KimICURN

I am a second career nurse who has only been nursing for 2 years. The first year was in a cardiac ICU and my second year has been in the ER. While I realize both have been great experience I realize that neither are my forever home. I found the ICU to be excessively tedious and although I like the pace of the ER the level of negativity and poor treatment of patients and staff has worn me out. I have spoken to our L&D manager who basically hired me without a formal interview. To be honest I'm scared that this to will bring dispointment as the others that I was excited about had. Plus it will be a whole new environment that I know very little about. I know no one can say it will be a fit or not. But can all you L&D nurses tell me why you like your job and maybe a few downfalls?

I am also an ER nurse considering leaving for the cath lab. If fact I said the other day I would only leave the ER for cath lab and then a job was posted! I worry about getting board, but ER can be repetative also. Drunk in, fluid in, drunk out. Wondering about call and what the hous are for our guys here. Good luck to you, keep us posted!

I was listening to a whiney patient one day and accidently slammed my fingers in the door, she didn't even pause from her whining to ask if I was ok! I excused my self to go put ice on my hand. :uhoh21:

originally from rnforyears - ok, let me chime in here. not only are new grads expensive to orient, even when off orientation it takes almost a full year before that nurse is actually pulling his/her own weight in the unit. keeping that in mind, lets say that a manager hires a group of new grads. how many will have quit before or around that year before the manager ever gets a return on investment. i completely agree. as a new grad i was hired to an icu and after 1 year transferred to er because it was my dream job. i never had any intentions of staying where i was and i knew it. funny thing is the person who hired me knew it too because i originally applied for er. i just took advantage of the opportunity to learn and am very thankful for the experience, i still work there prn. also it does take a year before you start to feel like you are managing on your own, so it's a big commitment for the whole unit. i also moved 2000 miles from home for the job, i knew in order to get the experience i wanted i was going to have to really put myself out there. good luck to you!

According to Dr. Walken "The ONLY prescription is more cowbell!"

I don't understand what the problems with unions are either. I went to school in California where the ratio is 4:1 on med/surg floors and 2:1 ICU ALWAYS! I had to move to Texas to find a job after graduation where the ratios are often 6:1 on med/surg floors and sometimes 3:1 in ICU, CRAZY!!! I feel bad for those nurses, really that is just unsafe. Personally, once I get my experience I will ship on back out West because of that and the horrible pay here. I could make 2.5 times the pay and better benefits. I don't understand why the subject is taboo, maybe someone will enlighten us.

My response to the numerous ***** nurses recieving a patient form the ER at shift change: I am sorry that I JUST had to bring this patient up to at shift change but the admitting doctor / NP had the chart for what seemed like 12 hours and the patient has been begging me to please take them to their room. Remember we come to work for the patient not for ourselves, just sayin'. And I am also sorry that I forgot to tell you in report that they had a broken arm when they were 4, they had a little trouble giving me a history because they couldn't breath when they came in.

Get out! Not worth being stressed and miserable during your pregnancy. It sounds like an on going problem that is never going to be fixed.

I think it would depend on the person. I have three kids and I probably would have thought humm . . . a male L&D nurse. And then when the contractions got going would have forgot all about it. We go to male ob/gyn what's the difference?

I HAD a husband like that.

Hemostats with tape, truama shears, nitro SL, alcohol prep pads. and I always make sure flushes are handy :) Have fun!

Althought not pursuing my CRNA others that I have worked with are and they were accepted with about 2 years working in a cardiovascular ICU in a level one trauma center.

Yes, but he didn't say anything just sat straight up and looked. Died about an hour later. When the family asked for an explanation I had nothing to offer except death is as unique as birth, we all have a different experience. But I did make me curious as to why, there are no good answers.

It seem alot of posts are rants and we all need to vent but let's share a good story that impacted us or a time when we felt we made a difference. Something inspirational!:redpinkhe

They were hired by a Filipino manager.

Yeah Doc!!!:w00t:

Imagine being sick, having a hard time digesting what is going on a round you and someone is speaking to you in broken English. It is frustrating for the patient and other members of the health care team. When a patient had complained about a nurse on our unit another nurse said to me, well I understand so and so fine, well of course you do you work with her everyday! And yes unfortunately you have to be careful what you say. Especially if management is from another coutry.

I have a family member who spent time in prison for a crime in which someone lost thier life. She served her time, turned her life around and has been a nurse for over 10 years. She should contact her state BON to see what the process is before she starts school.

I graduated in May of 2010 and didn't even attempted to get a job as an RN in the Bay Area. I applied out of state and am currently working in a Cardio Vascular ICU as a new grad in Texas. It would have been years before I would have had an opprotunity like this in California. So many of the people, nearly 2/3, I attended school with are still looking for jobs and the others are either working in clinics or LTC. California is suffering financially and although they pay very well, it is difficult to get a job there as a new grad. I say if you can move do it, and then go back if you want in a few years with some experience.

It is cheaper to go to school in California, I am also a native. But I moved to Texas for a job because I could not find a new granduate job. Actually I asked around and then didn't even try. I was from the bay area and knew the competition would be stiff. I came to Texas a started in a CVICU. Good luck with your decision.

As a new graduate working in the ICU and having precepted for 6 weeks in the ER prior to graduation I love the idea!! Some ICU nurses do expect a neat package and in a busy ER it can be hard to find someone to push the bed from one unit to another. I would do it I think you would have a greater understanding of the whole picture and some fun too!

I am a new grad (May 2010) and have been working in CVICU on my own since October. I currently work nights, with a family (2 kids and hubby) is has been challenging to work night and feel like I can't participate in life when I an not working. I moved 2000 miles for a RN job because my home state has limited jobs for new graduates. My long term goal is to go back home and work. I have applied for a position in the GI Lab at the same hospital, and should interview next week. My question is should I stick out the next 18 months in the ICU and return home with my experience or go for the day job in GI Lab. I am afraid that if I took a position like GI lab that I would be limiting my options when I return home. I just don't want to limit my experience so much that I can only work in a GI Lab type environment and then not be able to find a job later. Thoughts???

I can totally relate to to the depression and crying of night shift. I am married and have two children at home 9 and 11 and feel so disconnected from the people who live in my own house! I have a dream job of CVICU but struggle everyweek with sticking with it to get a year experience so I can move on. (I still have 9 months left) Some days I can talk myself into hanging in there and other days I am just angry. I know an opportunity was given to me and I should take full advantage of it; but I am at the point where I think that my health and the happiness of my family should far outweigh any career goals that I may have. I have asked my manager for a 6 days on 7 off shift because we just had someone leave with that shift and there is already someone working the opposite, but she is doing away with that rotation because of safety concerns, which incidentally I ended up working anyway to complete the outgiong persons schedule. I like it becauseyou can have a normal week. Hopefully a solution will present itself and it will work better for myself and my family. I hope you also find a soluntion as I can totally relate to the frustration you feel. Keep us updated and good luck to you.

I have an interest in forensic nursing and was wondering of any one had information as to where I could get information on tharted in this direction and what the demand is. I have a legal/criminal justice educational background as well as being an RN. I have always wanted to combine the two and this seems perfect. Any information would be helpful, thanks.

Lots of Candians here in East Texas. Come join us!