jetsh

Sorry to send mixed messages but I definitely vote for a mix! You'll get much better experience as a new grad on days, and you want the first scary situations you're in to be on days with plenty of people around to help out. My unit doesn't even let new grads do permanent nights until they've been there for at least six months, sometimes longer. Personally I think no matter what your schedule, you'll flip-flop a bit -- it's worth it to get the day shift experience. You'll see different things, get to participate in rounds, learn more about the various procedures... That's my vote! I'm on permanent evenings now (3-11) and I hate nights so it works for me, but I'm really glad I did day/night for 1.5 years before settling into this. I saw a lot. Good luck! Congrats on getting a job!

Hi! I work in the ED so I'll tell you what I know: 1) Our nurse-patio ratio is generally 1:3. 2)How receptive is management to staff going back to school? -- in my experience, very receptive. We like for our nurses to be highly trained. A lot of staff RNs on my floor are pursuing MSNs, and several already have them -- and are remaining staff RNs. 3)What shifts do you guys work? (my ED does 12s 7a, 11a, 3p, and 7p) -- that I don't know, but we are hiring right now and I think we need more evening/night nurses more than anything else. 4) What are the requirements to work your traumas? -- no idea. 5) What certs are required and how soon? -- I think BLS is required before hire and PALS is required within a certain amount of time after, but I'm not sure. Don't know about trauma certs. 7) What do you wish someone told you about your ED before you started working there??.... ? I know no one like to talk about $$, but what is your base pay rate.... $20-23/hr, $24-27/hr, $27-30/hr../ >$30/hr??? Are weekends required, any shift diff? -- I THINK it's in the $27-30 range. Definitely shift differential, and I'm pretty sure around every 3rd weekend is required. There is a differential for nights, for weekends, and you do pretty well for yourself if you work night shifts on a weekend... 9) How long have you been an RN?? Two years.