mitchellrn

i must say a huge i'm sorry to caroladybelle. i looked at the wrong name on the comment box ...... that was kimbalou that made the comment about not having to respect anyone else's decisions. i did not mean to barrage you and i do appreciate your comments. seems you are one of only a couple that isn't coming down on me for asking a question. thanks for that. and again. sorry...... mitchellrn

I did not mean to ruffle feathers with my question. Only wanted some helpful advise on travel companies. Didn't really want anyone's opinion on anything else. But since this has apparently opened a can of worms, let me say a couple of things. I live in the Southern US and there are no unions here and no one fighting for the rights of nurses. Believe me I have been in situations where I sure would have liked to had someone fighting for me. As a new grad I worked nights 7 on 7 off, on a 27 bed Med Surg floor. I was the only RN, working with 2 LPN's and a NA. It was NUTS.....to say the least. There were shifts that I was doing really good to see some of those patients twice in a shift. Thank the Good Lord I never had a bad outcome. It was truly putting my license on the line, and I transferred from that area as soon I had a little experience under my belt. I personally don't feel that nurses taking care of patients during a stike is interferring with the nurses pull for their issues at all. Patients are sick and need care. The issues with the full time staff is a separate issue. The facility would never realistically consider staffing their entire facility with agency nurses year round. What a nightmare!!!! The facility really has no other option but to make their staff happy and get the issues settled....And the quicker the better. The nurses have their issues and they have every right to strike. However, did someone tell the patients that they should hold off on their illness until the strike is over and the nurses are happy. I don't think so. As for the comment from Caroladybelle. I didn't ask for your respect for my decision. As for Dawnyrn.....your reply is a contradiction in itself. First you say you wouldn't judge, then you say crossing the picket line shows a lack of respect for your own work and the profession. Is that not judging????????????????????????????????????????? Neither of you know me nor my values or work ethic. I became a nurse for a reason. I feel like I am doing a ministry with my work. I have a great respect for the traditional nurse and what nursing once was. Too many nurses I see today did not get into nursing for the right reasons and are not serving the purpose that I believe nurses should serve.....what the profession was intended to be ...to meet the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of patients. I strive every shift to be the nurse that makes a patient feel better ....simply by providing a warm smile, a listening ear, a soft voice of encouragement, along with skills and knowledge. I am an excellent nurse and my employers, patients, and coworkers are proud to have me in this profession. So with that said my decisions are based on my feelings and opinions and what is best for my family. So whether or not I will work a strike .....I haven't decided yet. I am researching travel companies along with companies that cover strikes. Whatever my decision, it will not be influenced by your opinions.

I am 4 year RN and have recently completed a 2 week per diem assignment in CA. It went pretty well, but I was at 4 hospitals in 4 days. That was challenging. I cannot take a long travel assigment b/c I have 2 small chidren, and I would like something where I could be at the same facility for at least the majority of the time. I have researched travel nursing some and they ask for a 2 week commitment. I am having a hard time getting a company contact. I have sent e-mails and left messages for Strike Nurse USA and haven't had any return response. I am hearing that there is a strike in the San Franscisco Bay Area. If anyone knows of a good company that staffs for strikes, I would appreciate the contact information. Thanks, mitchellrn