88nurse2010

Do you guys think it's best to have a CPA file your taxes or do you guys do them on your own? I have always used the free edition of TurboTax but 2014 was my first year travelling.

I am working on applying for my CA license while on an assignment on the East Coast. I think I finally figured out where to go but they're wanting to know what fingerprint card to use. Is there a specific card to use? When I applied for my previous l...

Thanks for the helpful replies!

I'm currently in the middle of my first travel assignment, and I'm trying to think about where to go next. I plan on taking a break & working at my home hospital this Fall, and then taking an assignment somewhere warm over the winter. Of course,...

I have accepted my first travel assignment. I have completed all my paperwork, but I was just sent a contract. I start next week. The biggest issue I have with it is the stipend is several hundred less than what I discussed with my recruiter. I spoke...

I was wondering how many L&D travel nurses have has to pass exams before being officially offered a contract? One hospital is requiring a pharmacology exam and advanced dysrthmia exam. It seems a little overboard for labor and delivery.

Thanks for the replies! It looks like most are online tests and allow several attempts. I think the dysrhthmia exam is taken during the orientation phase. It makes me nervous to quit my job, travel across the country, and then possibly failing and no...

I am planning on travelling as an L&D nurse this summer. I most likely won't take a car, so I would take public transportation to/from work. I don't want to walk through unsafe neighborhoods as a single female. What hospitals have the best access...

Thank you for the reply. I had not thought to look at shuttles to and from public transportation.

I am planning on being a first time traveler starting this summer. I am going to the D.C. area because I have a friend there and thought that would be a good place for a first assignment. Because I'm location specific and the D.C. area is expensive, ...

I was told FlexCare would reimburse for travel and license reimbursement, but according to the agent I spoke with they will just make deductions from your weekly pay to cover the costs. To me, that means I'm still paying for it.

Thanks to both of you for the advice. It helps to hear personal experiences others have had with different agencies.

I work labor & delivery in Missouri. So the pay is very low...but so is cost of living. I keep hearing that travel nursing is supposed to pay well. Any other agencies you would recommend?

I like putting my mom's who I think have OP babies on their side, bottom leg straight, and top leg bent & up in the stirrup. Really opens up the pelvis. Knee chest also works sometimes. I like to keep the bottom of the bed level so mom's bottom i...

I have one year of med-surg experience & a little over one year in L&D. I'm definitely much more comfortable with my knowledge base, ability to communicate with physicians, labor support, and helping managing labor. I have thought about doing...

Thanks for the input! I feel like I work on a busy unit with some high acuity patients. I think we have the 2nd or 3rd most deliveries in the state, but I would still like to have another year under my belt.

Where I work in L&D we are required to sign up for 16-20 hours of call in a 6 wk period. Right now, we have several nurses off (post-op, maternity leave...), so they are posting additional hours that we can either sign up to work or call. Would ...

It seems that very obese patients (i.e. 300 lbs & barely over 5 ft tall) have babies that never engage in the pelvis. I've had older nurses refer to this as soft tissue dystoica. Some of the things I've read say that soft tissue dystocia is not r...

I have worked in L&D for the last 7 months, but worked med-surg my 1st year out of school. While I don't regret working med-surg, I didn't enjoy it. If your hospital is like most, you will be have way too many patients if you take med-surg. I nev...

I'm a new L&D nurse and had an observation patient for possible PIH/pre-eclampsia. All of her labs came back normal except fibrinogen & d-dimer which were elevated and we were doing a 24 hr urine. Her BP's were normal (although high in the o...

Thank you!

Where I work in MO, nurses can place FSE's and IUPC's. They have to be signed off on IUPC placement by a MD though, but other credentialed nurses can sign off on FSE's.

Thanks for the links. I think it's more likely to find a family practice doctor to collaborate with as they could always admit a patient & then consult with an OB. I just can't find the specific law in my state. Thanks!

I have always dreamed of being a CNM. I have my BSN and just started working L&D. I always thought I would gain hospital experience and then go back to school and become a CNM. However, I live in Southwest MO where OB's DO NOT partner with CNM's ...

It's not illegal for OB's to partner with midwives. The OB's just won't do it, so CNM's are unable to practice. My question is: does a midwife have to partner with an OB? Can she partner with any other medical professional? Where I live, OB's are ...