stepaukob

You could leave your current facility and/or change the area of nursing your working in which isn't so stressful. My current position I get to shoot pool, watch tv, hang out and eat dinner with the guys (patients). There's a free rec a trip going out to breakfast this morning. I don't think Costco can beat that. ?

I was always told that I would find my "niche". Each new job I've taken has turned out better than the previous one. I have found one of the best jobs I think I'll ever find. I only work with one other person who is a good worker (excluding patients). We spend with the patients playing cards, watching tv, eating dinners with them, pass a few meds.............and as long as I'm doing my job no one bothers me.

Have you tried the VA? Not a bad place to work once you get in.

The great thing about nursing is that there are so many opportunities and specialties that you should be able to find something that fits you well. The biggest negative I have in nursing is that "nursing" always gets blamed when something goes wrong. You should be able to get used to it though. Where I work everyone charts the least needed to decrease any chances of getting blamed for something.

Great information. I had to go for an interview to figure out VA pay as nurses do not use the GS pay scale. When I interviewed I was three months away from my BS. After interviewing with the unit manager I spoke with someone from HR. He basically told me to finish my degree which would bring me up to the Nurse II as the pay difference is appr 7K/yr. With exp and/or a degree the VA in Massachusetts pays RNs as well, if not better, than the area hospitals. Now with my BS and a couple years exp my base pay would be over $60,000 (and it looks like the pay went up since my interview). If you look for a position on http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/jobsearch.asp?q=rn&lid=17765&jbf571=7&salmin=&salmax=&paygrademin=&paygrademax=&FedEmp=N&tm=&sort=rv&vw=d&brd=3876&ss=0&FedPub=Y&SUBMIT1.x=88&SUBMIT1.y=13&SUBMIT1=Search+for+Jobs you can do a search within your zip code to see a pay range for your location. Figure around $5,000/yr for a degree and appr. $2,000/yr for every two years exp and you can get a better idea of the pay for your area. These are only appr. figures, you need to talk with HR to see the scale for your area (unless someone knows where these scales are online). The pay in the northeast is much higher than much of the country (along with COL) so $60K may be on the high side to start.

I worked with someone who was doing agency. He would get more per hour ($40.00), would pick up as many shifts as possible (many times working doubles) to get as much overtime as he could. He would also take a good part of the summer off without pay and has grossed over 100K 5 out of the last 8 years. I'm not disciplined enough to work agency, I would take too much time off. BTW, I'm in the Northeast and the pay is here is higher than most of the country.

Does anyone rent their home while traveling? I'm thinking about renting my place next spring and getting a small apartment for my daughter in another state. My question is would the state with my house declare me a resident even though I am renting it to someone else? I don't want to pay taxes to this state if I'm not living there. I have no intention of working here either, but again, I don't want to pay taxes here if I'm not a resident.

The various GSA rates are $39 $44 $49 $54 $59 + $64. I'm guessing you're company looked the state and county and used the rate found on the GSA site. Does your county and state correspond with the GSA rate?

Not sure if this has been answered and I apologize if it has. According to the GSA (U.S. General Services Administration) federal/military travelers are given a per diem for meals and expenditures. http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?programId=9704&channelId=-15943&ooid=16365&contentId=16177&pageTypeId=8203&contentType=GSA_BASIC&programPage=%2Fep%2Fprogram%2FgsaBasic.jsp&P=MTT This is showing that these employees can claim from $39 to $64 daily for meals and incidental expenses. I'm assuming this table is for any traveler, and if so, do travel companies figure this in when deciding your contract? I've heard from travelers who say they get a certain amount for food weekly and it's tax free.

Thanks for all of the input. I currently started at a different facility partly to see how I could function in a new facility. The tasks, meds, and general care were easy to pick up but the computer charting was difficult. The facility uses CIS and it took me a number of weeks to figure out all of the charting and I'm pretty good with computers. There is a traveler there and she did mention that this computer system was one of the more difficult she's come across. Thanks for all of the input, I guess it's a matter of just figuring out the charting as quick as you can.

This question is in regards to charting things that are essential. For instance, in one facility I worked we had places to chart in the computer for anyone on anticoagulants as to whether or not there was bleeding of the gums, etc. How much of charting is hospital policy vs JACHO requirements? Could someone put up a list as the essentials of charting when traveling? I'm also wondering if you don't find a place in the computer, do most people try to incorporate this info into a written note to cover your a**? Thanks for any info.

My 2 cents: I wanted to go straight into psych but was discouraged by enough employers that I went into med-surg first. As much as I disliked med-surg I'm glad I did. I am currently working in a hospital and will be floating between the psych and med-surg units. Each position requires two totally different approaches and I continue to have a greater appreciation for both. This keeps things interesting for me as I tend to become complacent easily.

Sounds normal to me. The worst part I remember is the interrogation performed by the oncoming 3rd shift. Stuck it out if you can, as time goes on newer nurses will be hired and you won't feel so overwhelmed.

Two people I graduated with were in the 200's, one passed and one didn't. I don't think the amount of questions taken correlates with a passing percentage. When I took mine, I thought I was doing really well and went past the 75 mark, I got nervous and it felt like I was totally guessing for the next 15 questions. The machine then shut off. I wasn't sure if I passed or not but I did.

Can you tell us what state you work in? I plan to travel next year and would like to make a note of this now. It would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

I used the NCLEX Review 3500 program, I was averaging in the 60's. Funny thing is, after doing it more, my scores gradually decreased. It got to the point where studying more was a detriment. I also used an online program that my friend payed for, again, I was in the 60's. He passed while he was in the 60's and I was just slightly lower than him. After that, I just signed up and took it without much more studying and passed.

I just wanted to add that I am not trying to say anything bad about the people who work there. I'm sure the people who work there are very nice.

I work in the area and have worked in a couple of the surrounding area hospitals. I did a clinical rotation at Cooley and really disliked it. The people there are very stressed and staffing ratios weren' the best. I spoke with another nurse recently and she said it was like this throughout the hospital. I cannot say for sure the postpartum area is like this though. I could get more info on this if I asked around for sure. I now work at a hospital which is within 20 miles from there (also within 20 miles of Umass). The pay is slightly less but the staffing ratio is like no other hospital in the area and the people there are super-friendly. This is med-surg unit but every unit in the hospital seems to be this way. PM me with any specific questions and I can also research the two hospitals' specific units if you'd like.

I feel much better now after hearing that because that's how I was feeling (especially the part about getting it down pat the week before the contract is done:lol2:). Thanks for responses and support

I have a question concerning med-surg orientation. I have a year and half med-surg experience in one facility and wanted to learn from a different facility to increase my knowledge in hopes to make the transition to travel easier. In being new to the facility, the performing of tasks is not the problem. What seems difficult is finding all the phone numbers to various depts and physicians and learning the computer and charting systems (and I feel like I am computer literate, it's just a new system). My question for those who travel is how do you guys enter a new facility and "jump in" with only a few hours/shifts? I feel like I could function quite easily except for the computer searching, documention, searching for phone numbers, etc... I am guessing that the first few weeks of a new assignment consists of asking other staff members for these simple questions. Also, does anyone get in early to orient themselves to floor layout, documentation, or whatever? I am going in on my third day today and I think I could function with no more orientation but I would still need to ask many questions concerning all the petty stuff that isn't patient care. Thanks for any input.

I am have pretty much decided to quit my job, I am shy of the probation period but supposedly have been accumulating time. Does the company have to pay any vacation time accrued? Thanks for any info

According to Massachusetts DHCFP regulations 114.3 CMR 45.00 Employees that (1) work exclusively at a particular health care facility for a specified period of at least 90 days pursuant to a contract between the provider and a Temporary Nursing Agency; (2) must relocate a distance of at least 200 miles and establish a temporary residence for the contract term to work at the contracting provider and (3) incur expenses for temporary accommodations paid by the agency. Providers are required to maintain documentation concerning fixed-term travel employees for a period of two years following the expiration of the contract. Does this mean I would not benefit from housing stipend if I didn't work more than 200 miles away? I wanted to try traveling closer so I could come home more often.

The first part makes sense, I was thinking backwards. My next question would be how many different agencies would be an unreasonable amount to work with? I would think (although I don't know) that many of these companies get similar listings of available jobs, is this true? Would a larger company have more access to current listings? Thanks

I've been researching travel nursing for the last year and hope to do this next year. I have never signed with a company and know very little of current openings or how often sites update positions. Questions: After signing with a company will more jobs be displayed withing their website or is it more specific with you telling the recruiter certain areas of the country? I ask this because certain specialties are in more demand the others. For instance, I could travel doing med-surg and probably go anywhere I wanted but if I were to travel psych my options would be limited. I personally would not want to take an assignment if I hated the work but I also don't want to end up in Alaska in the winter (I don't like the cold). Also, how quickly do you start looking for the next assignment? I've heard rumors where people start looking about half-way into their current assignment, is this true? I'm wondering how stressful it is looking for that "next position" every few months. Thanks for any info/advice

my intentions were not to make you more nervous and i am sorry if i did. i am a male and it doesn't bother me to get hit but on the same hand i'm not looking to for it either. so far i've also noticed that there is usually a little warning before anything "goes down" and by that time there are usually enough people close by to jump in if needed. the take down recently was more of a tackle and everyone grabbing an arm or leg. every situation is going to be different and it's hard to train for that. again, there are plenty of others around that will jump in and i would think/hope no other staff members would think less of you if you didn't feel comfortable jumping in. also, i now work for a hospital that will take just about anyone. the hospital i worked for the last year (med-surg) the code yellows on the psych unit were few and far between. i'm sure you'll be ok and, as you mentioned, just be aware of your surroundings, signs of escalations, and if something doesn't feel right ask for help or wait until some comes. best wishes:nuke: