Rigby

I've sewn many of mine - particularly for holidays. Also, my sister the Freeze Baby is a CRNA and since it's so cold in the OR, I've made scrubs that are lined with chamois. She LOVES them! Only problem with my handmade scrubs - they last forever and I get sick of them.

I'm a QI RN and I took a considerable paycut from the Medical Staff nurse position I came from. Traded off for the salaried, 4 ten-hour, no weekend, no holiday schedule. But in the end, the paycheck is still smaller.

I think I have a good candidate and then when I get them in training, I see they are not. Exactly what are you seeing that you don't like?

I work in a hospital-based call center with about 15 RN's and 6 clerical people. Our nurse manager's job has been changed and today we were told that from now on we answer to the "Operations Manager" - who is not a nurse and as far as we know, doesn't even had a degree. She will be doing our evaluations. Isn't there something wrong with this? Isn't there some sort of guideline that recommends nurses be supervised by a nurse.?

AMEN! Nurses would come out of the woodwork if they knew that they could work in a setting that did not include the degree of stress and unrealistic expectations that has become the norm.

Never mind that negativity, TomKat, most of us know what you meant. You have the right attitude by being flexible and willing to get to your goal by whichever route presents itself. Many very good nurses, both LPN's and RN's, have started out as nursing assistants and progressed from there. It doesn't matter where you start, just so you have a goal and a way to achieve it. I suggest you check out the job boards at the hospitals near you and see what's offered. At the hospital where I work, we use PCA's (Patient care assistants) who do not have or need any certification, just in-house training for the job. We also use CNA's (Certified nursing assistants) who MUST have state certification. Maybe you'll discover a way to get a job where you can get the patient care exposure AND tuition assistance to help you. When a place opens in a nursing program, you'll be ready! Glad to know you're in the wings!

If your desire is to be pestigious, the you should seek out a BSN program. (No offense intended BSNers!) Pestigious? Am I missing out on something that refers to a BSN?

Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland has an Associate's program as does Lorain County Community College just West of Cleveland.

We interface with Epic also. Just started doing so about six months ago and we're still making frequent changes. I suspect the features we actually use represent only the tip of the iceberg.

My daughter did a three month assignment at Torrance Memorial and hated every minute of it. Now she's taken a staff position at Cedar Sinai in Beverly Hills and says she loves it. If this is your first traveling assignment, PLEASE be sure to talk to some seasoned travelers regarding your housing and your contract in general. Also, don't forget income taxes. It makes a difference whether you declare a permanent residence or not. Rigby

I use Centramax software and would like to know which other programs are widely used. Specifically, I'd like to know which software program Intellicare uses? Thanks! Rigby

Which software does Intellicare use?

********************************************************** As I said, Swannie, you've been brainwashed by management if you actually believe that crap. Anyone who thinks they're going to be part of the solution by following your advice is a qualified co-dependant. You don't need to allow yourself to be treated badly to know the importance of fairness and justice.

Things are not fair--ever, and the sooner we recognize it, the sooner those who will lead this profession can change it. Please re-think leaving, and become part of the solution. Nurses who survive 'living under fire' are few and far between. Learn the lessons that can be gleaned through this experience and grow from them. Good luck in your decision. Spoken like a true manager, Swannie. Because it is Managment that perpetuates the propaganda that there is honor in "living under fire". This attitude is what has developed highly trained, educated, responsible professionals into victims. Sure, she should stick it out one last shift, sure, it's too late to complain about the unfair assignment, but don't tell her that she should suck it up and it will make a better nurse out of her. Rigby