AngelicLady

I don't think it's right. Period. I don't care who tries to justify it to me. Can they do it? Yes they can. They do it where I work (a very large corporation) and bad credit can prevent you from getting a job there (I do not work in the medical field at this point, and I do not handle cash). This is just another way for "the man" to stick it to people. It will eventually come down to only what people consider "the elite" being able to get decent paying jobs. Also, like it was said before, if you refuse you don't even get an interview. They will think you are hiding something. What? I don't know. Just remember that the government ALLOWS them to run credit checks for employability. I think it will eventually come down to a credit check for every single job out there that pays a decent salary.

I'm concerned about nurses giving diluted meds. That's just wrong. Who are they to judge if the person is in pain or not? If the doctor prescribes it, give it to them. A nurse does not have the right to withhold pain med. I'm wondering what happens to the extra pain med that is removed to dilute it? If I were you I wouldn't do it.

mtngrl--the state i was really thinking about moving to was tennessee. i've fallen in love with gatlinburg and the mountains. i thought i wanted to live somewhere in that area and get a nice cabin on a little bit of land. however, i don't want to have to deal with extremely low pay though. if i have to accept low pay, it seems like i'll just be living the same way i would here in florida. with real estate like it is in florida, even if i make $25/hour i will still be struggling to pay my astronomical mortgage. ugh. i want to get out of this hot, flat state. i think there are mountains in north georgia, but i haven't looked into it. tennessee if the most beautiful place i've ever seen! i really don't know where i'll end up at this point though.

I currently live in an area of Florida that has a very high cost of living. Everywhere I look all I see are subdivisions, gas stations, convenience stores and Walmarts being built on every corner. I've lived here all my life and like a slower pace of life. I've decided that once I finish school I want to move. I really only want to live in a Southern state because I can't handle tons of snow. I also can't handle extreme heat where there's basically no Winter. I'd like to see the seasons change. So, if you are a nurse (LPN or RN) working in a Southern state can you please tell me what the average salary is? I've seen some posts on here saying that the average starting salary for a new grad RN is $14 to $16/hour in some states. That sounds terribly low! If it starts out that low, how long does it take to get to a reasonable level like $24/hour? Also, could someone tell me what state tax is? I think that's what it's called. Here in Florida we have income tax that comes out of our checks. Isn't it the same everywhere? Thank you so much!

Good luck with your new career! It's cool to be able to change jobs fairly easily nowadays. If you feel burned out you can find something new and fulfilling to do. I wish you all the best in realizing all your life's dreams! It sounds like you were a wonderful nurse. It's a blessing to be able to realize when it's time to move on. :) Not trying to steal your thread, but I just have to say this.... I just want to say in reference to some prior posters comments about nurses making "negative" comments. They are only venting. Here's a little non-nursing venting: I currently work as an Insurance Underwriter and I hate my job. Yes, I hate it! Why do I stay? Because it pays the bills right now. I have to deal with an overbearing boss, annoying co-workers, constantly changing workplace rules, having more and more work piled on me when a pay raise is not in sight, the demand that I be "better, smarter, faster" daily, etc. I face immense pressure in my workplace. It's not just nursing where you will find a difficult job. There are those kinds of jobs in all career fields. I'm currently patiently (okay, not patiently) waiting to get into school to become a Registered Nurse. I'm sure I'll vent about that job too! However, at least for me, it will be more than just a paycheck.

I'm not sure where you are renting a 4 bedroom house for $1,000/month. Around here (Brandon area just outside of Tampa) I am not even able to find a 3 bedroom apartment that rents at that price. The 2 bedroom apartments with one bath are around $850/month if not more. The 3's jump to about $1,200/month for an apartment. Consider yourself extremely lucky to have found a nice house in a good neighborhood with 4 bedrooms for that price! The real estate boom here has caused trashy houses that should be priced around $100,000 or less to go for around $180,000 and that's a low figure. Average okay houses around here are priced over $200,000. Check out the prices in other areas and see what you get for $200,000. You'll be amazed at the difference. If you like Florida, that's great! I was just giving my opinion because I actually like to see grass, trees, and forest sometimes.

I'm not a nurse yet, so I can't post about working conditions for nurses here in Tampa. I would advise you not to move to Florida. At least not to the Tampa area. The cost of living has increased dramatically here over the past few years. They are plowing down trees and forest left and right to make ugly subdivisions filled with basically the same house with a tiny yard over and over. Oh, also drugstores, Walmarts, convenience store/gas stations and supermarkets. Those are also popping up in abundance. It's not a pretty sight when there's a super Walmart on almost every corner. Ugh. I was born and raised here, but I can't wait to get out. I like to see some nature around me. I'm moving to Tennessee after I get my nursing degree. It's gorgeous and lush with just enough city to balance it out.

I have read articles, posts, opinions, etc. that being a nurse is difficult, unappreciated, awful, horrid, etc. I have read many things that a nurse indicates that she wished she had never entered the nursing profession. My questions to you current nurses: Do you wish you weren't a nurse? Do you hate the job(I mean as a whole not just the job itself. Take into account your working conditions, difficult co-workers, managers, etc.)? Where have you ended up (hospital, research, etc.)? Would work in a hospital right now? You don't have to answer all my questions. I've become afraid to pursue a nursing degree due to all the negative feedback I have seen. I've seen posts about nurses leaving the profession in droves and that there is no nursing shortage. I am still going to pursue the degree. The worst that can happen is that I won't like it. I will just do something else if I absolutely can't stand it. It's my dream to work mother/baby. I welcome all feedback good and bad! :)