cagoulet

Thanks to you all for the great info -- I was planning to take my A&P at the local CC, along with chemistry (required for the nursing program I want to attend), but as a first time student at the community college, I register late -- and the classes are all filled up already! Online is the only way I'll be able to get into a program for Fall 2010. I don't want to wait, either -- I'm 56! I started nursing school in 1971, but only went a few weeks, then transferred to a business program and got a marketing degree. I need these pre-reqs to get into any program, but making sure they will transfer has been very tricky. Candy

It's true there's a shortage of nurses generally -- but not every area is affected the same way. Here in California, some areas (mostly rural) are suffering while others (like the San Francisco Bay Area and LA) are over saturated. You might have to move or commute to another town to get experience. If that's not possible, make an appointment to talk to a hiring manager at the closest couple of hospitals (the one in your town and the next closest one). Talk to them about the vacancies they have and what you need to bring to the table to be considered. Talk to one of your nursing school instructors. She might be able to help you tone up your resume to highlight all that you can offer an employer. Can you work as an LPN while you're looking for an RN job? Is there a skilled care facility close? Don't overlook anything. Above all, don't give up!

My first child, 15 months (he just stopped one day and said, "All done.") and my second, 27 months. She would probably have gone on, but I figured it was time to stop when she put a carton of mile BACK on the shelf in the store and said she didn't need it.

:balloons: Good for you! Quality of life is too important to throw away on a job that's making you sick. When your life is made horrible by the conditions under which you have to work, it's time to move on. My DH did the same thing about 3 weeks ago and he's more relaxed now than I've seen him in a long time. You will have no trouble finding another place -- there are a million options for RNs that don't involve hospital floor nursing! Take a deep breath and jump right in!

Dealing with an alcoholic is a skill no one is born with, so don't beat yourself up! Focus on the love you have for your son and believe that he loves you, too. I, too, divorced when my son was in his teens, and even though he was ambivalent about his father, he hates my husband (even after nearly 10 years). Nothing my dh can do about it, so he just continues to support me in loving my son, even though dh gets nothing from him in return. Your son knows (even if he doesn't admit) that you (and your dh) were there for him when he needed you. He sounds like a scared kid to me -- depressed about his dad, confused about himself, and set to face the biggest event in his young life -- graduation -- in a few short years. He needs to find out who he is, and he's afraid he's going to be just like his dad. I agree with all the other posters -- prayer is the answer. You can augment that with action, guided by love: work with his counselor, set realistic goals, offer unconditional love and support, but don't let him get away with "working you." All kids try that occasionally, even the most "perfect." I'll continue to pray for your situation, too -- and don't let your ex bully you. It's worth getting a lawyer if need be. And document, document, document EVERYTHING having to do with him. If his drinking is so out of control that the girlfriend is screaming and confiding in you, it's not a safe place for your son. (Give the cat back, unless it's your son's as well) Hang in there -- we're all here for you!

DRGs really did a number on health care! Ditto managed care -- like insurance companies can "manage" taking care of someone! My vote goes for patient, also -- never, ever refer to my patients as anything else (though I love the "our babies" title!). I know a lot of docs who won't refer to them any other way, either, and that's a good thing!

Hi, Austin's Mom, I live in Lincoln, about 30 miles NE of Sacramento just off of I-80 and there are tons of places you could work here! The Sac-Sierra region is hospital heaven, and both Sutter Roseville and Kaiser Roseville are expanding their L&D areas like crazy! If you aren't happy where you are, this is a great place -- and the pay is pretty good. -- Candy

Hi Shannon, You will definitely find higher salaries in California, along with a healthy sign-on bonus depending on where you go and what your experience is. I can attest that the Sacramento area is lovely and a wonderful place to live, and the number of hospitals and health care resources here is fantastic. Check out http://www.reallifehealthcare.com for just a taste, and look at http://www.sacbee.com for jobs. Kaiser Permanente in our region starts RNs at $33 an hour, not including shift differentials. Even a small hospital like Fremont Rideout in Marysville/Yuba City is starting RNs at $25 an hour. If you have experience in preceptorship, you can command a lot more. Aside from housing, the cost of living here is not bad, and new state-wide hospital staffing ratios keep the number of patients to nurses at an even level. Good luck!

Hi Nancy, Mount St. Mary's is the Holy Grail of nursing schools. Your credentials are impressive, but be warned that St. Mary's has a waiting list. USF is also wonderful, as is UCSF. I don't think you can go wrong with any of these schools. As for the other two you mention, both have very strong medical schools and great traditions in health care. As for how much where you earn your BS counts, I believe that only matters if you plan to do advanced training or earn advanced degrees. If you plan to be a floor nurse, or a critical care nurse, or any of a hundred "regular" nursing jobs, where you earned your degree doesn't matter. It's what you learn that really counts. Candy Goulette

thanks for the quick reply -- very interesting to see the shortage from the other side. It is much as I suspected. I find it very interesting that nurses are leaving California for Arizona in droves and that many midwestern states find themselves with more nurses than they need.

Hi, My name is Candy Goulette. I am the editor for Real Life Healthcare, a monthly healthcare magazine published by The Sacramento Bee. We're mailed to 75,000 nurses and other healthcare folks in a 14-county area from Lake Tahoe through the greater Bay area. Health care facilities here are also dealing with problems directly related to the ratios that went into effect on Jan. 1. Hospitals here pay from $25 (small, rural hospital) to $33 (Kaiser, Sutter) an hour for NEW grads, which means the old-timers are getting even more. These hospitals must be in compliance to ratios, too, but many aren't, simply because they can't find the nurses to staff their med-surg floors. Do any of you have any comments that I could use in my next issue of the magazine? I know our readers would be interested in your plight. Let me know. You can email me at [email protected]. See this month's magazine at http://www.reallifehealthcare.com