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This "facility" specifically told me and 7 other travelers that they would "rarely" float and I wanted to let everyone else know what to expect, but if I can't tell you which "facility" then it doesn't help...I have been a traveller for a long time and NEVER floated this much, in this "facility's" case they did hire an excess of travellers to staff the floors and that's not right...I also work agency and don't float, b/c when they call and tell me a opening for the night I simply say yes I'll work there in the ICU and that's that...I was hoping to give some folks a heads up before they travel out to Southern Cali expecting this wonderful position at one of the major hospital systems in the area to know what to expect, b/c in all honesty I feel as if I'm loosing my skills as an ICU nurse and that is not right, and yes I will be leaving and going to Denver already signed the contract and I only have a few more shifts.

To all my fellow travelers...anyone thinking of signing on in Southern California with one of the major hospital systems on the ICU needs to understand that they will be floating 2 out of 3 shifts to which ever floor the hospital wants you to...when I interviewed with the traveling coordinator she did inform me that travelers are the first to float but said it rarely happens....well they have hired 7 travelers that are currently assigned to the ICU and we ALWAYS float, it's actually rare that we work in ICU...so if you like to be a Telemetry/Medsurg/Neurostep down Nurse then that's a great assignment...otherwise run for the hills!!!!!!!! :angryfire

Hey, I've worked with Travel nurse across america for about a year, and I love them, great pay, insurance, housing, my recruiter always gets back to me within the day with any of my questions/concerns...

Hi all, I'm thinking of taking me 3rd traveling assignment in Denver and have an interview with Rose Medical Center ICU, anyone ever been there?? Any advice is greatly appreciate

Hey, there is a medical hospital on the orificenal...I can't remember for the life of me the name of it though, I've only known one person whose worked there, they were in the military and she never had anything bad to say about it...definently check out Huntsville Hospital (www.huntsvillehospital.org) I was a CNA (nurse tech) there for two years while in nursing school and I loved it, very big with great opportunities after you get out of nursing schools....as far as schools Calhoun Community College is a great school (it has a contract with Alabama A & M University if you are wanting a BSN)...anyway, good luck!

Can anyone tell me about Jackson, Mississippi, I am thinking of relocating there and would like some info on what the town is like and good hospitals to work...Thanks!! :nuke:

Hi again, I'm not sure if they actually list weekend positions on the website, Tracey is a nurse recruiter and he is very helpful and nice so you could always just give them a call and although you would think everyone would want to go to weekends it's not necessarily true...I worked in CCU nights on the weekend shift (they just increased the pay from 28 to 34 (I don't know why I put 39 sorry for the typo) back in August, I know that CCU will have a weekend pm shift available soon if you like CCU b/c they still haven't replaced me and another RN is leaving to go to the OR who works weekend shift....I talk to my old co-workers (I'm a traveling nurse now) alot and they are giving an across the board raise within the next few weeks I know new grads start at 18 and then a $4 shift diff for nights, I'm not really sure what you would start at since you have so much experience....oh well....Huntsville is a great town, especially a great town to raise a family! Good Luck!

Hey, don't get discouraged it will all start to make sense to you...I'll help for the acronyms first...CNP=Certified Nurse Practitioner (Master's Degree), CRNA=Certified Registered Nurse Anethesist (Master's with Anesthesia), PRT not quite sure about that one, could be Respiratory Therapist, or Physical Therapist...not quite sure...I started my nursing career in Bama, and worked in Huntsville, Alabama for 5 years...The majority of hospitals don't make any more pay for BSN because their job duties are the same as an ADN (I am an ADN, pursuing my BSN on-line), the only way you will usually get more $ for BSN is if you take a charge nurse or nurse manager position...I think some hospitals in Birmingham make an additional $1 or $0.50 for BSN per hour...shift differential just means depending on what shift you take (typically 7a-7p or 7p-7a, or some facilities have weekend shifts) generally you get more $ (aka a shift diff) if you work night shift 7p-7a...as far as how can you know where you want to work, a lot of people I know figured that out in nursing school during clinicals...I worked as a nurse's aide in the Recovery Room, didn't care for that, so then I worked in a Cardiac ICU and that's what I found I loved...The right place to work just depends on what you are passionate about, I am a cardiac ICU nurse because the heart fascinates me, and I love figuring out what the heart is doing and managing all the intensity of the drugs used with cardiac care, I also love the intensity of the ICU...if you are an adrenaline junky how can think fast on there feet you might like the ER, if you like seening people get cut into you might like the OR, If you like babies you might want the nursery or neonatal ICU, or labor and delivery alot of this stuff like I said you'll figure out during school as you learn all the different systems and do clinicals...I'm not sure how every facility works but most facilities you work 36 hours and only get paid for 36 hours, it's considered full-time (which is maybe why you figured that we got paid for 40 hours) with full-time benefits, I am a traveling nurse now and most hospitals are the same in that manner you work 3 12-hour shifts and only get paid for the 36 hours but are still considered full-time...you don't get paid for 40 hours....hope I answered some of your questions....just take a deep breath, it will all start to come together after you start your nursing program. GOOD LUCK

not sure if you still need info, Decatur is a nice area for a family Decatur General is a descent place to work, an older facility though, Arab, Albertville and Boaz are VERY small cities and "country" but good places for families, Boaz has a great outlet mall, don't know about any hospitals there though

Hi, I lived in Huntsville for 5 years, and I loved it. I worked at Huntsville Hospital (a great place to work), new grads started out at 18/hr (I think) with $4 shift diff for nights and weekends (Thurs, Fri, Sat or Fri, Sat, Sun) make $39/hr no diff for BSN or CCRN or anything like that, good benefits, it is a 900 bed facility not for profit and if personal problems wouldn't have made me leave Alabama I would go back in a heartbeat. It is a teaching facility, ICUs ratio 1:1 or 1:2 very rarely 1:3, floors were usually 1:3 or 1:4 on days 1:4 or 1:5 on nights, not sure about ER...anyway, there's also Crestwood Medical Center for profit, alot smaller there patients aren't usually as sick...good places to live are Harvest (if you like the country feel-about 25 mins away) Madison is really nice, good schools but pricey 15 mins away, Hampton Cove VERY nice and of course VERY expensive, if you live in the city South Huntsville is the best place I would recommend. Hope this helps, any more questions and I'd be happy to help