daisydoll

3:1 with your own medic? That is unheard of! At mine it can vary from 3:1 in the more acute areas to 5:1. There are a total of 62 beds which includes hallways, not including trauma which is a separate area. There are usually 2-3 techs/medics per 15-20 patients. If there is a code or trauma the tech or medic can get called away and you might not see them for hours.

That sounds like an awful work environment. I would suggest applying for hospital jobs and trying to get out of there ASAP. Be aggressive call the nurse managers of the places you are applying and vocalize your interest. Don't quit nursing because of one experience. There are so many different areas to look into, that's the beauty of nursing.

I think one thing you should consider is that LPNs arent generally hired in the ER. If you are trying to get in there faster then go for the paramedic. If you have the time to do the RN your pay will be better. You should try to get a job as an ER tech so you have some experience and this could help you get a job once you graduate.

...if you can't go for a 12 hour shift without getting a lunch break

I used to live in CT and didnt have a problem finding a job in m/s at yale, was offered 3 positions on the same day. The specialties are more competitive. That was 2 years ago though, not sure what the situation is like now. Broward in S. FL seems to be hiring a lot of new grads right now. Good luck in finding something!

I'm 25 and I get patients all the time asking me if I'm old enough to be a nurse, or if I'm a student. I'm really sick of hearing it! And like someone else mentioned, I get patients trying to set me up with their sons haha. I am confident in my practice and once my patients see I know what I am doing, they don't bring my age up again! I think it will be nice when I am older and people still think I look young

I think you should call HR asap and tell them the nurse manager offered you a job and you have been expecting to hear from them. I'm sure they have just been busy but if you call they may get the answers you are looking for. If they tell you they are unaware of an offer, then you should call the nurse manager. Good luck!

"i had a colostomy patient and guess what....no colostomy supplies. cbi patient and guess what.....no cbi bags and pharmacy wouldnt bring any after being called 3 times. a complete-care patient who was incontinent of b & b and no chux!. i started out with 7 patients. i cant work like this." wow this sounds like a place i used to work at lol! my friend did med surg for a while and hated it so much she almost left nursing. now she has a job in home health and loves it! she sets her own sched and goes at her own pace. she sees several patients a day. often she gets done early and goes shopping or something, and still gets paid for 40 hours! the pay is great, the benefits are good, and the sched is flexible. i say go for it you have nothing to lose!

I think you should go ahead and consult with the attorney. He/she can determine if you have sufficient evidence to proceed. It would also help if any of the employees there would be willing to back you up in a trial. After all, you said they were all aware of what was going on. It's just weird that something like this could go on for so long and no one did anything about it. Good luck finding a new job!

I cant believe the family member came into your breakroom! You should have told them politely that the room is for employees only and you will be there shortly to answer any questions. Maybe you could ask your supervisor to put a lock and code on the door to solve the issue of intruding family members. You deserve to take your break in peace!

But they have a $900 deductible!

Obviously you hate it there and it's affecting your health. Sounds like it's time to move on. You mention you like NICU or ICU settings, who not look for a perm job there? Any chance you could work full time at the eye clinic?

Nobody is jealous of me because they have heard plenty of stories from me and none of them would want my job. Only thing I can say ppl are jealous of is that I get more days off, but they are hard earned. :onbch:

Can you be a NP and specialize in genetics??

Are you talking about the dance?!

Anyone??

Which companies offer the best insurance plans? The ones I have worked for have high deductibles and 80/20 coverage. It's so disappointing to spend time caring for the ill and not have great coverage if you should need it.

Wow what agency are you with and where is your assignment? I should go with them for my next assignment! I dont think I would want bed linens and dishes I would rather use my own but it sounds like all you really had to bring were clothes!

Its never too late to go back to school! I think you can do it in 1 1/2 to 2 years if you have your BSN. But it is demanding and they recommend you don't work while doing the program.

I don't live in TX but I'm curious about clinical trials. Do you need MSN or is BSN sufficient for this kind of job? What kind of work does it entail and what are the hours?

I agree that it is harder to get an assignment with less than 2 yrs experience. I had 14 mos when I started and ended up taking a job in an area where I didn't particularly want to go, just to get travel experience. Most places want you to have at least one prior travel job before you work for them. My next job will be exactly where I wanted to go, warm and sunny Florida! I think that it may benefit you to sign up with a local per diem agency so you can have some experience working at other places. You can get a taste of what traveling will be like while staying close to home. I'm sure that could improve your chances as well. Good luck and start calling around to recruiters to get a sense of which company you want to go with!

Maybe try CDU (clinical decision unit). Its a 23 hr observation unit where patients stay to determine if they need further hospitalization or can be discharged. Also a lot of blood transfusions and cath lab patients. I only floated there a few times and found the patients to be lower acuity. It can get pretty busy when the ED is slammed, but nothing like a regular floor. I spoke with a traveler who is currently working there and he said one night he only had one patient and there was a nurse aide as well. Pretty sweet if you ask me! I think OR might also be a good option for you but there is the possibility that you might have to take call.

I would suggest taking the phlebotomy course. I never drew blood until I was out of school and I would have felt more competent as a new nurse if I had some practice drawing blood. Also depending on the job you get you may be required to draw blood. In certain hospitals PCA's do draw blood.

It sounds like you are ready for a change, but reluctant at the same time. I would suggest staying PRN at your current job so that if the new one isn't what you hoped for, you have something to fall back on. It can be hard to get out of your comfort zone and try a new job, but it might turn out to be what you were looking for and that chance is worth taking!

A medical exam is required by all companies. If you have a copy of a recent physical exam stating that you are in good health and fit to work most companies will accept that.