gchelak

Hi, I am a PICU nurse with 2yrs experience in PICU and 1 yr in well baby nursery moving to Houston in Oct. I have a phone interview with a Tenet hospital from North Houston tomorrow. Although I am not going to approach the subject of pay yet, I was wondering what I could expect. This is for a PRN position to start- I have never done PRN but I read on this site that the pay is higher for PRN positions because of no benefits? One of the recruiters told me that for a fulltime position the pay was $2.50 more an hour if no benefits were covered. Questions: -what exactly are these benefits? Is it just the medical and dental? -what rate of pay could I expect for a PICU or NICU position with 2 years critical care experience if it was a full time position (not PRN)? -what rate of pay could i expect if it was a PRN position? -why does it seem like they aren't willing to fly anyone in for an interview? I know these positions are in high demand with the nursing community so they probably have a lot of local candidates, so is it too much to expect relocation assistance or sign on and for them to fly me in for a face to face? Anyone with experince in the Houston area (not medical center) wages, etc out there? Any info is most appreciated. G

Hi there. I have US and Canadian Nursing licenses. When I moved to Canada, I had to take the exam here and pay a TON of $$ for the registration here and the assessment of my education, etc. Each year the renewal is ~$480 and rising every year. While I have been in Canada, I informed Texas BNE that I was out of the country and paid the ~$65 for TWO years and all I have to do to reinstate it is give them my new address in the US when I move back (Oct 2008). So, in reverse, what can I do about my Canadian license that I paid so much for and worked so hard for? I can call CARNA but someone told me that unless you know what to ask for, they will make you pay the ~$480/yr to keep it in good standing. After all I went through, I do not want to lose it just incase I ever move back (I am from Canada). Does anyone have experience with this? What did you inform the Canadian nursing board about moving and how are you maintaining your Canadian license without paying the ballooning fees? Thanks, Gail C

Thanks for the info but I am still in Canada and the BNE said none of the education my employer offers is valid, I am sure that goes for any documentation I can get from my employer. Also, to take PALS class that they offer here (IF the education was to be accepted in Texas) is not available until after Oct, when I move back to TX...and the employer does not pay the $500 or so to do the 2 day course! The info the BNE sent me was all about the old Type I education you can find online so that is what I will focus on. My only other worry is the Bioterrorism course that should have been completed before Aug 2007 (see my previous posting) Thanks again for everyone's input...it is hard enough to figure out the ambiguous information from Canada while I am here never mind figuring out the US system when I can't ask my colleagues. Gail

Anyone know the answer to the Bioterrorism question? I heard back from the Texas BNE and they sent me information about the CUEs from online sources but no mention of the Type I that they previously required and are doing away with Oct 31, 2008, so I am confident the online CEUs are all I need. They told me that NONE of the Canadian education will be accepted. I did not ask about the Bioterrorism CEUs because if what I read was right, I was suppose to have completed it before I renewed my license for the 1st time in Oct 2006. UGH! I had no idea an now what do I do?!

I hope this doesn't post twice...my connection dropped in the middle of posting the 1st time. Another couple of questions that have popped up: according to this BNE web page: http://www.bon.state.tx.us/about/news030708.html the Type II education is no longer required after Nov 2008. Type II was the courses attended, including seminars, etc, and the Type I (that are still required) are the online CE courses, right? Since I am renewing by Oct 31, 2008 and the Type II's are no longer required after Nov 1, 2008, does that mean I still need the Type II courses or is this just incase I have some, I can still use them as part of my compliance? Second question: I renewed my license for the 1st time in Oct 2006 (the same month I moved from the US to Canada). I did not know about the Bioterrorism course needed until a couple of days ago since I didn't think I needed any courses to renew for the first time and I had no way of knowing the new Bioterrorism requirement. http://www.bon.state.tx.us/about/news110404.html This web page says " Since the law and the rule state that you must complete this CE component for either two year renewal cycle preceding September 1, 2007, we will accept bioterrorism CE certificates dated anytime between September 1, 2003 through August 31, 2007" Does this mean that I can be audited and found non-compliant for not having this Bioterrorism component? With the date ending Aug 2007, if I take it now, it will not be in the date range they will accept...What am I to do? Thanks in advance for helping me make this more clear! Gail

Don't be intimidated by ACC! I graduated there in 2005 from the 1st Fastrack (15 month) program thehy no longer offer. Most of the instructors are AWESOME! When I started, I was so scared and thought- wow, I'll never make it- it is so long to graduation! Just take one day at a time and before long YOU will look back at these posts as a graduate. Hang in there! Gail

I graduated ACC in 2005 (1st Fastrack class) and took micro in my 1st semester, and A&P1 in another and A&P2 in the 3rd...that was before they separated anatomy and physiology into 2 classes. It still works out to be 2, but they taught A&P togeher. I don't know if there is still the huge waiting list there was when I applied, but the better the grades the better the points toward the list. I had a 3.9 GPA because I took only 3 classes a semester - only one being a science at a time. When I started, all I had was English comp1...all the rest I had to take. I started Aug 2002 (I believe) with my pre-requs and was accepted and started the 15 month fastrack program in Aug 2004. Also if you maintian a high GPA, you will have a better chance to get into the online classes (if they still offer them). If you are disciplined enough to have a high GPA, you will do well with the online classes. Gail

Thanks, I did see this on the BNE website but their information is confusing and not specific. I am going to try to look for my original info that I received when I got my license in the mail to see what it says...they sould not make this so difficult. I guess they are expecting that each unit will do their own education for nurses to make it easier, but in my case, I don't know if my unit's education is accepted...same info, but there is such a huge division between what is accepted in Canada from the US, there is probably the same division in the US accepting what is taught in Canada... Gail

Things are done very differently in Canada...we pay for most of our own education plus there is no way to tell if the "classes" are compliant. When I first moved here there were 3 or so weeks of education and tests, but how does that equate to CEUs? I figured I would have to start at square one. The requirements here for renewals are more education situations and not articles and exams. We do have competencies, but again, there is no "certificate" and no way to know if they are acceptable classes and CEU's. The competencies are only done once a year. To save a hassle, I was just going to do CEUs online but don't have sites that I know are accepted in TX since the list (the very same one the previous response lists above) is vague at best. Does anyone have a URL that they KNOW is acceptable for CEUs in TX? Thanks for the response. I would rather be over educated and compliant than under. Gail

I am an RN in Canada at the moment. I did my education and NCLEX in Texas and worked there for 8 months before I moved. Right at the time I moved, I renewed my license (no CEUs are required for your first renewal in TX) and put the license on "hold" with the BNE. I am now moving back to TX sometime before October 2008 and my license is up for renewal in October. Since Canada does not require CEUs, I have not done any yet. I went to the BNE web site and they said I needed Twenty (20) contact hours (two Continuing Education Units). I have no idea where to go to get these! My only option at this point is to do the CEUs on the web, but how do I know what ones are approved my the Texas board? They do not have any information, just that the CEUs have to be approved but no info on how I would know and no links to approved sites. Can someone please explain to me what I need to do? I went to one site http://www.nurseceu.com/pediatrics_ceus.htm that has a bunch of different subjects (I am a PICU nurse here in Canada) and they all have different contact hours and prices. Why would I take one for 2 contact hours and pay $18 when I can take all 20 in one shot for $30? I just don't get it.

I have come to know in the short amount of time I have been a nurse, that pateint ratios and working conditions are different from unit to unit. It is good that you are doing your research by asking those who work in TX before you make a move. One good thing about being in nursing is that if you don't like the unit/ratio, etc. there are always other places close by that you can apply at. You have a diverse nursing base that will help you a lot with this. One thing you can not change however, is the property tax rates and the utilities, etc so you have to put that into your calculations about moving to DFW. Good Luck.

Hey, just giving you some perspective....grass isn't always greener. Why would you want to know the salary for DFW anyway, you said yourself what the patient ratio was from your experience and that the electricity is expensive...there are a lot more states you can look at that might meet your criteria. Isn't California unionized? I believe their ratio can not be more than 6:1, but that is just what I heard. Don't know how the pay differs. Sorry not to be any more help.

Try working in Canada where you pay an average of $70 a month for parking (surface lots in the freezing cold where they cycle the plugs so if your car starts in the -25C it is barely starting) and $70 a month for union dues, not to mention NO reimbursement for tuition, PALS, etc. Sure the pay may SEEM higher (starting out of school is $29/hr) but take away the high income tax rates, the HIGH housing costs (average condo prices in Calgary are $325K), high food prices (cheap chicken is $2.50/lb, cereal is on sale for $3-$4 a box), and the high fees from everything from cars, gas, car licenses, auto repairs, etc. to books, furniture, household items...you have nothing left! I am moving BACK to TX as fast as I can!

I took it Oct 2006, same multiple choice/short answer as always. I felt the same way. The questions were not clear, the test was WAY too long (and on paper!!) and I didn't feel confident at all, but after a long 9 week wait, I passed. I have heard that some of those questions are test questions for future tests and will not be counted, and if a bunch of people get the same ones wrong, they will throw the question out (although you never know that). I also heard that if you get the equivalent of 70% on the test, then you pass. Don't worry about it now... just put it out of your mind... the results will come, eventually. Good luck! Gail

Alberta- it gets marked in Ontario, then goes to the provincial nursing assoc, then out to us. It took 2 weeks for me to get my license in the mail after I sent in the form too!