Blouis

Good question, I am in the same boat and interested in seeing what replies you get. I have been a nurse for almost 5 years and will relocated this summer. Not sure what state (I have a few in mind) but not really sure what to do next. I have young children and have to consider each step and how it will effect school, neighborhoods, commute time, etc.

thank you for the insight Juli..gives me some info on what may be expected for this job. I currently work at 2 hospitals in the float pool and have been faced with low patient census and callouts quiet a bit. I love flexibility of working PRN but 12 hours and hospital burnout and thought this would be a nice change

I have a huge heart Line...great point. Not sure if I can actually say no to people I know needs a livesaving procedure. I am unclear if I would be making that decisions or just processing paperwork.

I am close to my wits end with floor nursing and considering a transition into somthing else with my degree. I applied for a position with an insurance company as a medical reviewer. I am assuming I would be reviewing claim forms and sending out letters of approval or denial. Not really familiar with this area. Does anyone have any experience working in this field? What are the hours? (she told me its flexible working 4 or 5 days a week) What are the working conditions? Am I expected to approve procedures using their guidelines? If you worked there, why did you leave and what did you like about the job? Any help would be appreciated

You are so right, the hospital I where I work has cut tuition reimbursement for a year to help with the budget (in addition to replacing exisiting better paid staff with newer secretaries, CNAs, and RNs that are not paid nearly as much)

I worked part time as a CNA while I went to school for my RN. I got the experience and was able to see things from a Techs point of view. This gave me a great respect for how tough their job is as well. I was able to gain experience and had something medical to put on my resume. I landed a job on the same unit I did my clinicals while in school.

I totally agree!!! Glad to see I am not alone. I am starting to hate getting up in the morning to go to work.

I have been floor nursing for the past 4 years and I am feeling that way. I love the interactions with patients and knowing I am helping but the workload is way too much, CNAs disappear often and I find myself trying to do both jobs, and hours have been cut where I live so I am now driving an hour to get to work each way. I was burnt out with med/surg staff nursing so I joined the float pool. I love being able to see different units, learning new things, and meeting new people. One hospital is a cardiac hospital the other is a level I trauma center. This variety is helping until I figure out my niche in nursing....I know it will not be floor nursing but the knowledge and experience will serve me well in whatever I choose.

All those ideas sound great. You guys have given me so much to consider. Thanks for the feedback.

research, now that sounds interesting...

I work at 3 different hospitals PRN/float pool. The units staff the schedule and you simply get called off at least 2 hours prior to the start of the shift for PRN and staff nurses. If you are called within 2 hours or show up and not needed, you get 2 hours pay. Open dates on the schedule go housewide for other unit nurses or float pool to sign up. If you sign up and call out, it counts against you. I have heard of other hospitals making staff nurses sign up for mandatory overtime in case the unit is short staffed. If you are not needed, you are called off.

I have been doing some self reflecting and I cannot see myself doing stressful floor nursing 20 years from now. I work with several nurses over 55 who often talk about the lengthy shifts, aching knees and backs, and the toll it takes changing patients and doing dressings. Most only have an associates (as do I) and cannot take the paycut of school nursing (I certainly cannot, I tried school nursing). I thought about certifications such as med/surg or oncology. I am working on tele training and will take ACLS soon. I am in my 30s now and I am thinking about where do I want to be after this phase of my career is over. What can I do now to get there. Student loans are expensive and a BSN does not guarantee office work. For those with an LPN or ADN degree, where do you see yourself years from now and what are you doing to get there? Those with a BSN where do you hope to see yourself in a few years?

Thanks to all that replied. I checked out the home health forum and I do not think HH is for me. Glad to chat with you guys, guess I will appreciate the 12 hours for now and leaving work at work.

I am just glad that I am not alone. This is stressful work and 12 hours with demanding, total care patients and doctors that are so arrogant are too much to handle sometimes. The pay is great but at times I wonder what else is out there....I did school nursing and loved it. The pay wasn't enough to support my family. I worked 6 days a week (mon-fri at school and 12 hours on the weekend) then I joined the float pool for variety. smh idk

I am getting burnt out working 12 hours. I have young children and a husband. Due to budget cuts, I now have to drive 45 minutes away to 2 hospitals that I employed with working PRN float pool. I get up at 5am, home around 830pm. Then I am mother, trying to catch up on my kids day. Thankfully my husband helps with homework and dinner, but there is housework to do at times, then when the kids go to bed-its quality time with hubby. I often dont get to bed until around midnight. If I work the next day, back up at 5am for what turns out to be a 14 hour day. If I am off, I am still up getting kids ready for school, appointments, after school activities and sports, home again to cook and clean or catching up on sleep. There is no day off and 12 hours. I also worked 8 hours as a school nurse and loved having the same hours as my children. We woke up together, left work together. I didn't have to take the entire day off to attend a football game or parent/teacher confrence. I do love the extra days off that 12 hours offer. I also enjoy making my own schedule so at times I do have 4-6 days off in a row to go on vacations or simply relax. On the flipside, I know nurses who have no children or who has adult children and they work 4-5 12hr shifts a week because they could. I also know nurses who have recently had babies or are pregnant looking to leave 12 hours because of the stress on the body and they do not want to be away from their babies for 12 hours plus. Also babysitters are hard to find and cost more for 12 hours vs a few hours after school. The choice depends on your lifestyle. Just giving you some ideas to think about....