msancheeze BSN

I am quite sad to update you my transfer to the ED was blocked by my director, citing insufficient time available to train my replacement. I am crushed, however, I am planning on applying to the next round and welcome your feedback on what I can do ...

Thank you, The Nurse Motivator! I just used your post to prep for an ED RN training program interview. My interview panel was impressed...and I got the job! I anticipate the transition from OR nursing to ER will be humbling and terrifying, but wit...

I have been offered a "local" 12 month assignment at a military base hospital through Spectrum Healthcare Resources. I have never traveled but the compensation seems pretty good for a full time OR RN. Have any of you completed an assignment at a mi...

You are absolutely correct. Side-by-side comparison has a regular staff position as the better deal. No family, I have a day dream of taking my VW Westfalia on the road as a travel nurse. Thanks again for your input!

Thanks for the reply, NedRN. Colorado Springs, CO; local contract (I own a home here) at $40 per hour with a 12 month contract, $44 per hour if I decline benefits. Keep in mind it's about $10 more per hour than I would make as a staff nurse at one ...

You absolutely did the right thing. I found myself in a similar situation the first year of my professional nursing career and again, just last week. I found it emotionally jarring to have to walk off a job and stand my ground, but I left with my p...

I rotate between Dansko clogs and high quality running shoes. I spare no expense when it comes to shoes. Also, I'm young-ish, healthy, and fit, but I don't go a day without compression stockings. They make of world of difference at the end of the...

Still using our Rover 2's for now but in addition to a "Neptune Suction Safety Checklist" that must be verbally completed for each procedure with the time out (if you ever worried about adequate prep dry time, not an issue now...) many of the surgeon...

Love vascular and ortho. I'm not too picky but I hate any procedure that starts with "I & D of..."

I would go so far to say that I am burnt out on call. There's just something about being yanked out of my bed at 2am and having to work every third weekend in addition to my 40+ hours per week that makes me want to leave the OR entirely. Harsh word...

I worked with a CST and an RN in the OR who were both veterinary techs prior to their careers in the OR and from what they told me, there was a fair amount of crossover. I would say you have a leg up on the competition. Are you planning on working ...

Some of my best work memories are of working the holidays... Like many have mentioned, the patients and families are grateful, the doctors are nicer, and the one's that are not get a little something extra from the supply room in their unit stocking....

Stay far, far away from HCA/HealthOne. Two words: FOR PROFIT. Lowest pay, worst benefits, most expensive health insurance (especially if you have a family), and notorious for the bait-and-switch recruitment tactic - they bait you with a good schedu...

I work in surgery so the only time I come out of the "dungeon" is to interview patients or speak with family members. I always make sure my name badge is flipped to the correct side before I interact.

I just transitioned from a small, regional hospital OR where I took over 100 hours of call every four weeks to a large, level I trauma center OR where I take approx 32 hours of call every four weeks. I can count on one hand the number of times I wa...

My workplace does not pay for AORN membership but does encourage membership. They do offer reimbursement for the CNOR certification exam and pay in full for ACLS/PALS courses in addition to paying us our base wage for class time. I have met a mixed...

The market is still pretty bleak for new grads across the state, but considerably better than it was three years ago. There seems to be a high turnover rate for experienced RNs in several of the specialty areas of Health One hospitals. The 2011(?)...

I will be interviewing for an OR position in a few weeks, what questions should I be prepared to answer as an experienced OR nurse? I have an idea of the behavioral questions (for example "describe a conflict with a coworker and how you handled it?"...

Thank you lockheart678 and Dela RN! Your suggestions will most definitely help me prepare for my upcoming interviews!

What is the management and administration like at Swedish right now? There seems to be a continual ebb and flow of RN vacancies and I question the turnover rate.

Has anyone taken or been required to take the TNCC course as an operating room RN? I recently saw this listed as a preferred qualification in addition to CNOR for a job listing - is this common? If you took the course, was it beneficial to your pra...

I agree with ScrubRNwannabe. The OR needs to see your face and know you're interested. I was working on a surgical floor as a new grad but knew I wanted to be in the OR. I went to the OR for a day to observe per the new grad orientation on the flo...

Your post brought a smile to my face. I was a floor nurse before transferring to the OR three years ago. On occasion, I entertain the thought of returning to the floor, romancing the idea of the occasional (okay - rare) patient and family that appr...

I'm in the process of looking. Would you PM me with specifics?

I have been wearing Sanita/Dansko Professional clogs for years but recently tried a pair of Super Birki Clogs. Both are great with sturdy construction, good support, and wipe clean!