ryan012

Job: RN (acuity adaptable unit) with 1 year of experience Ratio: 4:1 I'm in a major hospital in the Midwest. My pay is $39 + $1.5 nights +$2.5 weekends (+ $1 charge /$1 precepting) as a flex nurse. We are getting a 2% bump this year in salary so I will soon be closer to $40 + diff. After 4 shifts per pay period (2 per week) I'm eligible for +$50 incentive pay per hour for emergency staffing shortage....this has been going on for over 6 months. So every third day of the week I'm averaging about $92 an hour. If I work overtime I think it works out to $120+ an hour, which is available every day of the week. I make about $105,000 - 110,000 full time, and can make $150,000+ with only a little overtime. I'm in a fairly low cost of living area. Given the chronic understaffing I'm virtually guaranteed full time, although I'm technically part time contingent/flex. There is another flex nurse on our unit on track to make about $170,000 this year with overtime of 1-2 days per week (and I've seen his checks). Update: Unfortunately this position does not include benefits or health insurance, but I get that through my wife's job.

Thanks Lori for your advice and insight into the profession. If you wouldn't mind, could you elaborate on the necessary experience you feel is required to be a successful critical care nurse? I know you mentioned it wouldn't be a great idea to assume such a position immediately upon graduation.

First off let me state that I'm a bit confused and looking for advice here...I appreciate anyone and everyone who contributes constructively! With that said, I'm considering becoming a nurse but I am concerned about a few different issues. For one, I'm very interested in the medical field but I'm not sure I would be able to handle some of the on the job duties such as catheterizing. Is this a duty you were uneasy about at first, but able to get accustomed to performing? Secondly, I'm not sure I would enjoy many of the on the job duties of a bedside nurse; however, I feel I would enjoy the position of nurse anesthetist. My only fear is that I would become a nurse and be unable to meet the requirements of becoming a nurse anesthetist. Thus, I would be stuck in a position where I don't enjoy many of the on the job duties. In essence, I guess my question is should I still consider nursing and consider becoming a CRNA? Are the odds stacked against me in entering such a difficult and demanding position, and ultimately becoming a CRNA? Lastly, how difficult is it to get an ICU nursing position straight out of college, and how many years of ICU experience are typically required for admission to an anesthesia school? Thanks in advance everyone! I might also add (although perhaps not relevant) that I have a bachelors in business administration and graduated with a 3.8GPA; however, I can't find a job in business, so this has encouraged me to consider the nursing field.