silly1982

Well, I got an excellent offer. $10,000 cash plus great benefits, perks + salary. However, this makes me think, why? Anyone heard anything about this hospital??

WHAT I'M READING IS CRAZY WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING TO YOURSELVES? NOT being able to sleep on a night shift, reporting other nurses, getting written up, slaving away... I passed the NCLEX and let me tell you, there is no way I'll take a nights position. Ever. This is how it works here in Vancouver Canada Not only is the starting salary 27 something for a new grad...after two years I'm making $29 something. Buttt.... * We only have 4 patients per shift...max five on Night shifts * On night shifts, depending on the floor we sleep 2-2.5/3 hours * We go to the lounge or empty rooms and sleep. We get woken up by half the nurses that stay behind to watch OUR and their own patients. * Then, we look after theirr patients when they go to sleep. * Result: everyone is happy, gets along, no one writes no one up, everyone feels much better in the morning. I"ve had one night in the last two years where I didn't get any sleep and I felt like I would throw up by 6am. Not a very nice feeling. Imagine what that does to your body! Please, why are you all writing each other up and treating each other so badly. There isn't only one way to be a good nurse, patients are just as safely taken care of here, as where you live. :uhoh21:

Your awsome thank you! This whole process has taken over a year...now needing to get a SSN..the paperwork...Well, I'm tired of it!

I can get in touch with them at all! They don't pick up the phone and they don't answer emails. I have been in contact with various boards and I can say that they are by far the most difficult to communicate with! I"m a Canadian nurse: have my NCLEX, TN visa certificate, and MN license. I'm trying to endorse with California via a Walk-through, however the forms stipulate that I need a Social security number. Do I really need this number at this point? Its just more paperwork and money. Anyone out there have any information...Canadians who endorsed with California??

They don't answer calls...EVER. They don't respond to emails!! What is wrong with them? How is a person to get information? I"m a Canadian nurse. I have the NCLEX done, Minnesota License and TN Visa Certificate. I'm applying to California by endorsment and doing a walk through. However, I do not have a Social Security number...as they ask for it in their application forms. Now what? Do I really need the SSN? Can Canadians get a SSN?

All these companies I'm calling...they have limited selection. I want to travel to a big city and they have NOTHING! Very frustrating! San Fran San Diego Miami NY Why is it so hard to find a travel nurse job in these cities darn it! Can anyone recommend a company that has lots of work in the mentioned cities? Cheers and Thanks in advance!:stone

I'm interested also, but no one has answered in your post!

hmm, I'll give them a call

You know, on the practice exams I would constantly get 72% You just have to reach a certain level of difficulty on the NCLEX and get 50% of those questions correct. I say, the most important things to know are your BASIC meds - coumadin, heparin, Iron, K, dig, lithium....you get it...nothing obscure..don't waste your time. Also, know your LABS inside out. Then, know diets - what is best for which type of disease and know your degelgation -what can a RN do, an LPN, a nurses assistant? Then, know your priorities: ABC -airway, breathing, circulation. Like I said, " the illustrated guide to the NCLEX-RN" is excellent - the first five chapters review all of this. I'd just read the whole book, know it and do the Cd of questions. Its the best resource I studied from. Just be smart on this exam...if you have experience too...you should know what is critical to assess first and so on. I think the 45% has a lot to do with language barriers too....UK nurses should be fine.

Someone I work with is working now in San Fran for $48/hr

45% YIKES!! I guess I must have had some luck too! Any Canadian nurses out there have questions...msg me! Good luck to everyone: US or foreign!

hey, this is from my thread "never give up" never give up! last october of 2005, i started an or program here in vancouvercanada. i came into a situation where the instructor bullied me, criticized me, ignored me, laughed at me. it was a horrible 5.5 months of dreading going into class/the or, crying, feeling stupid, questioning myself. to make things worse this instructor put me into an or room with her two friends who always yelled at me, belittled me, and made nasty comments....right in front of the doctors and other students. i was told things such as, "you've had it easy haven't you? you've had it easy all of your life" (implying i'm spoiled), she laughed at me with her favorite pet student, made things up about my performance or had expectations that she did not for the other students, she was sweet to the other students and ignored me in conversations, she would hug the other students and chat/laugh with them, even at one point went for dinner with them...minus me of course. even when i did very well or knew things the other students did not, my failures were highlighted instead...right in front of the other students. i would receive feedback right in front of the other students, "...you really need to improve ...you're lacking...bla bla bla ". in front of the other students, she even told me that the instructors and her feel that i am arrogant...when i started crying she changed the topic. the list is so long, needless to say, my confidence was down to 0. two weeks before graduation i was blamed for an incident that happened in the room....for a mistake the anesthetist and the circulating nurse made...because i did not notice this mistake, i was informed i would not get my certificate at the same as the other students did, but instead receive it sometime during my year commitment to the hospital. (this wouldn't even be a guarantee). that same week, two weeks before graduation, my instructor put her friend into my room, an instructor from another school who didn't work in my or or ever interact with me. this woman started yelling at me, she delayed surgery while all the surgeons stood sterile watching as i had to prep a patient over and over again. at one point the doctor himself said its enough, the prep is done, however this woman wouldn't budge telling everyone i had to do it the right way. with tears in my eyes i looked up at the or door and saw my instructor standing there with a smug grin on her face. she was enjoying ever moment. at that moment, i looked her friend in the face, stated the following, "i do not deserve to be treated like this, you are a cruel to me and i've had enough of this, i quit" ....and i left the or that moment and never returned. it was a horrible experience, two other students out of 12 also quit this program one finding her instructor difficult and the other simply did not want to be an or nurse after everything she went through. i should have gone to the union. however i was so unhealthy and sad after five months of hell, i had to get my sleep back on schedule, eat healthy, workout, and start feeling good about myself. after much thought, i realized that that particular or and instructor were not right for me. it wasn't me; it was the whole situation and instructor. after quitting i took six months off, was accepted into a masters program in a area outside of nursing, but decided that i couldn't just start something new without doing my or certificate...proving to myself that i can do it and am good enough....the woman, the instructor made me feel like a complete failure. so i went back and did a three month course on my own. in fact, i moved to a whole new city across the country to do this program. everyone there loved me and treated me so well. it validated to me that i am not stupid (as the or teacher had told me) and that i can be an excellent or nurse. i am so proud of myself. i just got the certificate in the mail. 14 months after i had started the original or program. to anyone out there, students and nurses alike ...never give up, don't let one or two nurses/instructors decide what your future will be like and please, never let anoyone tell you who you are. never give up, only you know what you are capable of. love yourself and respect yourself, others will too if you set boundaries in the way you want to be treated. also, always document document document situations and report situations...even if it’s off the record...so someone more objective and outside of the situation is aware. never give up. cheers ;) now, during and after this happened...i thought thats it...no more nursing. i applied for various programs and got into law, journalism and masters programs... you can do alot with your nursing degree...go do research, get your masters, teach, work at a doctors office, work for a hospital equipment/supplies comapany...god its endless and you don't have to earn less than if you were working in the hospital. in fact, medical sales...you can earn over 100,000 with salary and comission. many nurses are horrible. i have seen it over and over again...even while in nursing school so many teachers were outright b**ches. i have no idea why so many nurses are like this, but it should be stopped. before you leave, let those nurses know what they have done!! and when you come back, find an area with less stress and better people!

Why would she randomly call about this? why wasn't she helping you? Were you rude to the client or maybe quick with them? She is obviously new because she wasn't communicating with you. If you are in the right, than you should have no problems...but you need to stand up for yourself. You need things written down on paper, from the family, and you need to make it very clear that you were working after your shift helping the new nurse out... I would make a big fuss about this. And don't worry, you won't loose your lisance or anything over something like this, but I'd be very clear to your manager that you are going to be leaving and may even take this to a lawyer. Be tough.

yes, i know, picking a travel company is very dependent on what one wants. however there are things ever travel nurse may want: great pay accomodation + utilities paid for car allowance perhaps benefits guaranteed hours in a great hospital location, location, location a supportive company from what i have read these companies are a no no: the "eveil empire": american mobile healthcare, medical express, nursechoice in demand, nursesrx, preferred healthcare staffing, thera tech staffing, medtravelers, mti staffing, rn demand, o'grady-peyton international, merritt, hawkins & associates, and staff care, inc. intelistaff world health - they are being investigated for tax fraud. who has done their homework or from personal experience...is willing to share their list of the best comapnies out there that meets the above criteria?? a thread with a good list of all these companies would help so many of us just starting out. for myself personally, i would love to work in new york, san francisco, miami, or somewhere in hawaii. researching hard :typing

Ahhh I"m so confused!