CameToSlay

I’m a male and passed with 265 glad there are others out there... come on there’s 2 right answers to every question

Thank you for the great response! Things are going a lot better now.

Wherever you'd rather be for 13 weeks.

Yes, I'm on 12s and staff is on 8s.

Cali has mandanted max staffing ratios of 4 to 1 I believe. That would be fine. I am talking about 8 here.

I am currently on an assignment where I am sometimes asked to switch units mid-shift (4 hours on one unit, 8 hours on another). Sometimes, I am asked to do this not out of an emergent need, but rather because an 8-hour shift staff nurse or per-diem nurse picking up a shift prefers not to work on a certain unit (and this facility has been short-staffed frequently as of late). The split is done between a step-down unit, and a telemetry unit where the patient ratio can go up to 8 patients at night-- and that is the floor where nurses do not want to pick up shifts, so I have been asked to float there to pick up 7 patients and then receive an admission, after taking care of step-down patients for the first 4 hours. I do not feel comfortable doing this again, as it is simply too much, and there is too high of a risk that something will be missed. I cannot properly assess and care for 8 telemetry patients (one of whom is always an admit) when I am always getting there late due to completing duties in step-down (and I refuse to cut corners, as this facility does audits). This floating mid-shift is never done by staff (I am on 12 hour shifts and they are on 8 hour shifts), and as there are no other travelers on my night shift, no one else is doing it. My contract does have a float policy, but it does not specify mid-shift floating. I am planning to refuse the next time I am asked to float mid-shift to care for 8 patients because a staff nurse or per diem nurse coming in for their shift does not want to work that unit, and I am even prepared to be sent home for refusing (and also I don't think they would do that due to short staffing), as I feel strongly that it is that unsafe with those ratios. Have any experienced travelers encountered a similar situation? Any advice would be appreciated!(and please not just 'suck it up', as that is what I have been doing, and it is just unsafe to continue.)

OR nurses work 5 shifts per week, med-surg typically works 3. It makes sense OR nurse bill rates would be higher because they work more hours... but they also have to work almost every day. Med-surg nurses who want to earn extra money can work 4-12s on a 48hr/week contract if desired. I have seen multiple recently.

If you want to do it, go for it! I started with only a telemetry and med/surg background and have had no trouble finding assignments. Multiple recruiters always sending me emails. "Specialty" nurses don't really earn more than med-surg or telemetry nurses, only a couple of dollars an hour, and often rates are the same. I was trained in step-down at one facility and have learned new skills while traveling, and made good money. Aureus assignments and rates are fine, their health insurance policies are AWFUL. Good luck!

I picked up a Step-down assignment from a med-surg/tele background without having had a staff position in it prior. Learned some cool new things. ED to ICU seems like more of a stretch... but good luck!

I can confirm Aureus has a brutal health insurance eligibility policy. They will take it away and not even let you know.

Cost of living varies greatly across the U.S. You may take a lower-paying contract in a state with a low cost of living, and wind up banking significantly more than you would with a higher-paying contract in an expensive area. But, you should do really travel because you enjoy the lifestyle. Exploring new areas is fun. I've met several travelers from the northeast who travel to warm climates to avoid winter. Good luck!

Wow that sounds like a bunch of B.S. on that manager's part, the reason unions exist. At least you didn't need them in the end. Good luck!

Maybe you could go per diem for the last half year. Time as Per diem still counts towards your years of experience! You may be required to float to some other med-surg floors, which is great practice for traveling. If you can be super busy in one place, you can be super busy anywhere, and get paid extra for doing it :-) Good luck!

1600 sounds low to me, my last contract in southern New Hampshire was just under 1800/week for med-surg/tele, and not a crisis rate or anything, that was standard for other travelers I spoke with... I'd think Mass would be similar. Good luck! I'm looking to go to Mass next as well.

They must be quite understaffed which is why they needed travelers, but honestly if those are the working conditions in Florida they really need to give travel nurses a raise there, last I heard the pay rates in Florida for travelers were quite low. It just doesn't make sense when there are other nice states paying higher rates, with much better working conditions.