NurseCCNY

Good Day All, My name is CC, and I currently live and work in New York City at a municipal hospital. I've been an RN for three years working in the ER and I love it. I really wouldn't change my job for the world, except that I simply adore the Triangle. Easy living, pleasant weather and a slower pace. I am seriously considering relocating to Raleigh and have received my NC nursing license. However, I am very concerned with the salary in Raleigh-Durham. My current salary is in the mid 70's and my employer pays for my health, medical, dental and vision entirely, 100% for a family of four including $15 on prescriptions and copays. They match my retirement and provide union support and pays up to $2,500/yr in tuition reimbursement. So for the most part I take home most of my check. I've searched online at some of the benefits of local R-D hospital benefits and it seems that most institutions require employees to pay towards some of the benefits that I currently get for free. I DO mean to be nosey, and would like to know what experienced nurses in R-D actually make and what they are required to pay for from there salary and what benefits and kick-backs nurses receive from there institution. Some of the institutions I have looked into are Duke, WakeMed, UNC, and Rex. If only I can have the best of both worlds, Raleigh-Durham living with a New York City salary. Any info would help because I am so on the fence. Thanks nurses in advance for your input.

Wondering if you could shed some light. I am a ADN new grad who has been a LPN for 3 yrs. Although I have received by RN license, I currently work as a LPN. I did my LPN in 10mo while working PT w/o any problems, and worked full time as an LPN to get my RN which I completed in 1yr. I am currently looking for RN jobs (anything; PT, FT, PD). I thought that my LPN would hold weight as far as experience, but I'm being told by most Nurse Managers that my LPN experience is basically "useless". With the job market being so slow and the BSN being the minimum requirement for most institutions, I am going back to school to obtain my BSN (which I've already been accepted into two) but I just don't know how. I feel compelled to resign from my LPN position to do my BSN full time, with the hopes that when I graduated in May 2012, I would be eligible for better positions since I will meet the minimum requirements. While in school, I can work PT or PD just to get my foot in the door (any door). My family is strongly against this idea b/c I work for the city (who has awesome benefits) and they think I will be insane to quit a FT LPN to work PD/PT as a RN and go to school FT for my BSN. Just not sure what to do. Work as an LPN FT and attend my BSN PT to graduate as a BSN with no RN experience -OR- resign as an LPN, do my BSN FT and work PT/PD so I can get some experience as an RN? Time is $$ and money is no object, not because I am rich, but b/c too much time has been wasted doing something that works out to be useless. Any words of advise?

Hello NY Nurses, I am currently employed by HHC as an LPN. I recently obtained my RN and decided to contact my nurse recruiter to obtain information about seeking employment as an RN. When I spoke with the recruiter, she informed me that 1. HHC is currently on a hiring freeze and not giving raises to employees who are looking for new positions. 2. There is currently a waiting list of approximately one year for currently employed nurses to obtain a change in title from LPN to RN or CNA to RN., so it will be quite some time before your upgraded 3. and that I should try to seek employment at other institutions but most hospitals in the area are in the same predigament and not hire. I decided to leave it at that. However, HHC including the institution I am employed by, has advertised open positions on job websites on the internet. When I went to go speak with a collegue who is a charge nurse in another department about the situation, I happened to pass by the nurse education office and happened to notice approximately 30-40 new hires under orientation. The same collegue I visited with confirmed with me that they were new external hirees. New grads, newly relocated nurses from out of state and nurses who were previously employed by institutions that have recently closed. My collegue informed me to contact my union about the status of HHC and my current institution and the status, because is seems that the institution/HHC is bypassing qualified applicants at there institution to hire outside applicants. I was under the assumption that most institutions usually post and hire from within before they turn to outside applicants. What can be done to overturn this injustice?

Howdey Tx Nurses (I think that's how you spell howdey/howdy) Anyway, I am a new RN grad from NYC. I have had a long term passion to become a CNM and WHNP (yes both) as I have always had a high interest in women's health. I am currently looking for a Staff RN position in NY, and because a significant amount of hospitals have closed in NY most institutions are reluctant to hire new grads. They seem to be hiring experienced nurses who have been laid off. Seeing as though I have nothing keeping me in NY, besides the 24hr access to food, I have no problem relocating to areas that are in demand of nurses, experienced or new grad. I have been researching the Houston/Pasadena area and so far it seems like someplace I would be comfortable relocating to seeing as though the salary and cost of living is in my favor. My only concern about moving to H-town is the educational availability and demand for CNM and WHNP in the area. Are these specialties in demand in Tx? I would hate to stay in expensive NY to obtain an advance degree in nursing and relocate to TX to see that it is not relevant in that geographical area. What about schools with those specialties? Are there many available in the H-town area or would I have to go to distant areas of TX to obtain the education in those specialties. Help me out TX nurses. Your feed back would be greatly appreciated.

Seems as though you and I are in the same boat. I am currently seeking dual degree BSN/MS programs at the moment. I live in NY so there are alot of programs in the area that offer both CNM and WH programs. My current and simpliest understanding is that NM can deliver and assist laboring women; the NP does not. WHNP usually work in a variety of clinical settings. If you are unsure which to persue, do both. Some programs allow you to obtain a masters in one clinical specialty and after completion you can obtain a post grad certification in the the other specialty. Stony Brook University offers both programs (online) in where you can achieve both.

Welcome to the world of nursing. I've been a nurse for close to three years and one thing I have learned to be is more assertive. Assertive not aggressive. First, bring this issue up to your unit manager, charge nurse etc and as appropriate. Collectivly decide and enforce how your unit is going to handle harrassing visitors. At the beginning of your shift and when visitors arrive at the bedside of their loved ones, introduce yourself. "I'm Nurse So&So. I'll be looking after the care of you/your ____ along with my CNA ____. Is there anything myself or my CNA can do for you/your___ right now? If they are in need and it can be delegated to assistive personnel let them know who will be helping them. If its in regards to a concern that you are responsible for handling let them know when you will be investing their concern. Upon leaving, place the call bell in the patients hand and tell the loved one when and how it should be used. Tell the loved ones you will be caring for other patients and you will try your best to do rounds of all your patients hourly or so. If the relatives seem sane, show them where they can get water, icechips etc and if appropriate for the patient. That has worked for me. Now if your preping meds for another client and they interupt, listen to their concern and reply to them that as soon as it is reasonably possible you or your CNS will attend to their loved one within 5, 10, 20 or 30 mins. Be honest and frank with them. Most visitors do not realize that there minor concerns can wait. If they continue to "tailgate" you kindly let them know that you do not appreciate their intimidation and have no problem having security escort them out of the facility. It may seem harsh but it works.