shyviolet78

You're right on that. The reason the rent is so low is because it's in country. I don't mind a commute, though. I live in the city now, and it still takes me 45 minutes to drive to work. If I lived inside Lafayette, or even as close as Duson or Scott, my rent would probably be 2-3 times as high, if not more. I'm sure NO has a higher cost of living than even Lafayette. Is the pay much higher in NO?

Where I work it is a similar job as a PCT/CNA, but you can also do everything you've been checked off on in school, except give medications, chart, or perform the assessment (the nurses let me assess their patients if I have time, but it's just for my practice and they do their own assessment as well). As a nurse tech, I can perform skills such as urinary catheterization, NG tube placement, sterile dressing changes, IV starts, blood draws, and D/C'ing IV's, art lines, NGT's, & catheters, whereas prior to finishing my 1st semester (every facility is different as far as requirements) I could not. However, most of these additional "nursing" skills I'm allowed to perform must be under the direct supervision of an RN. I also serve as the PCT and Unit Secretary of my unit, so I help with bathing, turning, fetching items such as blood and lab supplies, restocking the unit, inputting Dr.'s orders into the computer and maintaining the charts with fresh paperwork for the nurses and doctors.

Yes, the cost-of-living is extremely low, if you don't live in "the city", such as Lafayette. Our house will be about a 20-30 minute drive to Lafayette, and the rent is unbelievably cheap. I live in the suburbs of Dallas, TX and pay over $700 for rent on a 2bdrm, 1bath apartment. Our rent on the house in Louisiana will be $225, 3bdrm, 1bath on an acre and a half of land!! New grads in this area are starting at around $18.50/hr, which is only $2.50 more than the Louisiana pay. So we figure we'll come out with more money after bills, rent, etc. living in LA than if we stay here in our neighborhood, where a small, 30 year old house costs $200,000!

I'm not a nurse yet, nor am I a Louisianan (??) yet, but I can hopefully answer your question. I will graduate in May 2005, and I am moving to Church Point, LA the week after graduation. I have spoken to nurse recruiters at Lafayette General in Lafayette and Southwest Medical Center in Lafayette and this is the information I was given: Lafayette General Pay: $16.09/hr, $4 evenings, $5 nights; weekend program available after 1 year experience where you work 12 hours each Sat. and Sun. and are paid for 36 hours/week Internship for 12 weeks, all areas of hospital are available, all service lines except transplant NCLEX/Skills classes each Friday for 6 weeks; Paid NCLEX review off-site Loan repayment of up to $12,000. (Send documentation of loan amount and monthly payment info and monthly payment amount will be added to your paycheck). Clinical Ladder program offers bonuses of $1500, $3000, or $4500 annually depending on place on clinical ladder. No contract to sign Apply at the beginning of your final semester Southwest Medical Center Pay: $16/hr, $4 nights, $1.25 weekends Preceptorship lasting at least 6 weeks, available in all areas except rehab No loan repayment available Apply a couple of months before graduation (around spring break is fine) Hope this helps, and good luck in your schooling! My sister-in-law is working on her teaching degree at LSUE right now, I hear it's a good school.

Initially it was for job security, steady income, and flexible scheduling. We are planning on moving to a rural area and having children as soon as I graduate, so I wanted to know I had a job that was in demand wherever I went, allowed to keep my kids out of daycare, and still be able to pay the bills. Then, when I started school, I got a job as a tech in an ICU to see how "bad" nursing would be. I loved being in the hospital and working with the patients, and most everything about it. So, now, I can't imagine doing anything else but nursing.

The pay, the cultural attractions, and the entertainment of this area are very tempting. However, we're moving to be closer to my DH's family. We are trying to get pregnant, and we want our child to grow up close to his grandparents, aunt, uncles, and cousins. Plus, my MIL will watch the baby on days when both DH and I are scheduled to work, because I would not be comfortable leaving my child with someone who is not family. LA public schools are really bad, but we are choosing Catholic school regardless of where we live. And the Catholic schools there are excellent, and half the cost of the school in my parish here. We may actually homeschool. I plan on only working prn or part time after 3-5 years experience so I can stay home with the kids more. I don't mind being in hurricane country, I grew up in tornado country, spent half my childhood in the cellar it seems like :) . On a side note, wonder how long those Rangers will be in 1st place? :chuckle Then again, the Mavs used to be an embarrassment, and look at them now! I don't really follow sports much anyway, except for NASCAR, which I am now very hooked on thanks to my DH! By the way, for anyone else interested in the pay in the Lafayette area, I spoke to Lafayette General Hospital in Lafayette. They offer $16.08/hr for new grads, $4 diff for evenings, $5 diff for nights. They have the weekend plan, so if you work Mon-Fri you are not required to work any weekends and if you work 24 hrs Sat and Sun, you are paid for 36 hrs. You are eligible to work weekends only after 1 year experience. They also offer student loan repayment of up to $12,000, they add the monthly payment amount to your check each month as long as you work there. They offer internships in every nursing area, and have every service line except transplant. They also pay for a NCLEX review course, and pay you for attending. Finally, they were just granted Magnet status, which means the nursing staff is happy there, supposedly. Baylor has Magnet status and I'm not happy with them right now, but that's another story . I also spoke with Hamilton SW Medical Center. They also offer $16.08/hr, but the diff is $4/hr eve/nights, $1.25/hr weekends. They do not have the weekend plan, student loan repayment or Magnet status. They offer preceptorships in every service line except rehab.

I know it's probably too late to help, but I have a "filler" diagnosis I use from time to time. Anxiety r/t change in health status or Anxiety r/t hospitalization. It's good for when you honestly can't think of one more diagnosis but have to have one listed. Plus, psychosocial diagnoses seem to be underused (at least in the clinical groups I've been in), so the instructor always likes it.

I believe nursing may be considered "dangerous" because of the risk for back injury. But you will find this in any job that requires you to lift or stand alot. Probably as dangerous, or likely as carpal tunnel syndrome for an office worker, I'd think. And nursing is not the most dangerous job! I copied this list from the US Department of Labor statistics, nursing didn't even make the list: 1. Truck driver 2. Farm worker 3. Sales supervisor/proprietor 4. Construction worker 5. Police detective 6. Airplane pilot 7. Security guard 8. Taxicab driver 9. Timber cutter 10. Cashier 11. Fisherman 12. Metal worker 13. Roofer 14. Firefighter [source: U.S. Labor Department] And about working holidays... My facility has a list where you make out your "dream schedule" of 3 holidays off each year out of 6, and they try to accomadate that. After that, they go by the previous year's schedule, so that noone ends up working two Christmas's in a row, for instance. I've never had to work Christmas or Thanksgiving once in 3 years, because I work a weekend only shift. This year I may have to work Christmas, but we'll simply celebrate the day before, no biggie in the grand scheme of things. The only thing I mind about it is having to miss Midnight Mass on Christmas morning.

Thanks so much! The homes are very affordable. My BIL and SIL have a 1400 sq foot, 3 bedroom home, brand new, and their mortgage payment is almost $300 a month less than what we pay for an 800 sq ft, 2 bdrm apartment! I appreciate you getting the details for me, that'll really help us in our decision. When the time comes closer to moving, I'll talk to the hospital, but I don't feel like listening to their "recruitment speech" just yet. Can you ask your friend how she likes LG? Do they treat their employees well, etc. Also, can you ask her if she's heard good or bad things about SW Medical Center, if you don't mind? Thanks again, I really appreciate it! You can go ahead and post here, that way if anyone else has a similar question, they can find it.

Thanks so much! The homes are very affordable. My BIL and SIL have a 1400 sq foot, 3 bedroom home, brand new, and their mortgage payment is almost $300 a month less than what we pay for an 800 sq ft, 2 bdrm apartment! I appreciate you getting the details for me, that'll really help us in our decision. When the time comes closer to moving, I'll talk to the hospital, but I don't feel like listening to their "recruitment speech" just yet. Can you ask your friend how she likes LG? Do they treat their employees well, etc. Also, can you ask her if she's heard good or bad things about SW Medical Center, if you don't mind? Thanks again, I really appreciate it! You can go ahead and post here, that way if anyone else has a similar question, they can find it.

DH and I are considering a move to the Lafayette, LA area to be near his family. The starting salary here [baylor Medical Center in Dallas - CVICU] is $19.50/hr. I will have 1-2 years experience depending on when we decide to move. I'm wondering if anyone has a salary comparison for LA? I'm specifically considering Lafayette General or Hamilton SW Medical Center in the ICU/CCU/CVICU. Also, what are the differentials, here it is $4 nights, $6 weekends. Thanks for your help!

DH and I are getting ready to start a family. We are thinking about starting to try in December, which would mean I'd be pregnant my last semester in school, and go on maternity leave during or soon after my GN internship (3 months) was over. I have put alot into working towards this career, and I don't want to jeopardize my learning or prolong my school or internship. Would it be wise to wait until my intership was over to start trying? That would give me a year as a RN (barring pregnancy complications) before maternity leave. As experienced RN's, what is your advice on timing of pregnancy and starting a nursing career. Also, on a different note, DH and I are planning on moving out of state shortly after I graduate. I think it would be best though to stay on for a year or two at the hospital where I intern. However, that would delay buying a house and other plans we have. I welcome any input. Thanks!

I'm in Texas, and we have to be fingerprinted before sitting for boards. These fingerprints will be kept on file with the FBI, though, not the individual state. I was told the reasoning behind this is to prepare for the new multi-state licensure compacts, so fingerprints/background check will be in one location regardless of which state you are licensed in, and will supposedly end the need for applying for a new license if you move to another state within your compact. This is how the director at my nursing school explained it to me, we had a whole lecture class devoted to this and the multi-state licensure.

Well, after one semester, I've decided I hate my Littmann Lightweight and I'm in the market for an upgrade. I know the Master Classic has more features, but as far as acoustics, does anyone know if it is equal to the Classic 2? I'm willing to pay the extra $20 or so for the Master Classic, but not if the only extra feature is the tunable diaphragm, it's not that big of a deal to turn it over. I plan on getting a Master Cardiology when I graduate anyway (wish I could afford it now!), so that'll be 3 stethoscopes in 2 years ! So, owners of the Master Classic and Classic 2, please weigh in with opinions on your stethoscopes! Thanks!

When NICU nurses are floated, what units are they floated to? In my hospital, we don't have a pediatric floor or unit. ICU nurses only float to ICU's and floor nurses only float to floors. I'm curious where the NICU nurses are floated to in hospitals like mine.