gnursjr2

Recruiter offering take home of 1300 per week. Out of that I have to pay housing. This is in Calif. They are offering 1000 completion bonus at end of 10 week contract. I appreciate any feedback. Thx.

Hi, I just started working at a new job on a psych unit. My preceptor watched me give a IM Ativan. I have given many an injection at other facilities, so it's not a forgien thing to me. Anyway, after he and 6 other co-workers watched me give an IM into L buttock, he told me "You need to practice your injection technique". He said I have to give all IMs Z track method, and aspirate. Well, every where I've worked no one aspirates when giving a STAT emergency IM, we just get it into the patient. I would just like some feed back from some other RNs out there. Also, after giving injection do you just flick the plastic cover down over the needle with your thumb, or do you rub it on the side of bed? He does not want me pushing plastic cover down with finger. Thx for any input! I just felt really stupid.

Travel for Psych RNs is not plentiful. They are few, and lots of competition. My first contract was by lots of phone calls all over to recruiters, took tons of work. So, in my personal opinion, don't up and quit your job thinking you will be able to pick up a travel job right away. Good luck.

Hi, I just wanted to know how your ADN to BSN was going. I am looking into different colleges at this time. Is it a do-able thing to work full time and go to school. If I may ask, what school did you pick? I appreciate your input. I'm sorry I can't help with your questions, as I am on the west coast. Thx.

Psych is really hard to find travel jobs in, especially now. I don't recommend traveling if that is your speciality, there is no real demand. You can find a job, but it takes ALOT of work and persistance. If you are an ICU or L and D RN, you can still make bank as a traveler, they are really in demand. Psych is even hard to find a perm job in now, at least here in So. Cal. Get your BSN 1st, and think real long and hard about travel.

The last travel assignment I did, they offered everyone a perm job, so it's not unusual. My company had no problem with it. I think it depends on the company. I decided not to sign on perm with the hospital, d/t ageism and descrimination regarding my ADN degree. I went perm at a hospital closer to my perm home and I am working part time and going back to school online for BSN.

From my experience at a VA in CA, you are going to do very well. They are really big into people with degrees, the more education you have, to them you walk on water. You will hire in at a higher rate of pay, or step, your promotion potiential with a master's is great. It really doesn't matter if you are a good nurse or not, if you have some letters behind your name you are set with the VA system for making excellent $$. Hope you like it.

I am wanting some feedback regarding job interviews that you have experienced. I've been on quite a few, but this last week was the icing on the cake for me. It started out when I was in the waiting room; this man opened the door and pointed his finger at me, motioning "Come with me." He then said "Down the hall, 1st room on left." I entered the room and there were 2 women sitting there. I said "Hello, I'm _____, and extended my hand. Netiher women looked up, and just said "Take a seat." They then told me I would be asked a series of preformated questions and graded on a scale of 1 to 5 on how I answered. No nice to meet you, tell us about yourself, nada. The man just seemed really ****** off about being there. I answered the questions to the best of my ability. At the end they asked me if I had any questions, I asked a couple. They then said "The interview is over, we will contact you if we are interested." They did not look up, nothing. I said thank you and left. I thought the whole interview was just awful, but maybe this is the norm now. I'd appreciate any feedback. This interview was for a County job, outpatient psych RN.

I am wanting some feedback regarding job interviews that you have experienced. I've been on quite a few, but this last week was the icing on the cake for me. It started out when I was in the waiting room; this man opened the door and pointed his finger at me, motioning "Come with me." He then said "Down the hall, 1st room on left." I entered the room and there were 2 women sitting there. I said "Hello, I'm _____, and extended my hand. Netiher women looked up, and just said "Take a seat." They then told me I would be asked a series of preformated questions and graded on a scale of 1 to 5 on how I answered. No nice to meet you, tell us about yourself, nada. The man just seemed really ****** off about being there. I answered the questions to the best of my ability. At the end they asked me if I had any questions, I asked a couple. They then said "The interview is over, we will contact you if we are interested." They did not look up, nothing. I said thank you and left. I thought the whole interview was just awful, but maybe this is the norm now. I'd appreciate any feedback. This interview was for a County job, outpatient psych RN.

There is no shortage of psych RNs. When I graduated in 2009, no jobs were to be found for New Grads in So. CA, and believe me I went to every job fair far and wide, tons and tons of competition. I had to leave the state and got my 1st job working at a private Psych Hospital. Now, with 2 years of experience, it is still difficult. I finally got a job last week, took a huge cut in pay in So. Cal. I strongly advise to do a year of med/surge or Tele 1st. You will be thankful in the end. This has been my experience. California is in such a mess financially right now that Mental Health funding has been slashed. It is harder and harder for hospitals to make $$ with inpatient psych. There is no shortage of RNs anywhere in CA.

VVMaze: Have you applied to this unit yourself? Let me know. Thx

Hi, has anyone out there ever worked at Glendale Adventist, in Glendale CA, behavioral health units? I was wondering if you could give me any feedback. It is much appreciated. Thank you!

I've gotten a lot of flack about being a psych RN, from family, neighbors, hair stylist, gym instructor etc. People in general are very frightened by the mentally ill. It is by far "another world" for sure, and you don't really know about it, until you work in the field. I personally love being a psych RN. It is harder to find a job though, in this field, especially in CA. I will tell you I have had numerous RN's tell me they are in Psych because they don't want to deal with "Poop or blood". I have also met many RN's that work in Psych because they can't hang on the med/surg floor any longer, and they tell me is "easy" in psych for them, they are usually the bottom of the barrel psych RN's also, it really bothers me that you have to deal with the bottom of the barrel RNs many times. When I worked at a psych hospital in another state, all of the RNs I worked with had been on "Contract" d/t drug abuse and could not get a job anywhere else, so they wound up at this psych hospital, that would hire just about anyone with a RN behind their name. Sad, but a true story.

I was just in San Diego on contract, paid really well, but it was a fortune to live there. You have to take into consideration, things like TX, and NV don't have State tax, so you clear more $$. California is expensive, especially, SD, and the Bay area.

If you don't think you can hang with the night shift, I'd take the p/t evenings. Night shift is not for everyone, especially 5 nights a week. You never know what might happen, if they like you, maybe a day shift could open in the future, and you could get into that. Take it from me, its hard to get a job as a new grad, especially if you have an ADN. That's what I have, and I had to move out of state for my 1st job. Now, it seems they want BSNs. Due to the economy, hospitals can be picky. Some hospitals don't care about ADN or BSN, but if they are trying to go "Magnet" they want BSN. Hope this helps you.