allpcn

RUcon08, I've been doing 12hr nights for 9yrs. When my kids were younger I didn't get much sleep, so on my days off I slept anytime with no problem. Now that my kids are all in school and old enough to get themselves up and ready for school, I tend to keep a night schedule all week. On my days off I go to bed between 3-4 am and get up around noon. My husband works from home so we keep the same schedule. I like it because on days off I'm up and around when the kids come home from school and I get all the private time with my husband after the kids are in bed. On the days I work I sleep all day (until 4pm) see the kids before work and have no trouble staying awake and alert through out the night. I never want to work days, too hard to stay awake.

Lori, About the Brown Recluse, my husband is terrified by them. We have moved a lot and everywhere we've lived we've had the occasional spider in the house. My husband swears every brown spider he sees is a Recluse and I have to kill it. I think I shall never tell him there really are Recluses in Arizona. He may freak and decide not to move. I think I may adopt a few kittens and take stock out in Raid.

RE: silly episiotomy question I've been an L&D nurse for several years. If you have an epidural then no they don't cut. If going natural then most numb the perineum before the cut. If they don't you still don't need to worry because when they decide you need an epis the baby's head is putting enough pressure on the perineum that the skin turns white, this indicates the skin wont stretch any further, it also means you don't have much sensation on that area. The truth is if your going natural your whole body is hurting so much that a really fast snip is hardly noticed at all. I know this personally and by seeing hundreds and hundreds of deliveries. On another note, many patients and even some nurses think that perineal massage will help stretch the skin and avoid a tear or epis. Fact is massage only irritates the the tissue causing it to swell as does pushing for a long period of time. The majority of people that swear massage worked for them was because they have already had a baby or two. Those women deliver lady partslly much faster and easier due to previous stretching from previous deliveries. If you want to test out massage for your self then massage and stretch your lower lip vigorously for an hour. That tissue is about the same as the perineum. See if your lip stretches more or simply swells up. Good luck

RE: Info about Parkland If you have a Group One forget about working anywhere in the entire Dallas/Fort Worth area. It doesn't take much to get placed on Group One and if you can't find another job before your name is placed on the list you will be Black Listed forever. Good Luck

re:Relocating to Dallas, what will I make If you don't need benefits then go to ALL About Staffing. It's an agency that caters only to HCA hospitals, however, base pay is about $40/hr. I worked with them when I first moved here and really enjoyed not being tied down to one hospital. Then I took a contract at a hospital I loved and then chose to sign on with them. An agency will give you the chance to check out different hospitals. Unfortunately they don't service Baylor.

re:aren't there any uncomplicated births any more?? I've been doing L&D for several years. I love it. I've had nights with ruptured uterus, home birth of 25 wk and Mom is bleeding out, a stat c/s in ER as they are performing cpr on mom, I personally have delivered many babies because they walk in the door with thick mec and crowning. It's exciting to bring a baby back from deaths door. The thing you have to remember is L&D is almost always an emergency situation. If you don't like the adrenaline go to a floor that has separate L&D, PP, an Nursery. There is nothing wrong with not liking the stat situations. Find a place that works for you. For me Ilove the the stats. PP and well baby are too dull. Keep in mind though it takes years to feel even a little comfortable in a L&D and even then no one that is any good feels totally comfortable because there is always something new. Uncomplicated births are treats we all wait for, but in reality no birth is totally uncomplicated.

cardiacRN2006, What was it about TMC that you liked on L&D. I'm also considering Phoenix, but Tucson is my first choice. Please any L&D nurses out there tell me about your hospitals and how your like or dislike your floor. Can't wait to hear more

Thank you for the info. The $25/hr was mentioned in passing by an HR rep. Maybe this is what they are told to quote over the phone. I've been putting out feelers and starting to get some responses, however, I just wanted an idea what RN's with exp are getting paid when it comes time for an interview. Thanks again!

Hello, I'm new to the forum so bear with me if this has been asked before. I've been an RN for nine yrs. the last six in L&D. I'm wanting to move to Tucson. I've noticed on other areas of this forum that new grad pay is about $24/hr. I was quoted $25/hr(perhaps this is an opening offer for callers?) in a short conversation with an HR person. I am hoping for some input from Tucson nurses on the better hospitals to work for and what most nurses with experience are making. Thank you for any advice you may have.