MountainMama

Thanks for the advice. I have a lot to think about!!

I had 2 interviews this week at a local hospital, OB/L&D floor and ER. I just want to work prn. It is totally my choice as to which position I take. I have been mulling this over for days. They both are willing to work with me to get me past my orientation in order to bump down to the prn status. I have a strong interest in both areas, for various reasons. Ok.... at this moment (3am) I am leaning toward ER. My question is, how long did it take full time in order to feel comfortable, just comfortable. Not super confident, I know that can take years..... I am willing to put in the time initally to do this.. I really have to work around my kids and family and they said if I am working steady, if not technically FULL time, they'll work with me. Ex- 2 12hr shifts a week instead of 3, which will stretch out the orientation, of course. Any thoughts on how long it will take? I am just trying to plan my life a little bit, after not working for past 2 yrs and not in a FT capacity for many many more! I do have a decent med-surg and telemetry background.

But at 41.6 wks, weren't you probably a very easy induction - (saying this with no working L&D experience) Pretty ripe and ready to go? From what I learned on my own, doing research preparing for my 3rd birth, I steered clear of cytotec.. I had cervidil which enabled me to have a pit,med, and most interventions- free birth. (In a hospital) I even got to go sans IV and move about the room.

Exactly!!! This was a huge problem where I worked before. No one liked our little rural hospital and got annoyed when we called (no residents, etc) . Well, I am sure they were cashing thier nice fat paychecks. So aggravating.:angryfire All I can say is document, document, go up the chain when necessary, and expect crap but do it anyhow. I have a real jaded disdain for most doctors because of scenarios like this. It is the most frustrating, powerless, unbelieveable feeling. The salary and respect they get compared to nurses... :angryfire :angryfire

There is really a unique situation in small rural hopsitals. Well said! I know exactly what you mean. As far as working, I don't have to, but could really use the extra money-- which will seem like A LOT after not having it. We manage thankfully on one income, but I am so tight I squeak when I walk. I will be careful not to rely on any money I make for "the budget", a lesson I learned already. I am going to just be honest and lay it on the line to the new place, what do I have to lose....

I am pursuing employment after being off for almost 2 years (again) after this baby. I have an interview Tuesday in fact. After being so very excited all weekend, I suddenly have that creeping doubt -what am I getting myself into! :uhoh21: I am really trying to think of the reality of it all- not my fantasy about all of the good and missed parts of working. The grim reality of being very short staffed, the cliques, the shift fighting, the typical stuff. And mostly, trying to choose what the heck I want to do .... what department. This particular hospital (there isn't many to chose from) has many floors with 10+ FT positions down. I am going to be casual, no matter where I go. I have so many questions for my interview. What I am #1 scared of is that incompetent feeling, and trying to "prove myself". I am usually pretty confident, but I feel like maybe I should go back to my little old rural hospital that I wasted 10 years in, , but that is safe because I know what to expect instead of this new place. ACK. OR maybe it is partly because the other nurses will find out I have been out of school for 10 years -- should be very seasoned-- BUT I went casual after baby #1, then FT for a bit, then PT then casual, then quit when preg with #2, then casual, then PT, then quit, then casual again, then had #3 (AND LAST) and then quit for good at that place. :rotfl: Anyhooo-- I don't really know, counting it up I may have about 5 years experience instead of 10. WHATEVER!! I am nervous and it seems so ridiculous since when I did work, I tried my best, knew what I had to or found out the answer from someone!

I'll never forget the 60ish year old man with the light bulb stuck up the rectum - intact- got him in the wee hours of the morning, drunk, nasty, embarrassed, of course. Had to wait until morning for OR. I think we just had him lay on his side. I couldn't wait to look up his OR report later-- they had to break it up into pieces, I don't remember the rest. I have heard but never witnessed the various stories of stuck vegetables and rectums. WTF?!

I can't wait to talk to them! I didn't realize how much I missed working, until I started thinking about it again. I must be crazy- especially the way nurses are working like dogs in the understaffed hospitals, but here I go again! :nurse:

I have thought about that, could be frustrating. And no, there is nothing like a free standing birthing center in this extremely antiquated area! :angryfire No midwives either, possibly one - but may as well be an OB Such a bummer, especially when I had my own children. I am interested in breastfeeding education, and think I would really enjoy the nursery and the post partum. I will have to get more details at the interview.

I am toying with the same ideas... I have a mostly cardiac,med-surg, telemtry, some ICU experience and am thinking about L&D. I have some hang ups with major medically managed births, so I may not be a good candidate to work in L&D. BUt OTOH, maybe I would really like it. I have no idea. I have a big interest in the nursery/post partum.. The hospital I am interviewing with next week cross trains to all 3, so I can't just choose nursery, for example.

I would imagine with the current shortage, that finding a job won't be hard... especially med-surg... even specialty areas will take new nurses. Depends on the area/hospital/degree of nurses needed. When there are no nurses, they just want a license and a pulse, bottom line.

Long story short.. have worked on and off for 10 years, FT/PT/casual, inbetween having my children. Took the easiest route and kept going back to the same small hospital on the CCU/telemetry floor. I haven't worked since December 2002, and am ready to jump into nursing again.. but only want a prn position. I have an interview Tuesday (8/3). My problem is - I do not know where I want to go. The HR lady asked me when she called to set up the interview, where I may be interested in working...(they are many many nurses short on every floor,as every hospital is) I told her I'd just like to come in and see as I wasn't sure. It would seem logical to go to a telemetry floor, but I DO not want to do that. I don't really want a steady dose of cardiac. I just kept going back to the prior hospital since I was already trained, etc.. Part of me really want to bust out and try something else, such as Emergency nursing or L&D/nursery... not sure how the orientation would work though, being I just want a casual job. It may not work.. Any thoughts?