MS. ICANDOIT

Hey all! I'm hoping someone can help me with this... I took my first travel assignment in DC recently and have been asked to extend my contract. My recruiter asked me why I didn't take any of the per diem benefits on my last contract. I told her I thought I had and it was in my hourly wage. She states no and she'll fix it for the new contract so I "see a little more take home pay". Since they provided housing and I am not receiving the per-diem currently that means my entire $39/hr ($58.50/hr OT) wage stated in my contract is taxed currently, right? Am I correct in my understanding that any per-diem I'm getting on the next contract will be in ADDITION to my current base salary? I'm also considering asking for the stipend too. The max per diem for this area is $71 M&IE and $183-$226 for lodging. How can I negotiate getting the max allowable and does anybody ever get it and maintain that base pay? Thank you in advance for any input you can provide!

I too came from a Level II ER with two years of exp there and and another two and a half from a Level I hospital ICU. I just took my first travel assignment in a Level I hospital in Washington DC. The knowledge you have already is a great foundation for the things you will see and do in a larger facility. My advice to you would be to choose your assignment wisely. Trying to get used to a new facility and its processes, while managing your patient load AND helping your teammates during Alphas Bravos and Code Greys can be a nightmare when placed in an unorganized and unprofessional unit. That being said...GO FOR IT! You cannot beat the experience and skills you'll gain and it can only help if/when you decide to apply to a Level 1 closer to home. You'll be an experienced Level 1 nurse when you apply! Good luck and happy travels

University is an awesome place to work if you like being challenged. The SICU is like high school (cliques and favorites) but has great cases. The Neuro ICU is great, although the nurses can be a little cold at first and to rookies until they get some time in. The MICU is VERY friendly (and until recently my home). Nice people, GREAT teamwork and lots of fun while handling very sick people. The hospital is very political, union is not very effective so if you have aspirations to do much more than be a staff nurse I suggest looking elsewhere. They have aspirations of being a Magnet facility and its not gonna happen anytime soon. I currently work at St. E in NKY (15min from Cincy) and LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Magnet facility, friendly people and great to its employees at work and with benefits. There seems to be adequate help for nurses (PCA's and techs) and teamwork is the theme throughout. Gainsharing is another bonus. They are making a big push for all nurses to get BSN's and MSN's and wholly support that effort through modified schedules and use of hospital resources. I hear Good Sam is good to its RN's (Trihealth as a corporation is good) as is Christ Hospital. Hope this helps...GOOD LUCK AND WELCOME!!!!

7 days, just make sure you request the fingerprint card first. They sent the card out the same day I requested it.

Not sure about the internship, but at graduation time they ask you what nursing board you want yor school transcripts etc sent to. I chose Ohio but took my NCLEX in Louisville for scheduling purposes. You also choose where you want your NCLEX results sent to when you register on Pearson-Vue. I just applied for my KY license after working in Ohio so no need for the 120 hours.....

I'm trying to get there myself this fall and would love to know what its like. I'm working in cincy right now and sooooo need a change

After sitting on hold for 22 minutes this morning I was told by a very helpful rep that temp permits are running about 3 weeks right now. Good luck everyone, I know I need it

GOOD FOR YOU!! You've taken the first step....hang in there and don't let ANYTHING keep you from your goal! Rocks may be thrown in your road, but they aren't anything you can't sweep away, go around or roll over! It truly is a GREAT program and you will be challenged and proud when you finish!

Sorry to be brief but wanted to share before I left for work....yes we've been proning for a couple of years with mixed results prior to the H1N1 influx. We've had lots H1N1 patients some we proned some we didn't and it didn't seem to help UNTIL...we added Nitric Oxide. Don't know why the docs had to argue amongst themselves and RT's for so long to get er done, but we are sending them out alive..... here's a link with a little info...... http://journals.lww.com/jtrauma/Abstract/2001/04000/Prone_Positioning_and_Inhaled_Nitric_Oxide_.1.aspx

See if you qualify for Voc Rehab or dislocated workers. Same office.... Oh yeah if you plan to seek public assistance there is some money there too...My sister works in the Community Based Services office and they love to give lots of support to students especially when they graduate. I used WIA and it was a great help. Good Luck!

Wow! Sounds like you had a horrible experience. I would agree with alot of what you said about Beckfield, but that isn't anything I haven't experienced at other schools, including NKU and Cincinnati State. Never tell people your personal business, never think an instructor is your friend, and there are good and bad instructors everywhere. We as students must take responsibility for our learning and if we aren't getting what we need we need to speak up. The buck doesn't stop with the Director of the program. The program wasn't meant to pass everbody, in fact they flat out tell you they weed 'em out. The reason is two-fold. One to keep NCLEX pass rates up so they can keep the doors open and the graduates hireable and two - they have to protect the profession by putting out competent RNs. That being said, I think the lecture portion of the program meets the requirements, but in clinical you will HAVE to be assertive to get what you need. There are some instructors who will be mindful of the skills and observations a student needs and others are just there. I was vocal during clinicals, offered assistance to the staff RNs and sought out opportunities and asked my instructor for permission. About repeating classes....if they make you retake the math class, do it. You must pass a math test before every clinical rotation and failure means you may fail clinical and may or may not be allowed to continue. The material on those tests is taught during the math class there. Could you pass the test without the class, probably, but if you don't take the class and fail they may use that against you when trying to decide to let you continue on or sit out. Those classes/clinicals were only offered every six months so it can make graduating on time hard if you fail a class. Everyone in my class who wanted a job got one where they wanted to (almost anyway) and I was well prepared for NCLEX and my job.....

Yep Melissa Joos is the one you want to speak with regarding the program specfically, but you have to start off meeting with an admissions rep who gathers all the prelim info and forwards it on depending on the program...seemed to just frustrate me to tell ya the ruth. Anyway...Yes I will work full-time and complete my BSN. My manager is VERY accomodating with school schedules and we self-schedule which is an added bonus. No difference in the rate of pay, title, or duties for a ADN(ASN) vs. BSN (yet anyway). In some hospitals, you cannot act as charge nurse without a BS degree but apparently not on my unit. In fact, I know of two managers who only have an AAS. IMO, it is better to go ahead and get the BS degree, you never know what life may throw your way, or what opportunity may be presented to you and you don't want to have not having that degree (or a Master's) hold you back. CARPE DIEM!!! Hope that helps...

I too am a Beckfield graduate and while no program is going to be perfect, I loved my experience there, so much so that I would like to one day go back and be a clinical instructor for them. I graduated in Sept. 08 and so far all of my classmates that haven taken NCLEX have passed on the first try. I'm of the opinion that because Beckfield is a new program looking to be both fully accredited and develop a BSN program they are going the extra mile to make sure they put out graduates that both pass NCLEX on the first try and are good clinical representatives of the program once they are hired. As far as the admissions rep not being knowlegable...call and ask to speak with the Director's assistant. She is great and I think all first round interviews go through her now. I can confirm that NKU and Beckfield are fully matriculated now. I am working with the director of the BSN program now to get in for the fall class. They take all of the credits from Beckfield. There may just be a class or two (electives) that you may have to take and you can do that at anytime really. It's expensive but not undoable. PM me if you want any other info. I'm sure the other Beckfield grads on here will be candid with you about the good and the bad of their experiences at the school. BTW I work at University ... and there are lots of us here and at Children's

My mother had/has (does it ever really go away??) plantar fasciitis. I introduced her to my friend who is a Chiropractor and he his trained in A.R.T. - Active Release Technique. He does something to break up adhesions and release tension and it promotes healing and proper function. I'm not well versed in the exact science behind it but I do know that he has a nice following of MDs and RNs in his practice as well as college and professional athletes. ( I was shocked to know that my family practice doc is one of his patients LOl) PM me and I can ask him to recommend someone in your area. Not everyone trained in A.R.T. is a chiropractor if you have an aversion to that practice, but those fully trained in the technique are few and close knit

No only licensed professionals can buy the creative product it's called Brisa. I feel your plight on the growing out phase. I was an acrylic addict for 15 years. Try a product by Nailtek called hydration therapy. It's a clear polish start with two coats and apply a coat everyday or every other day for 7 then remove and start over. This worked for me and I have nails that shred when they get wet. I've seen this work with OPI Nail Envy too. Be patient and find beauty in your well manicured fresh looking nails and don't forget the cuticle oil daily as well.