vetnurs

Thanks so much everyone! I've been off 2 years taking care of elderly family members. And the more I go back to La., the more I realize that this is where I want to be. I don't want to commute to New Orleans because I just came from a big city (I lived very close to the Texas Medical Center--which is like a city in itself), and worked at a huge hospital (very impersonal). The more I stay away, the more I realize this is not what I want out of life. I'm just over the fast pace, people being so stressed out, the status symbols, and looking at one concrete building after another.

I'm an R.N. who spent almost 20 years living and working in Houston, mostly the Texas Medical Center in ICU. After taking some time off for my family, I'm thinking about leaving Houston altogether--I want a slower pace where people are more friendly. I've got some family in the Lafayette and Houma areas. I know there will be a pay cut. I'd maybe even like something less acute like med/surg or even home health. Does anyone know about a pay scale? What are the nurse/patient ratios on the floor?