laurelmae

this thread makes me ill...yet i am drawn to these stories!! my ex is a compulsive picker and he'd ask me to 'squeeze out' anything on his back he couldn't reach...i literally pulled out gloves i heisted from work for cleaning (new ones) and aseptically did it...weekly. it turns my stomach thinking about it! i could never pop anything on a pt! it's so gross! if their face is rly bad i get out the hydrogen peroxide and use it as astringent a cpl times a shift. kudos to the poppers though, it takes all kinds!

man it sounds like you are really having trouble with this days thing...from what i hear AZ needs more travelers when it's cold in other states, the whole retiree's go there, like florida thing...maybe try contacting a few bigger hospitals that utilize travelers and ask the HR dept when their census is highest, the worst case scenario is they ask you why u want the info, which is public record. i work for aureus medical, based in omaha, but i've traveled coast to coast with them with satisfaction. this is all confusing for me too tho, it's seems like it's a delicate balance of "i want this and i know you can get it for me, so i'll push the envelope a lil till i do, but not too far" geesh!

western pa $11-12.05 to start depending on experience

for someone who may someday teach or be a manager, any specific schools to look into?

i started traveling after 1 yr of med surg/ortho nursing at 24 yrs old. it has been amazing. i love seeing the country and exploring the unique things that nurses in different areas are great at. successful travelers are, i think, outgoing people who are comfortable with their nursing skills and can adapt easily to change. you have to keep in mind that just because facility 'x' did the report or schedule or shift change another way, doesn't mean that facility 'Y' is wrong...use the differences you find when traveling to develop the best system for you. if you decide to point out these 'differences' to the managers at your current assignment, they may be excited to hear about how to improve their unit. i know travelers who have implemented some great changes based on what they have experienced.

i have never worked in AZ but i only work day shifts and have never had trouble finding a contract. if your company is telling you it's not possible, search for a company that is AZ based or specializes in the southwest region, and tell your recruiter that's your intention. you need to be direct about what you want and let them know that if they can't provide it, respectfully let them know you will give another company the opportunity to meet your needs. the job you want is out there-don't settle for something less.

i am definitely pink, because ppl always say i'm happy, which makes them happy, but not the sickly cheerful freakish happy, just the usual smile and sweet kinda happy. it's a neat poll, b cuz it takes nurses of all 'colors' to make a team successful. sumtimes a tl has to assign a 'tough' pt to a "black" nurse, and a very proper, calm pt to a "yellow" nurse. i bet if you think of the ppl you work with, you can assign each of them a color!

Hey i currently have an ADN and want to go back to get my BSN. Major factors: low cost, flexible online curriculum (time wise), short program (2 yrs or less). of course, needs 2 b accredited. thanks!!

butler memorial hospital in western PA does not use it our lady of the lake in baton rouge LA does not use it memorial medical center in modesto CA does not use it, tho they do use a pharmacology test u must pass 1st time to work. aurora medical center south near Denver CO does use for new hires as a learning tool, AND as a hire/fire tool for travelers. my travel company Aureus Medical only requires a yearly pharmacology test to continue assignments.

it's supposedly confidential but at one hospital i worked at, our floor managers kept track of individuals' reported incidents and when one nurse had made a mistake worthy of discipline, they brought out 3 reports that were implicating her (2 med errors, one pts IV infusion of floor stock (like LR) didn't have his name and account on it, which is mandatory even if it doesn't have added meds). my friend was shocked when they pulled out these reports and she could even see WHO had written her up! this all resulted in her being on probation for 3 weeks, but the point of the reports was supposed to be to FIX THE PROCESSES not punish the nurses!!! :down:Appalling.

aw, it's not sad, i think it's about practice. i was straight forward about my lack of skill and my fantastic floor managers sacrificed their veins (with EMLA haha) until i had succeeded. in 4 months i'm up to 12 iv's because the other nurses knew i needed practice, so they were all too excited to let me try their pt's. i think it's not good to have to rely on teams b/c if there is a code or an urgent situation where a pt needs immediate iv meds and they need an iv started or new one, the pt's nurse has to wait until someone can start one...that is not the best patient care practice and could be seen as delayed pt care, as the RN should be able to do it.

wow, it makes me feel naive to read things like this...i logically know medical professionals have probs with abuse and it effects work, but i have never seen it (or perhaps never noticed). i think it's terrific that there is confidentiality for those who seek help. those ppl can be successful nurses, docs etc after treatment, the same way a drunk driver can safely manage 2000lbs of car when sober. thank you for bringing this up.

i have driven from PA to LA then northern cali to CO...i take 3-4 wks off bwtn assignments and enjoy the country. some companies offer rental cars tho, so shop around for a company that meets your anticipated needs---the company that matches you is out there! i suppose you could lease a car once u get to the assignment, if they offer a short lease

my first hospital did therefore i never got to practice my skill (or lack of) as a new grad. when i started traveling, no facility since has had a team dedicated to do it, therefore i was the 'traveler who has never started an iv and *gasp* she's been a nurse for a year and a half!' it was somewhat humiliating. i am not an advocate for iv teams. besides, budgeting cuts will eventually disrupt the iv teams in place now neways, true?

it sounds like this is an important issue to you as it should be. you have the knowledge and ability to enact a change at your facility. pt care is #1. Is it just that the staff needs better education Re: care of the dying pt? including comfort care, mouth care, pain management etc? one of the things that families of dying pt's have said is that no one seems to touch the pt anymore. they come in and look, count some breaths, maybe take vitals, but no one props up their hands, puts lotion on their feet, takes out their teeth to at least rinse them etc. if you have the resources, make a simple short handout with some reminders and post it in the breakroom. maybe it will spark discussion and interest with you employees.