whd13b

#3, give the Lasix. Patient is almost certain to be in fluid overload based on the symtoms presented, as well as patient admitting to having run out of her Lasix. We can also add that no data in the given scenareo mentions how long she has gone without her Lasix, and considering it is mentioned that she is on "high" doses of Lasix at home, even just a few days skipped can severely distrupt her fluid balance and send her into fluid overload.

Travel nursing is a great idea to check out an area as well as different hospitals. It also gives you the time and convenience of being right there if you choose to apply and interview at local hospitals. I have a question though. I'm still undecided as to where I want to move, the Tampa area or the West Palm Beach area. Can you tell me what hospital starts new grads at 29/hr? I have 5 years experience and the idea of a possible starting rate for me at maybe 33 and above is joyous to say the least as most numbers I've been finding put me in the mid to upper 20's for 5 years experience.

I so agree your point! I currently work in NYS (the lower Hudson Valley) making almost 39.00 an hour. It's expesive as hell to live here. Taxes are super high, roadways crumbling, the weather absolutely sucks and there is not much to do on a social level. Although nurse/patient ratios are about 1:6 on days and 1:8 on nights, Med/surg, the acuity of these patients seem to get worse and worse. I just called West Boca Medical Center and with my experience, starting rate would be 29-31 an hour. Is it worth it?? It's looking better and better. I also lived in the West Palm Beach/ Boca area for 8 years, so I know life is not perfect there..it certainly was nice.

I have some real time figures to share with you and hope it helps. I, as well, have been trying to find out average salaries in Florida and eventually had to call actual hospitals to obtain the correct info since what I was reading in the blogs was so "all over the place" with relation to actual figures. From the research that I've compiled, the average staff RN working in a metropolitan region such as West Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdal etc, will make about 66-67K a year with no specialty, on a med/surg unit. That's about 34 an hour. I just called West Boca Medical Center and spoke with a nursing recruiter and an RN with 5 years experience like I have and telemetry specialty like I have, will start between 29-31 an hour. The RNs are also in 1199 union, a big plus for me as I am currently in the same union workin in NYS. They also offer 401k company match of .50 cents to the every dollar contributed, up to 6% of salary. Hope that gives you some idea of salaries. My advice to you, rather than trying to obtain such specific numbers through blogs, just pick a hospital in the area you want to live and simply call them and speak with their nursing recrtuitment department directly. Good luck!

Thanks for the data! I know many hospitals, especially if they are trying to obtain magnet status, are all pushing for the majority of their RN's to have a BSN. I am currently in pursuit of it as the currennt hospital I work at is in process of becoming magnet, and I will continue as long as my employer will pay for it :)

Wow...that's a pretty decent hourly rate. Thank you! :)

It certainly can be! Then again traffic anywhere in South Florida is horrific, especially during season. I lived in WPB for 5 years and Boca for 3, pre RN days so I have a good idea of the region for home owner or rent purposes but for being an RN..I have no clue..

Wow..thank you so much for the detailed salary and benefit information. Ironic after living in Florida all your life, you seek the north :) And myself growing up in the north, seek the south. I actually love the Hudson Valley region of NYS where I live. It's beautiful here and only 1 hour outside Manhattan. The long, cold, dreary winters though I'm just growing tired of. It's almost impossible to be active during the winter months. I have compared cost of living between the two regions and only thing more expensive in the Hudson Valley are property and school taxes. Food, rent, gas, utilities, and real estate are all pretty similar. Thanks again for the great information :)

That gives me a little bit of an idea so thank you! I'm hoping I can land $28-34 an hour in one of these larger cities. From the research that I've done, Boca Raton and Ft. Lauderdale seem have the highest per hour salary for RN's. Boca Raton is only about 15 minutes south of West Palm Beach, so that could work. I live and work in Middletown which is in Orange County, and considered the lower Hudson Valley :)

Thank you! :)

Thank you for the information! I understand that Florida salaries are lower than NYS which is one of the reasons I'm trying to find out just how low is low :) My focus is Tampa Bay or West Palm Beach as I know these regions pay the highest and I'm familiar with both. I have considered becoming a travel nurse in those areas to get a feel for the regions but before I move, however I still want to find out a basic hourly rate for those regions. Unfortunately staying on per diem for most facilities requires working 2 to 3 weekend shifts per month so I don't see how that could work with working a full time job in Florida Thanks for the information though, it's well appreciated.

I am currently an RN with an Associate degree in nursing and working toward my BSN. I graduated in 2010 and work for a medical center as a float, with focus in med/surg, telemetry/pcu, rehab, bone and joint and occasionally oncology. Nurse patient ratios on day shift are 6/1 in med/surg and 5/1 on telemetry/pcu. I am currently making 36.80 an hour with overtime paid for anything over 12.5 hours per shift or over 40 hours per week. I love my job and where I work but hate living in NYS, primarily the winters. I am researching moving to Florida. I have my options narrowed down to the West Palm Beach or Tampa Bay area. Salaries and working conditions, i.e. nurse patient ratios, have been very difficult for me to acquire. If there is anyone currently working in these locations and in the same areas of care, I would so appreciate any information you could provide. Thanks!

By the way, if $ 3800.00 is the monthly stipend for insurance, you are seriously making out there considering most single pay insurance is about $500.00 per month! The top agencies I've come across, between Highway Hypodermic and other travel nursing websites seem to be Premier Healthcare Professionals, PRCS Healthcare, FlexCare Medical Staffing, Innovative Placements Inc., Trinity Healthcare Staffing, and Talemed. I have read in many a blogs though, it's not just the reputation of the agency but also your rapport with the recruiter. By nature, some will be more intelligent than others, some will be more aggressive than others and so the story goes with any position. I'm currently working with 3 agencies and will soon choose one for assignment.

Wow...you need to email me!! I work at a Middletown hospital as a float and worked Oncology often when I worked nights. I'm on days now and haven't worked your unit in months. :) We should talk about this. I'm pretty close to signing on with an agency!

That's a lot of great retirement investment information! Thanks Ned!