burnoutward

Who are you traveling with? My recruiters act like there are never assignments in Hawaii.

Thanks, maybe it's just me venting, but yeah, would love their info.

I am on my second assignment and about to extend my contract with AMN . The current issue is that I am not happy with the area I am living in, that I want to be in an area of the city that there is closer to things to do. I told my recruiter this and she said there are limited choices, and that there would be more choices if I would be willing to pay more for it. I told her that is BS and that I will be finding my own place. I am hot since I am not taking a pay raise or nothing. I am only getting my $500.00 interim travel (which I'd get the equivalent if I switched assignments and stayed with AMN). I feel like this is the straw that broke the camels back for me with her. I really don't like working with her AT ALL. I had an awesome recruiter and then I get stuck with this chick. I hate her voice, I hate the fact she doesn't even TRY to help me even tho she is getting commission off me, and I don't think her and I click/work welll together. I want a new recruiter. I am about to renew my contract and I need some help here. Can I put I want a new recruiter in there? Not trying to rant and rave, I just want to do something about it instead of being irritated.

First off, I give you props for your specialty, end of life care has been one of the most rewarding experiences of nursing for me. Hospice/End of Life has such a big spiritual component as you are dealing with crossing over into something we don't know and/or really understand and the need for spiritual support/connection is important for many patients no matter what faith. Unlike your coworkers, you are blessed to be coming at this from another angle and you can potentially serve a population that doesn't always get strong representation. Like you, I am technically Pagan (altho I am not Wiccan). From personal experience, I would not recommend making ripples or pressing for big changes/making a big scene until you have been there for a bit and established that you are an amazing nurse and have compassion for all the patients, Christian or not. Have compassion for your coworkers limited views and SHOW them by example of your care for patients that religion and peace is not limited to one faith and you can give patients of different faith support without condemning them. Instead of viewing the prayer during the meeting as offensive, maybe at someone point ask if you could share something that is a bit more broad spectrum, a great resource is the Universal Unitarian community they have some beautiful pieces. Then when you have been there long enough and demonstrated by your work compassion for those patients who are being condemned by your coworkers, discuss with your manager about the need for in services to support different religious beliefs/spirituality around death. Another connection for advice is Pagan Hospice Chaplains, or the Summerland project. Here is a link that might help. Pagan Chaplaincy: Caring For The Pagan Patient I hope this helps.

Hey I'm @ Stanford in Palo Alto, CA and this area is GORGEOUS and weather has been awesome so far. Starting my first day on Monday. My specialty is Oncology/MS but always looking for other travelers to meet up with. :)

Traveling has been the best experience of my career so far as a nurse. I was very afraid when I first left and started. The learning curve is steep but if you are a smart person, determined, or just hell-bent on making it, you'll be fine! I have learned so much and feel like it really helped me become a better nurse. I highly recommend going back to medical floor so it would make you more marketable. However, not saying it's impossible to find a psych travel job.

Thank you thank you everyone for your encouragement. :) It is going pretty well, overall. I will say the EPIC system is probably what is kicking my butt the most (used Meditech up to this point) and getting use to new people, new environment, and new patients. I am grateful the floor staff has been very kind and patient to me. I just am gonna keep on swimming keep on swimming...:monkeydance: I will try making a to-do list to help keep me organized too thanks for the advice!!!!

Hello, So I am on my first travel assignment and completed week 1. I spent the week filling out paperwork and taking tests to learn the epic system and was on the floor for 8 on Thursday and 12 on Friday. I was a bit of a nervous wreck as I am still learning the computer system, most my meds were late as the MAR is a bit different than what I was used to, while trying to take care of my patients. My next day is Monday, I really need advice for how you stay calm and not feel like you have to say every 5 minutes "I am not used to this system as we did it differently were I was from, can you please help me do this?" I really want this to be an amazing experience. Can you tell me/give me any advice on what things you do if you feel like you need to make a better impression. Thanks!

I wasn't impressed with Advantage RN when I was applying through them. My first recruiter who was sweet was then out on "medical leave". The second recruiter was highly disappointing, told her in July I'd be ready to travel mid-September. She never followed up and I didn't hear anything from that company until I called it and was told she was "out on medical leave". So either this company hires a lot of sickly people or that is their line for people that got canned, etc. The recruiter represents the company to both myself and to hospitals. I do not feel impressed by the company and I personally don't plan on ever traveling with them due to their poor service right out the gate.

Hello, So I have spoken with a nursing recruiter and was told the only school loans covered are undergraduate BSN student loans. It seems rather bizarre to me as you can only borrow 65,000 in undergrad according to my financial aid advisor. But, I wanted to ask if this was factual or not, or where/who I could talk to get more information.

Hello, So I am looking at joining the Army Nurse Corps. I have not started applying (will be doing that in January) I am in schools currently for my masters. However, it is not in nursing, it is actually in Herbal Medicine and yes, it is accredited. I know that there is some exploration into integrative medicine in the military and I am curious if any of you have experienced in or have contacts of people who might be able to help me. I read about Samueli institute doing research within the military and found it very interesting. I would like to make some connections and so if you are able to guide me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks!

Wow, so I appreciate the replies and the honesty given. I cannot fire my manager and I do not know how to effect staffing as simply put, we don't have the staff and what we have is stretched so thin, I don't know where we can get more from. Until the new people are through orientation in 2 months, this is my situation. I was requesting for more creative ways to help make work a more enjoyable place, not reminders of the elephants in the room.

Hello All, To join the many others on here looking for ways to improve life upon their unit, I am looking for help. I work on an Oncology Med-Surg unit in a hospital where the dollar bill is more important than safe staffing. Our morale is circling the toilet and probably already down the drain. We are a small unit with not enough numbers and recently had people leave. We just added some new staff and I am trying to find ways to boost morale, 1) because I'm exhausted from working extra shifts 2) we need help badly and more staff = more help. So for the time being our biggest problem is our work load increased, staff decreased, and we need a good boost of positive energy. I am looking for ideas that do NOT involve food OR flowers. I want something more meaningful that is relatively cheap to do. Ideas that I have are: doing a bulletin board for each group (PCT/Secretary, LPN/RN day, and LPN/RN night) with comments about the wonderful work they do so patients can see and they can see that they are appreciated. I was thinking about approaching my manager to see if we could have food ordered or something to treat different shifts and I am going to ask if their is a budget for staff development. I was also going to do a "secret admirer basket" where people could draw names and then once a week or once a month have something that is cheap and nice (like price limit of $5.00). Does anyone have any other ideas/recommendations that again do NOT involve food, flowers, OR being told a job well done (already doing that to the staff), that do not involve better staffing (I have no control over that) or a lot of money? I just am a lowly floor nurse looking for a way to make my job a little more fun. Thanks!

when i first started, i was changing a patient and going rather fast because i was thinking about all the other things i had to do that day. i reached between his legs to grab the diaper to pull out....i didn't grab the diaper. the nurse who was helping me teases me about it to this day!

Hey, So I have been doing a lot of research still about joining the ANC but a couple things would like to get clarified still. 1) How likely is it for an experienced nurse to get stationed at their first choice? If I wanted to go to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, what is the likelihood of getting positioned there? I am an Oncology/Med-Surg nurse, but I am not chemotherapy certified yet. Hopefully will begin that this spring. 2) Are pets allowed to go overseas? What is rules regarding pets 3) When should I begin applying for Active Duty if I plan to go in officially next June/July? (Have OBC completed and be sent to first duty station) Thanks in advanced!