sheRN

You might want to try pharmaceutical research (clinical research associate). I did that 4 years ago, although I'm on this forum searching information about returning to nursing so obviously I"m not sure it's right for me. I worked hard as a nurse, but after 3 12's I was finished, this job goes into evenings (lots of travel) weekends, etc and there's no compensation for the extra work! The Contract research organization I work for is very demanding, with no regard to the fact that you have a life of your own it seems! I'm seriously considering going back to hospital nursing of which I did for >20 years. I"m on the fence as to trying another CRO first, maybe I just haven't found my place in this career yet. A lot of my colleagues became CRA's because they hated hospital nursing, I didn't hate it, I was just wanting more of a challenge and boy did I get one! If you like paperwork however, this might be a career move you should research, good luck!

Good luck, thinking of going back to nursing myself. I've been working in pharma research for past 3 years and find it a bit dull and unrewarding. All of that on top of 60 hr work weeks for comparable pay :balloons::balloons::balloons::balloons:(if I worked the same number of hours in hospitals I'd make more $). I've been bitten by the travel bug in this job however, so I'd be interested in travel nursing after I regain some confidence in my nursing skills. I also don't want to get pulled into a lot of hospital politics-which was a major reason I left in the 1st place. Does anybody here regret their decision to return to nursing??

How do your hospitals deal with low census? While we do not have to be off for low census often (due to registry employees being required to take it first), we do have to take our turns. I've always thought low census 'call' was unfair, as I see it as a cut in our salaries, which only hourly employees are affected by. It's never recommended that salaried employees cut their salaries by a day's pay, yet nurses do this regularly. Recently the rules have changed at my hospital. We used to be put on call for low census, which gave us call pay, as well as time and one half if called in to work. Now, to avoid paying us our measly buck and a half call pay AND time and a half if we're called in, my hospital calls me at 5 AM, informing me that my scheduled shift of 7a-7p has been changed to 11a to 7p and that I would be notified around 10 am if I will be needed. The same scenario is then reevaluated at 3 pm. Forcing me to be available YET receiving none of the benefits of 'call'.

Dawn, I'm scared to travel too. Please let us know if it's a good experience for you. Personally, I've waited for years to start traveling until my daughter was in college. Well she's in her 6th year and I've still got my feet planted in the same job in my home town. Why? Not sure. Thought I'd be ready to go by now. Guess it's fear of the unknown. Also afraid of being in a town alone w/no one to sightsee with. I'm not extremely shy, but not extremely outgoing either. Hope you're enjoying yourself on your assignment. Sounds good to me!