ERMeg

LOL! So glad you all can feel my paper hat pain!!! I forgot to write the best part though.... That freakin construction paper beanie was our GIFT for nurses week AND hospital week that year!!! Cheap sons of *****!!! I quit that hospital to start travel nursing- funny how I don't miss it...at all!

Never had the pleasure of scripting thank goodness, but: One year for nurse's week one of the administrators made a bunch of white construction paper nurse's caps which the staff was MANDATED to wear for the day!!! This was supposed to be a "Fun" way to remind us all and the pts of the 'traditional role of the nurse'. Managers actually roamed the halls issuing warnings and then 2 day suspensions to staff refusing to wear the hat. Thank God I work nights and did not have to wear the ******* thing!!! Last time I wore a paper hat it was a pirate hat made of the comic page and I was 5years old!!!

I left South Central MI because I couldn't make any money and started travel nursing. I was making $28/hr in the ER. Avg wage across the states I've traveled has been more like $32. Have rates gone up back home in MI?

Hi Jay, It sounds like you and I are in a pretty similar situation. I am also a 24 yr old ER nurse starting grad school for NP this month. More importantly I am also feeling pretty dang overwhelmed. I am a travel nurse and just started a new position last week in Sitka Alaska far away from everything. I am married, but my husband is a full time student so I also can not afford not to work. I'll be working 48hr/wk and taking my program online at Michigan State University. The online format provides a whole new host of worries. I guess I've said all that to say this: I don't have the answers, but I'm in it with you- you're not alone. People have done this before and graduated, and have gone on to have real lives after school....somehow. If they made it, we'll make it. If you feel like dropping a venting note contact me via pm Hang in there buddy! Meg

Unbelievable! What are the odds of you reading my post here? Awesome! Thanks so much for your reply- I'm sure we'll talk a lot more in person. See you around!

Hi there, I hate to give bad news but $25 is a pretty low wage to live on in AK. Of course that would depend on what other benefits are being provided. I'm in Sitka, AK, but have family in Anchorage. Fuel is about $4.85/gal, Milk is $5/gal, and rent tends to be pretty high from May-Sept. If your company provides housing, rental car, gas subsidy, license reimbursement, utilities, travel costs, etc than $25 could be a good wage, otherwise I would tell your company your concerns (financially supporting a family) and try to negotiate your wage. Good Luck!!!

Hi All, I just took an ER job in Sitka, Alaska working at Mt Edgecumbe SEARHC Hospital. It is a facility for Alaska Natives (Eskimo and other tribes). Any tips/cultural advice for working with this people group? Thanks! Meg