Need help about Kaiser...Please!

[nursejohio, ASN, RN]

I've already searched the travel and Cali threads and Kaisers website. Couldn't find anything about my situation, so I thought I'd post here and see if I can get any input from you nice folks.

I'm still a new grad, only off orientation since August. I started talking to travel nurse agencies a month ago, planning to start traveling in June/July 2006. I've got a recruiter that is all over me going to Kaiser in West LA. They're saying the pay is great (and compared to what I'm making in Ohio, it is) and they'll help me find housing. They also say that Kaiser has called them repeatedly to get my info. I'm just hoping to get some info about the hospital and opinions on what I'm getting into.

I'm on a critical care floor now. We get vents, cardizem, heparin and insulin gtts all the time. We get cystic fibrosis patients and we're also one of the designated peds trauma units in the hospital. We get patients straight from care flight sometimes. My unit floats nurses to the pulmonary, neuro and ICU. I guess what I'm saying is that I deal with really sick people on a daily basis. We're an 800+ bed hospital. The recruiters say that because of the hospital (being so big and a level 1 trauma center) and that I work on a step down critical care floor, I would do well in the tele spot they're going to put me.

My problem is that I've only been off orientation since August. I only passed boards in April. Our normal staffing is 1:4 on my floor and everywhere we float except ICU, there it's 1:2 or 1:1 if you have a really really sick one. Most days I think I know what I'm doing, but there are still fairly frequent moments that I don't have the slightest clue what I was thinking that I could actually be a nurse. I've been told that's perfectly normal in the first year, especially the first 6 months out.

Every other agency I'm talking to has said they'll get my info and stuff now and start talking about assignments when I'm closer to having my year in.

I'm just worried about how bad they seem to want me this early in my career... Am I gonna be getting into some nasty political thing or a critically understaffed hospital?

Any info you can give about the hospital, traveling in general or Ready Link (the agency) would be greatly appreciated. Heck, even if from what I've told you I'd be able to stay afloat (even if it's just by dog paddling) as a traveler would be great to know from an outside source. I told them I'd give them my final answer tmw. :uhoh21:

[renerian, BSN, RN]

I am surprised no one responded to your post. I personally don't think your ready. You need more time to learn...

What do you think since a few days have passed since your post.

renerian

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

when a hospital gets a traveler, they want it to be someone who can hit the ground running. you get 1-3 days of orientation, and that's about hospital policies, how their charting works, etc. they assume you already know how to assess and care for the patients. you're still learning. i'd wait until you have at least 2 years of experience under your belt -- you'll be much happier with your travel experience!

[Selke]

You probably need to work at least another year in critical care before travelling -- the other posters are right, you need to know your specialty before travelling. You can't expect on the job training. CA does have minimum staffing ratios, so you needn't worry about unsafe staffing.

That said, are you just wanting to go to California? Why not call Kaiser's HR dept. yourself and get hired as a staff nurse by them, and work there for a year or so? You'll make comparable pay as a traveller, I think Kaiser helps payback your loans, and you get to live in wonderful California.

Good luck.