PacoUSA BSN, RN

ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology

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All Content by PacoUSA

  1. PacoUSA

    Nurses smoking e cigs at the station?

    PacoUSA replied to richardgecko's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    I must be the only nurse who has worked at two different hospitals so far in my career and ALWAYS sees crushed cigarette butts under the No Smoking Allowed on the Hospital Campus signs!
  2. PacoUSA

    I pushed my call light 3 seconds ago, what took you so long?

    PacoUSA replied to Joe V's topic in Medical-Surgical

    I am sure they are a lot fatter
  3. PacoUSA

    How much trouble am I ? Scale: 1 to super fired

    PacoUSA replied to imalilteapott's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Wow ... I hope you're looking for a new job. Not because I feel that you're fired, but because I feel that going to HR to report lateral violence is indeed useless in that place. Get the hell out of...
  4. PacoUSA

    Nurses smoking e cigs at the station?

    PacoUSA replied to richardgecko's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    I used to work with a nurse who vaped at the nurses station. She would be discreet tho, but either way I thought it was totally ghetto. While I applaud her decision to quit smoking cigarettes, I...
  5. PacoUSA

    "Holiday/year end" gift

    PacoUSA replied to BonhamsGhost's topic in Emergency

    I'm a travel nurse. The staff nurses got Bluetooth speakers and headphones with the hospital logo but travel nurses did not get them. My agency however is sending us calendars ... :) I don't ever...
  6. PacoUSA

    Picking up travel again...in California. Pointers?!

    PacoUSA replied to hswift's topic in Travel

    That's insane! I applied for mine Sept 2013 and received my license Nov 2013. Don't know what has changed since then, but I do know that getting my fingerprints done in person while I was on vacation...
  7. PacoUSA

    Enough time in a shift to finish work

    PacoUSA replied to Subclavian Steel's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Depends on the acuity and the overall flow of your unit. My last staff job, I would often stay to finish charting because there never seemed like enough time to do it during shift due to all the...
  8. PacoUSA

    Recently terminated

    PacoUSA replied to beausilk74's topic in Patient Medications

    As a general rule, I never document meds as given until I physically see the patient take them or I administer them via PEG or injection or IV. Also, I would never leave meds at the bedside for...
  9. PacoUSA

    Is required unpaid training legal?

    PacoUSA replied to Traumanurse15's topic in Travel

    In my mind, travel assignments pay me much more than a staff job, so any extra assessments they need done in preparation for a job to me are par for the course in getting ready for the
  10. PacoUSA

    All Men Shift

    PacoUSA replied to kalevra's topic in Men in Nursing

    I absolutely HATED OB and especially L&D. The site where I did my clinicals in nursing school for this was extremely estrogen-charged and I felt extremely uncomfortable working there. My only...
  11. PacoUSA

    All Men Shift

    PacoUSA replied to kalevra's topic in Men in Nursing

    ER and ICU seems to be the
  12. PacoUSA

    All new, and afraid to get up and go!

    PacoUSA replied to Amandaode18's topic in Travel

    Although some people have gone to Hawaii on their first assignment, some people recommend against it for many reasons. I took my first assignment at a top hospital near family, that way I can stay...
  13. PacoUSA

    Is CCRN more Prestigious Than PCCN?

    PacoUSA posted a topic in Critical Care

    I am at a lack for creative or appropriate words at this late hour, so pardon the improper use of words for my question. But I am curious ... I am aware that CCRN and PCCN are both certifications...
  14. PacoUSA

    NP considering Travel RN positions

    PacoUSA replied to nikkimimi84's topic in Travel

    The fact that you have been away from the bedside for 4 years might be an issue. I was told you need recent experience to travel, meaning you can only travel in the experience you have the year or two...
  15. PacoUSA

    Possible Strike at my Assignment Site

    PacoUSA posted a topic in Travel

    So I was just contacted by someone at my agency who called to find out if I was going to be available to continue working if there is a strike next month. This was a surprise to hear because I had no...
  16. PacoUSA

    College: Do I Have a Chance with My Grades?

    PacoUSA replied to ashleegarris's topic in Pre-Nursing Students

    Um yes ... I need to explain that, lol. I meant to press QUOTE on my iPad and instead pressed LIKE and for some reason I cannot unlike it! it was definitely an error on my part, for the record!...
  17. PacoUSA

    College: Do I Have a Chance with My Grades?

    PacoUSA replied to ashleegarris's topic in Pre-Nursing Students

    I have to agree with RNsRWe. If one is a good writer, the good writing skills are still obvious even in a casual setting like allnurses, despite the use of internet acronyms such as "lol." If someone...
  18. PacoUSA

    How Hard is nursing school?

    PacoUSA replied to loveflowers's topic in Pre-Nursing Students

    I graduated from an ABSN almost 3 years ago ... and I am still recovering from it But was it worth it? I think so. I entered the workforce a whole year ahead of anyone that started a 2-year program,...
  19. PacoUSA

    Which accelerated program is best, SUNY Binghamton, Downstate, or Stony Brook?

    PacoUSA replied to afineskylark's topic in Pre-Nursing Students

    The best? Pfft, that's easy ... Stony Brook. Then again, I'm biased ? ... don't need prior health care experience, I didn't have it. Your essay and recommendations weigh heavily on their decision to...
  20. PacoUSA

    Scared of owing money

    PacoUSA replied to raindrop's topic in Travel

    $10/hr? No way would I accept that low a taxable hourly rate. That sounds way too
  21. PacoUSA

    Best specialty for travel?

    PacoUSA replied to Nessybean's topic in Travel

    Honestly, it depends on the unit you are ultimately assigned to. I was a staff nurse on a notoriously heavy med/surg/tele unit, where 5 patients was usually way too much, oftentimes there were 4...
  22. PacoUSA

    Giving Notice without a "travel job" lined out

    PacoUSA replied to Steph RN's topic in Travel

    If you take an assignment in a city where you have friends/relatives that you can stay with for free and pocket most of the housing stipend, you can really save up money that way and be prepared for...
  23. PacoUSA

    Best specialty for travel?

    PacoUSA replied to Nessybean's topic in Travel

    I worked 2 years as a med/surg/tele nurse and got my first travel assignment on a cardiac tele floor. Way different experience. I get 5 patients still but I don't feel like I'm drowning like in my...
  24. PacoUSA

    Left Nursing After 3 Months and Couldn't Be Happier!

    PacoUSA replied to sweetgeorgia's topic in First Year After Licensure

    When I was unemployed 6 years ago, I completed a computerized career battery test at the local state employment office. It basically asks you all of these weird preference questions and it results in...
  25. PacoUSA

    When is the right time to apply to an Agency(s)

    PacoUSA replied to AlishaaaRN's topic in Travel

    I started talking to agencies in February of this year, picked agencies in June/July, completed paperwork in Aug, started interviewing with hospitals in Sept, gave notice and resigned early Oct and...