to lose custody. So we are STUCK. We've even discussed moving to Elko once he gets his Bachelor's and goes into Parole and Probation. Either that, or he transfers to the prison in Ely and I go work in a podunk town and not keep up my skills.
I wish all the Californians would go back where they came from (no disrespect to any Californians....my hubbie is from San Diego). It's just that the price of our houses keeps going up and up with no end in sight. The average cost of a home here (not new) is $353,000!!! For a home in a good area that is around 2000sq ft, you will pay around $400,000. Having a $2500/month mortgage is NOT my idea of a good time!!!!
And some can argue that the pay makes up for it....umm..no it doesn't. Because I can go make the same amount in Houston (where I grew up) and pay $150,000 for a beautiful home in a good neighborhood. Yeah, the weather sucks and traffic is horrible...but at least we would have a nice home.
Melanie

Nothing.

pie123 · Jul 9, 2005

I passed the board in 75 questions; so I am "official" now.
Yah, its really disappointing to sell my 3 bedroom home in AZ for $250K, and maybe find one here for that price, half as nice. I am hoping that Las Vegas will get its stuff together and get rid of this crimeland--you can't pass a wall anywhere without there being spraypainted stuff all over it on about 75% of the freeways/walls in Vegas. I am optimistic that I will make the best out of the city, I like bowling (lots of 24 hour places here!), I like BINGO, 4x4 and camping, fishing--and try not to concentrate on the bad parts. I am here for atleast 6 more years with my husband at Nellis AFB, so I gotta stay optimistic, right? I think there are a lot of oppurtunities here for both the new grad and the experienced nurse--so many places offer nice bonuses for expereinced nurses.
If you don't mind living in a condo; there are still plenty of affordable 2-3 bedroom condos, in decent neighborhoods for around $130,000. (cheaper/cheap as rent=mortgage payment)
Ya'll keep in touch; keep your head up!

Nothing.