crystal013

Greenmile, You should not have to pay for housing with that pay package. When I had to pay for housing my weekly take home was $1280. When they paid the housing my weekly take home was always over $1000. I wouldn't take a job where I would be clearing less than $1000/week. I make that as a full time staff nurse with benefits. And yes, I think agencies have done a lot to cause the decline of the travel nurse business. I did it for a short period of time and would not do it again.

Well, I totally agree. Travel nursing is hard. My last assignment was terrible. Constantly getting pulled and the worst assignment, then no support when it all goes to crap. After this last assignment I tucked my tail between my legs and went back to my old full time job, my old co-workers welcomed me with open arms and I don't plan on ever leaving again. Traveling isn't worth it for me. I can make almost as much money to stay home and less hassle. I feel for ya caringchic. You gotta have a heart of stone to do it and i just don't have it in me. I hope you find what you are looking for.

Does anyone have any thoughts, ideas, facts or opinions on nursing at UVA-Charlottesville, VA? Particularly the Labor and Delivery dept. Thanks, I appreciate any information.

Yes, neuro RN I am sure that you have some choices out there now. You have several areas that you can work in, but there is not much out there for L&D nurses. I'm going home.

i agree. My assignment is over tomorrow and I am taking a full time job starting next week and feel fortunate that my old hospital is taking me back. Now is NOT a good time to start traveling. If you have a job, stay in it for now. Things will change hopefully down the road.

I think it depends on the environment you are in. I have been an L&D nurse for almost 20 years and an L&D traveler for over a year. I have always "shined" in every environment I've been in until now. Most of the nurses I work with are half my age and only a fraction of my experience, but every day I am made to feel like I am stupid and don't know what I am doing. I just keep telling myself, 5 weeks down, 8 to go, and I will move on to somewhere else. Maybe it is not you, it is where you work. If you really want to L&D, you might try at another hospital.

I'd like to say "Yes, we ordered this medication because we know it will hurt your baby because we are in the business of hurting babies...that's how we have stayed in business so long..." But, of course, I DO NOT say that...hehe...

Hi JANELRN! Your unit sounds like where I work at PCMH in Greenville, NC... hehe... Crystal

We recently had a patient who's 24 hour urine was 15,000. No kidding. We thought it had to be a mistake, but it wasn't. She had mild high BP but no other signs of PIH or HELLP. We induced her anyway. Probably an underlying problem with the kidneys.

My First L&D job was in 1985. Ahh, the good old days. Most women took Lamaze classes and they actually knew how to breathe with their contractions when they got to the hospital and just needed us to remind them. They got Saline locks and IV demerol when they were 5-6 and beginning to "lose it". Then they went to sleep and relaxed, woke up 2 hours later ready to push. Then, they actually COULD push because no epidural in place to keep them from doing so. Very few forceps or vacuum deliveries and low C/Section rates. Yes, I remember those days. Things have certainly changed. The hospital I work at induces most everyone by 39 weeks. If they have the nerve to not delivery by 5-6pm they get C/Sections for "failure to progress" We do "Cesarean Sections by maternal request" These young girls today actually think a Cesarean Section is "easier". Most patients get AROM and Pitocin. Most patients get Epidurals at 2CM. And the worst part...when the babies are crying and fussy we can't lay them on their tummies....sigh.... We have to go along or find another area to work in. I've tried other areas and I always come back to L&D. The grass is NOT greener in other nursing specialties. Ahhh...the good old days....;-)

Can someone email me privately their recruiters name with RN network? Thanks Junette

I am a long time L&D veteran and I so agree with all the above posts. I can see both sides of it... And veteran nurses get yelled at too at times, especially during stressful situations. L&D is tough. A lot of new nurses want to go into it because they think it is fun-then they get into it and see that it is hard hard work. You are on your feet for 12 whole hours, rarely get a meal break or even a bathroom break...it is overwhelming at best. Those of us who keep coming back, I guess it's because it's in our blood. I've tried other areas and always come back to L&D. The best advice I can give you is to just try to learn as much as possible while you are on orientation. The hospital I am at now, they are training 2 new nurses. I had a patient getting ready to deliver and I asked the one new nurse if she would like to come in my delivery and she said "That's ok, I've already seen enough lady partsl deliveries" She's been there 2 weeks. All you veteran nurses.....How many deliveries were you in before you were comfortable with it? Hang in there. You should give every new job at least 3 months before you decide it's NOT for you... And in nursing, any area you choose is going to have it's bad days. I would imagine even the Walmart greeter has a bad day and gets yelled at sometimes. Good luck!

Hi Green Mile, I am no longer at Cherry...worked there 2003-2004. A lot of stuff in the local papers lately about crap going on there. Are you there currently? How is it going?

Thanks again Sarah, I am going to take the travel position there... Maybe I'll see you... Crystal

Thanks Sarah, I appreciate the info. I had heard mixed reviews about "HCA" hospitals so it is good to hear something positive. Crystal