CorazonDeOro

CorazonDeOro's Latest Activity

1. 

   Tough decision and rough transition into healthcare industry

   CorazonDeOro replied to ARock&AHardplace's topic in Michigan

   I was hired as a nursing assistant after I was in nursing school, I did not have to get my CNA license. Some hospitals hire nursing students as PCTs (patient care techs) as well.
2. 

   The Pay in Endoscopy Nursing - the range? Good start for the NP route?

   CorazonDeOro replied to CP1983's topic in Gastroenterology

   I think it really depends on where you are from. In some states low 20s is the norm. I work in a GI clinic inside a large hospital and I make the same as inpatient RNs (but our department fought to keep the pay the same, while many other clinics inside the hospital pay less). I make a little over 25/hr (which is what I made as a floor RN with only 1.5 years experience). We also get call pay and overtime if we are called in. I make more than I did on the floor since I work 40 hrs instead of 36 now.
3. 

   Tough decision and rough transition into healthcare industry

   CorazonDeOro replied to ARock&AHardplace's topic in Michigan

   I think your plan sounds pretty feasible. Don't let anyone tell you its "impossible" to get a nursing job with "only an associates." My ADN class all had RN jobs shortly after graduation and a lot of them had offers before graduation. I went to Macomb and I think their program was awesome. Great instructors and I felt very prepared when I hit the floor. It also helps to work in a hospital while in school.
4. 

   feeling burned out on bedside nursing

   CorazonDeOro replied to srleslie's topic in Nursing

   I work Mon-Fri but some of the RNs I work with work 3 12s or 4 10's or part time.
5. 

   Is your Facility 'forcing' you to get the Flu Vaccine?

   CorazonDeOro replied to madwife2002's topic in Disasters

   Last year we had the mask option, this year that is not a choice. Its flu shot or fired (unless you have a documented religious or medical reason with some long form to fill out). Its ridiculous.
6. 

   feeling burned out on bedside nursing

   CorazonDeOro replied to srleslie's topic in Nursing

   I had the same issues as you about a year after becoming an RN on an acute surgical floor (same floor I worked on while a student). I recently left acute care and went to Endoscopy. I work mon-fri (on call 1-2 weekend days a month). Stress level is much lower, patients are generally nicer. We also do inpatient scopes under anesthesia so I still have acute care type patients (and we go to the ICU to scope vented patients). I am a little worried I might get bored sometimes but there is a ton to learn and the stress is just so different than working on the floor. I come home with energy and I am not constantly running around answering ridiculous call lights. Maybe look into something like this? Especially since you're in school.
7. 

   Correctional Nursing

   CorazonDeOro replied to MichiganRN13's topic in Michigan

   I graduated with 2 people (ADN) program who both got correctional positions with no experience. This was just over a year ago.
8. 

   unsure what to do

   CorazonDeOro replied to cantdoit's topic in General Career

   I was/am feeling the same way. I have been an RN on a surgical unit for just over a year (and an extern on the unit for a year before that). I am completely burnt out. I work 3 12's but my manager likes to make me work days with random 11a-11p shifts thrown in (with no rhyme or reason to when they are). I love having 4 days off a week but I spend most of them exhausted. I decided to apply for a job I thought I had no chance at getting (my hospitals gastroenterology/endoscopy clinic (inpatient and outpatient). They prefer ICU nurses but picked me over some of them. Its Mon-Fri 10-7. Weekends off/holidays (except call on the occasional weekend). I think this is just the change of pace I was looking for. More focused. I told the manager in my interview that being pulled in a million directions by 5 or 6 patients at a time was becoming too overwhelming. I suggest looking into different areas that have more flexible shifts or a better pace. There are lots of opportunities out there, even with only 1 year experience I got calls from all sorts of jobs (outpatient surgery centers, pain clinics, ER, etc).
9. 

   Patient assignments - Are nurses assigned to empty beds

   CorazonDeOro replied to LearningAboutNursing's topic in Nursing

   We have a pod set up, you get assigned 5 or 6 consecutive rooms (acuity doesn't matter but they will try to split up contact isolation and trach rooms). Sometimes empty beds are part of your 5 or 6 sometimes they are not, based on staffing. We are surgical and have a million admissions a day.
10. 

    Floating?

    CorazonDeOro replied to Morganalefey's topic in Nursing

    Depends on your hospital's policy. Per my hospital you must be in float rotation after 90 days (post-orientation). If you refuse you get written up. Its not that bad once you get over the first time. Sometimes I have a way better assignment on the other floor anyway.
11. 

    Considering going into GI nursing

    CorazonDeOro replied to CorazonDeOro's topic in Gastroenterology

    I actually got offered the position today. It is admit/recovery and procedure (including inpatient and outpatient). It includes all procedures (ERCP, EUS, liver biopsy, manometry, etc). The way it works is that inpatients come to a separate floor/endoscopy suite than the outpatients(and the nurses staff both units depending on staffing and how many patients). The on call portion is only for inpatient emergent cases. I decided to take the position and I was excited to be chosen. I even got picked over an ICU nurse. I feel very lucky and I can't wait to learn GI nursing!
12. 

    Internal transfer

    CorazonDeOro posted a topic in Job Assistance

    Has anyone transferred internally at their place of employment? I have worked on a surgical floor at a great hospital for 2 years (1 as a tech 1 as an RN). After 12 months in your current position you are allowed to apply for internal jobs. I applied for several and got an interview in my hospitals GI clinic. I had 2 interviews. Today I had one with the nurse manager who said she would like to call my current boss for a reference. My boss should have no issue with me, I have always gotten good reviews. I am just wondering if I should call my manager and tell her I interviewed BEFORE the new manager calls. She told me I have the position as long as I get a good reference. This is awkward, I don't want to burn bridges and I want to do everything right! Anyone have advice?
13. 

    Just had my first interview...

    CorazonDeOro replied to dann023's topic in Interview

    I thinking asking for a tour or to shadow an RN would be appropriate but I would NOT ask to be a CNA on the floor. You are being offered an RN position and if you ask to work CNA duties it will look like you are unsure of yourself as an RN. Its normal to be nervous, and you have every right to ask for additional orientation after the initial 4 weeks, but don't come into the position asking for these things.
14. 

    Orientation

    CorazonDeOro replied to porkey2's topic in Michigan

    Depends where you work at Henry Ford but on a med/surg type unit you get about 8 weeks orientation as a new grad. Pay starts at $25.31/hr plus shift differentials which I can never remember. I think its $2 for weekends and some percentage for afternoons and midnights.
15. 

    Considering going into GI nursing

    CorazonDeOro posted a topic in Gastroenterology

    Hi there! I know this has problem been posted a million times and I have been reading a lot of the posts, but I just wanted to get some advice from RNs who went from floor med/surg nursing to gastroenterology. I have a year of RN experience on a busy surgical floor. 5-6 patients on days, fresh post op patients, transfers from ED/SICU, high acuity (lots of fresh trachs, blood transfusions, screwed up vital signs, calling residents all day long to clarify nonsense orders, management doing "patient rounds" and breathing down your throat because transport, MDs, pharmacy, are all taking too long, etc. You know, the usual. I primarily work 7a-7p but randomly get rotated to 11a-11p shift whenever my manager decides she would like to change my schedule. I have an interview for GI at my hospital, hours are 10:30-7p mon-fri (on call one weekend a month). I am wondering if anyone has gone from 3 12's to 5 8's. Do you like it? I am afraid I will miss having 4 days off a week (although I usually spend a day recovering and have to go to bed super early to get up at 5:30 for a 12 hour shift). Not to mention I am so exhausted after work that I never go and do anything.. I am also wondering how you like GI compared to acute care. I am interested in learning something new and being able to get good at one thing (as opposed to 8 surgical services that I currently care for). I am excited about the interview but I keep second guessing myself and thinking I should just stay on the floor I am on. Its busy and crazy but I know everyone (I was a nursing assistant there as well) and I know the patient population well also. Any advice would be appreciated!
16. 

    Soon to be new grad wanting to work @ Harborview.

    CorazonDeOro replied to pullingallnighter's topic in Washington

    I am not a new grad but I am also looking to possibly relocate to Seattle. I have one year experience in med/surg (post-op unit) and an ADN. I applied at Harborview on Thursday last week (a general posting for several RN positions they had) and got a call Friday from a recruiter! I was really surprised. She asked me if I currently worked at a level 1 trauma hospital (since they are one as well). I asked her how the interview process would work and she told me they do not do phone interviews and I would HAVE to fly out there to interview. That is a real bummer so if I did go interview I would ideally hope to have several interviews lined up. I can't answer about new grads but I had heard they prefer BSNs but that did not seem to be an issue. I am still really on the fence about going out there. Anyone know the pay for RNs at Harborview? I have heard that RNs in Seattle make about what I make here in Detroit (and we have a WAY LOWER cost of living). Good luck to you! Maybe we will both end up there!