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Sixty patients on 3-11, what a horror""" Where was your supervisor? I would have called my agency and told them right away and then list it for my personal DNR and alert other nurses as well. 3-11 is usually the busy shift and not easy for a "regular" staff member. In some places they will give 5 and 9's together, but they are iron, colace and the evening daily. that cuts down on the 9's when many are in bed or are asking for prn's.

I have been doing agency for years, I have learned to have more than one agency, a per-diem and home care back-up. I also save what I can and pay my bills as get paid. Every check pays a bill. You also need to be flexible. Sometimes if you get into one facilitie and they like you. they will ask for you and cancel you last. Also if you are cancelled,call your other agencies for last minute calls. No calls, no shows or last minute call outs.

Hi, I use NSO in PA as well, I am a LPN, paying $99.72 a year. I have been with them for many years, If you look in your nursing journals there are other companies to apply to as well. It is just very important that you carry your own

First, you are mighty brave to step out there being a "new" nurse. I started doing agency after 3 years of med-surg. they expect you to hit the floor working they do not really have time to orient you, we are there to fill in on a last minute basis at some places. They count, give you a half way decent report, keys and you are on your own. I would call other agencies to see what their pay rate is,if the one you mentioned is what I think, you would be wise to look elsewhere. That rate is pretty low for agency. you might consider doing per-diem at a LTC the money is decent and you won't get "bumped" often.

I am an LPN working in NJ and I do one home case a week it takes me one hour per day I make $30.00 dollars/hr. Sometimes they will call me to pick up another visit. This works well for me because I also do agency and per diem work. My visit money is my pocket money.

Are you serious? While there are many perks about traveling. you failed to mention the downsides as well. First i did not find the money any better, i learned that the agency gets a budget to work with from the facility and the more your housing cost the less you get in salary. the bonus at the end is great but it does not make up for the weekly pay. Also, once the assignment is over they do not bring you back home to your home base they pay for traveling from assignment to assignment. i also learned that when i stopped travelling i had a diffcult time to rent an apartment on my own because i had no recent credit in renting. For one period of time i was in Seattle for longer than i wanted to be because there was not an assignment in my home base. This is not meant to discourage travelers, just a suggestion to look at very carefully before going out there especially if you are a LPN. Our assignments are far and few between.

I am a single grandmother and find night shift works best for me,my sister works days and we have (thank God) both parents still with us. the night shift nurses have sort of a "bond together" most places (I'm agency) it is busy we get stuck with " I didn't get to this" from the 3-11 shift and they feel we have plenty of time, until they have to work one. We are the "Clean Up shift". I find that waking people up at night to do vitals and dressings quite mean so I try to wait until early morning ,that puts me behind in my charting and 6am med pass which seems to get more meds thrown on it all the time. Sleeping is an issue and if you need more than 5-6 hours to maintain then you might become very tired at 4am. Take food i find something light and easy to pick on is best staffing is short and getting sit down to eat time not always possible.

I don't know where to ask this question, maybe a post here will get me some suggestions. I am now doing the college network to advance to RN. Has anybody else done this? any suggestions to make it easier? I would not be doing it this way i would rather be in a classroom but is not easy finding a bridge program. with the shortage, the govt. should issue an educational policy of some kind.

Did travel assignment with Favorite, I had no real problems, but I got to know local office and dealt with them. Rx was wonderful, try Medical Express and Medical Staffing, I did assignments with both. Good Luck. If you want local, network ask local agency nurses. Good Luck

I am a LPN and I have insurance with NSO (nurses service organization) I have been using them for 12 years,and I was also a traveler. They are located in Hatboro, PA. They also offer Retirement Accounts, Disability Insurance, etc. 800-986-4630. Their is a company called CNA and I understand their coverage is good as well.

After reading many reply's regarding this topic, I feel that there is not a "real" shortage, although we could use more "good nurses. The schools of nursing need some instruction on working in the "real nursing world" they teach that the Med/surg floor or the skilled nursing facilities are easier than what they are and therefore the "green"new grads are unprepared and get frustrated and quit or go into private duty, insurance companies or etc. Organic Chem is not as important as hanging an IV, delivering an Oxygen setup or just basic skills. I realize they can't teach you everything there is to learn in the time you have in clinical,experience is certainly the best teacher. The schools are leaving a lot to the seasoned nurses to teach the new grads and we have our patients to care for as well. On any given day we might have as many as 7-10 med/surg pts and at least 15-20 pts in a SKF. Some nurses just aren't "teachers" or ones that want to orient new grads and if you throw them to the wolfs to fast we scare them away.

I received a reply to my thread. I am ready to apply to nursing school to become a RN the problem is that in the state I live in the waiting list to get in two years long and I am to old ( I feel ) to wait that long to get in. I was told that there are not nurses willing to teach and the classes can't take everyone. Here you can't get on the waiting list until you finish your cores and that's when your wait starts, also considered is your grade point average and mine is not a 3.8 or even a 3.2. Oh, it is not easy to find a bridge school. I think there must be an easier way, I tried that testing school but is wasn't for me, I need a real classroom. thank you for listening.

Did you try more than one agency? Look in the last few pages of your nursing magazines. Call the local ones around your current location, sometimes they are looking for a nurse to "travel" with a sick family member. Good Luck Enjoy your holiday

You did not say if you were flying in or not, I know that most hotels there are very expensive. I visited there in August 2006 and I stayed at the Embassy Suites near the airport, this might sound far but it isn't really. They have a shuttle that goes to the very local train stop, from there is a 10minute (was) $2.00 right into Philly. The hotel was $132.00 a night it included a very full breakfast and a managers reception at night. Sometimes you can request the vacation book from PA and it has coupons in it. or call the visitors center and see if they can offer you a package deal or direct you to the right person that can. Try Marriot near the Reading Market, if I hear of anything else between now and mid-Jan I will let you know.

I live in NJ and find that where there is not a shortage,there are a few specialities that could use help. I used towork med/surg. As aLPN I traveled for a while and came back home. If they would let seasoned nurses back into the hospitals it would ease the load for the RN's. The field does not appreciate LPN's and that makes for a shortage in certain areas.

I traveled for 10 years and I truly enjoyed it. There are pro's and con's depending on your personal needs. I also traveled with a spouse, you did not mention you husband's work, we had to consider this as well. Just a few tips, we found that after the assignment was over they would not send us back to our "home state" and we and to move out of the apartment within two days after assignment was complete. All of the apartments were very nice the furniture was fair, we found they provided enough for the nurse,for example one nightstand, one lamp in the bedroom, etc we learned to ask for two as the furniture is rented. You have to take your own pots, pans, dishes, etc. They should pay some sort of travel allowance, we drove to all my assignments. Your salary with be based on the facility and how much they are paying your agency. Please tell them you want a private apartment, because they do offer roommates for single traveling nurses.I would also to online to get info on the apartment, facility and city. I would start with an agency that has been in the business for a long time. They depend on word of mouth to recruit new nurses. Please ready your contract carefully and if not sure ask another seasoned traveller or an attorney. All in all I enjoyed my experiences, I learned a lot and met a lot of people, even made a few friends.

The diference is that per diem is usually local, while a travel nurse can be expected to move out their current state.They sign a contract usually 13 weeks or more. ( I traveled for 10 years) The agency provides housing, sometimes utilities and health insurance while you are under contract. The facilities schedule your hours and you become part of their staff but your check will come from your agency. If you are considering this option please read your contract carefully. It can be quite an experience. You are also contracted for 36-40 hours depending on the contract, while per diem is not so secure. per diem is more of a fill in situation.

You sound really stressed, maybe you should concentrate on your daughter and enjoy her for a while. As far as the clep goes ask to speak to the supervisor or the Dept. Head. Talk calmly and tell them your problem. If you can let this wait until after the holidays, take care of yourself. In the end things will work out. I (we) are here for support if needed.

I am not sure about facilities, but I know some of the agencies will. Maxim in New Brunswick has gotten other nurses contracts some for three years at one place. Remember to read all contracts carefully

I have been agency for ten years, your experience is common to most of us. It will get better, when taking report ask if the pt takes whole, crushed, with or without applesauce and about their fluid, (thicken or regular) Try using strong coffee,if allowed,for a clogged tube. Hang in there

If the tube is patent, if the patient is tolerating the feeding, the dose per hour that is infusing, what the feeding is, and many cc of water you are flushing per shift.