chacmool

I'm starting my first assignment ever in NYC. Just out of curiosity how much do you make in Texas? I'm not going to be making crap in NY and I think the company is kinda taking advantage...

Hi all, I just wanted to let you know that I just got offered a contract in NYC at New York Pres. through cross country travel. From what I understand they have the lock on the NYC hospitals so they are the agency to go with if you want to go to NY. I'm excited. If anyone has any tips for me or is also in the area please let me know (I don't know anyone there). I will be starting 1/04. I will keep you all up to date as to how I like it! -Lauren

Thanks guys. That makes me feel a bit better. I will be in NYC so I know that's conducive to meeting people. however, I don't think I can just go up to someone and say "hey can you be my friend?" haha. But if there are other travelers there shouldn't be a problem. Thanks! Any other tips?

Hey guys, I'm flagged by a few agencies to start traveling at the start of January. As the time gets closer I'm becoming more nervous. Mostly about moving to a new town/city. I don't know if most people do assignments on their own but I have no significant other and I'm not doing this with a friend. My concern is that I will be lonely in a new town. I will be taking the housing that the agency provides. My question is, are there opportunities to meet other people or other travelers? Of course there are the floor nurses but in my and others experience tells me that at least right away I'm not going to befriend (to the extent of hanging out outside of work) other nurses on a unit that I'm going to be working on. Any thoughts or experiences from other solo travelers that might be able to help me with this one?

Hey Cirrus is number one of all the companies on this website highwayhypodermics.com. check it out

Okay, I'm not going to lose my license if a patient takes a med down from an IV and drinks it. Get a couple years more of experience and you'll learn this.

also... too much room for error? more error if you push it. I've seen nurses just push it in over 1 second. that's why people need narcan. if you're hanging it in a bag it goes in more slowly it's less likely a patient will go into respiratory distress in high doses.

okay- think about this logically. if they drink it they will get a way slower high than if it goes into their IV. that was the comparison I was making. The quickest most absorbant way to get a med is through your vein, not your digestive system or even your bowels.

Yes of course I leave the room. I don't see how it would be an issue as it is in a bag so the patient isn't going to take it. It's not like a PCA where there's a huge syringe full of narcotic so we have to lock it. Even if they were to take the bag down what would they do with 50cc of fluids mixed with dilaudid? Drink it?

Hello everyone, I've worked at two hospitals in my career. The first one where I was precepted I was taught to hang dilaudid in a 50cc bag over 15 minutes to avoid giving the pt a high and perhaps snowing them. At this new place I work they all push it. We have a lot of drug seekers that come in, the nurses push (often high doses) of dilaudid, then I'm their nurse and they complain because I hang it. My take is that they are mad because they aren't getting a rush. I am not comfortable pushing, for example 4mg of dilaudid. In my previous experience when hanging it people got effective more long term relief when I hung it. Now I'm questioning it as I want to give the drug appropriately. It says in the drug book that it can be pushed over 2-5 minutes but it says nothing about hanging it. Just out of curiosity, how do you all give IV narcotics?

Yeah... I agree. People are very opinionated about this subject and it's not cool to pass judgement on people. This chick didn't even smoke and people are already down her throat about it- give her a break! Just because friends do it, even if you don't agree with them, doesn't mean you have to get rid of them. My advice is... relax. There is absolutely nothing you can do about it until you talk to someone. Until you know anything, try not to think about it as it won't change the outcome... just make you crazy

Hello all- I've been a nurse for 1.5 years and shame on me because I'm very unsure about O2 therapy. I haven't had to deal with much more than NC and I've started at a new hospital and I'm clueless and mortified to even ask. Can someone give me a quick rundown on the different face masks and how much O2 I should be using on each. It would be greatly helpful. Thanks!

I've been in contact with many travel agencies. Some to try are: cross country travel, rnnetwork, aerues (sp?) cirrus medical. A lot of them have the same jobs posted so shop around. It could be the same job and two agencies can quote you two totally different pay rates. Rnnetwork doesn't pay as well, also cross country. I liked aereus. Be sure to secure an assignment before you quit- very important. I did this assuming I could get a job no problem and two months later I've talked to probably 10 agencies all claiming they could get me a job and I've only had ONE interview. They like to blow smoke up your a**. The thing I like about cross country is they don't feed you a load of it- they're honest. Good luck!

Thanks guys- that's helpful. I have an interview at RI hospital that looks promising. I think they are hiring for a tele med/surg- that could be interesting. Is it very acute? Like are there a lot of codes since it's a tele unit? I agree- I don't think I would be into the vent thing at all and this seems like it could be a good alternative, but at the same time, I don't know how comfortable I am with patients that could code any second. Since I'm a fairly new nurse I'm not all that familiar with all the different specialties.

Hey guys, I worked in Med/Surg oncology for a little over a year and I haven't ever done anything else. I just moved to Rhode Island and I am looking for a job and I'm finding I'm not qualified for a lot of things. I always thought the hospital would be willing to train me for something new like labor and delivery or ICU but they don't seem to be. I got an interview for an oncology position but I would like to try something more challenging, something to advance my nursing skills. Is there anyone that has something they really like that could be a step up from med/surg. For example, I might be able to do a step down but I don't know if I would like an ICU setting. Is there anyone with an opinion about working in ICU? Does anyone have tips on how to advance myself? Any tips would be great. Thanks! -Lauren

Hey guys- I've been a nurse for almost a year and I'm considering travel nursing and I was wondering if there's anyone out there who could answer a few questions for me: How much experience did you have when you started and did you feel prepared with the amount that you had? Did you find that you got lonely since you didn't know anyone or was it easy to meet people once you were there? Did you find that the places that needed travel nurses were poor work environments and that's why they were short staffed? Any info at all would be wonderful. Thanks!!

Thanks for the responses! It makes me feel better to know that you just get used to it. The eating breakfast thing doesn't help for me- I ate shortly before I passed out both times before. I just wish there was some way to stop it when I feel it starting to happen- looking away is helpful sometimes, like you said, but not always! Let me know if you have anymore tips!

Hello all- I enjoy this forum and I have a problem that I thought you might be able to help me with (well maybe some of you). I just graduated yesterday and start on a med/surg floor next month. The problem is that during clinical I passed out twice. Once during a C-section and once while observing surgery. I never actually passed out while on the unit, but came close with gross procedures or blood. I think my biggest problem is with blood. I've never done a blood draw, but I'm going to be starting to do them soon- I'm very afraid that I'm going to pass out and I was wondering if anyone else ever had this problem or has some advice for me. I know it's silly, and you're probably thinking I went into the wrong profession for someone with a weak stomach. I know it's rediculous, but I've come this far so I can't turn back now- any advice would be wonderful!!!! -Lauren

Hey Guys- I'm coming to visit next week- I'm meeting with UCLA and Ceders Sinai- I've heard a lot about UCLA's new grad program, but nothing about Ceders- Does anyone have any experience with them? If the program is good, if they pay well, etc? Any help would be awesome. Thanks!!! -Lauren

Hey- I'm looking to move to LA to work there in June too! I haven't yet been out to visit- what have you found in terms of apartments. I might be interested in a roomie- I know it's so expensive- what have you found in terms of prices?? -Lauren

Hello all- I'm graduating with a BSN from NY in May and I'm debating about where to work when I graduate. I'm from RI and I don't know if I should come back. If I stay here (I don't think I want to) I can go back to get my NP for free! Hospitals in RI only offer like 2500 most for tuition, but claim it's enough to go to URI. Does anyone have any advice or know anything about the NP program at URI? Any info would be helpful- thanks! -Lauren

Hello all- I've been reading the threads on working in California. I'm currently living in Rochester NY and looking into moving out West after graduation in May. I have some interviews at UCLA and it sounds like it's a good place to work. Does anyone know about the new grad program? My concern is that I'm not going to know enough as a new nurse from NY and they will expect too much from me and I will fail. I was wondering how good the new grad program is. Also, I don't know if I will like LA- It know it's in a nice area, but can I afford it at 28 dollars/hour and pay off my loans?? Any opinions would be super helpful- thanks!!! -Lauren

I'm graduating in May from Rochester, NY and I don't think I want to stay in the area. I'm looking for advice from anyone that knows about relocating to new place entirely. I'm looking all over especially in California (I like the weather) but I'm not sure how much per hour I should be getting because it's different everywhere. I'm also concerned about moving to a new place and not knowing anyone- is it easy to meet people as a nurse? Anyone who has relocated with some advice would be helpful. Thanks!!

Hello- I need some advice about finding a job. I graduate in May and I'm looking to find a job somewhere besides where I am (NY) such as Boston or California. I have no idea how to go about doing this without physically being there. Is there a good recruitment website that's trustworthy? Is there a good way to do this? Any advice would be helpful. Thank you!