TXMomRN

Thanks for the replies... I was just a little weird because I would still be working for the same agency, and pretty much the same hours (just now guaranteed) and no change in benefits. To my way of thinking I was making things easier for both the agency and the hospital by being regularly scheduled and bypassing the 5am phone dance :)

I had an amnio (well, 2) with my twins when some tests looked really suspicious and since my husband AND my Dr were out of town and the on call doc recommended this, I was freaked, and went ahead with it. I can still hear her saying "you *need* genetic testing and an amnio".... I would not have changed any course of action based on this, and looking back - if my own Dr had been there and been reassuring that other noninvasive tests would have done (as she did when she came back) - I would have gone that route. I have never seen or personally heard of a pregnancy loss due to an amnio, and based on what you have said, and the advances in technology over the past few years, I would not proceed if you thought the risks outweighed the benefits. It's still invasive, and has risks. So, as my Dr told me when she was back in town - if it would not have changed your course, why put yourself through it? BTW the amnio was no picnic, but my babies were perfect... thank God! Love your baby and take care of your body and I'll keep you in my prayers : )

I had an amnio (well, 2) with my twins when some tests looked really suspicious and since my husband AND my Dr were out of town and the on call doc recommended this, I was freaked, and went ahead with it. I can still hear her saying "you *need* genetic testing and an amnio".... I would not have changed any course of action based on this, and looking back - if my own Dr had been there and been reassuring that other noninvasive tests would have done (as she did when she came back) - I would have gone that route. I have never seen or personally heard of a pregnancy loss due to an amnio, and based on what you have said, and the advances in technology over the past few years, I would not proceed if you thought the risks outweighed the benefits. It's still invasive, and has risks. So, as my Dr told me when she was back in town - if it would not have changed your course, why put yourself through it? BTW the amnio was no picnic, but my babies were perfect... thank God! Love your baby and take care of your body and I'll keep you in my prayers : )

I was offered a contract today at the hospital where i have been per diem. Sounds good except - my pay would go down $1/hr for no reason I can think of... seems to me the hospital's life would be easier for all this, and I have talked to other agency nurses there and know they make pay equal to my per diem (but through other agencies). Is this the way it goes everywhere once you sign a contract? I'm feeling a little put out...

I was offered a contract today at the hospital where i have been per diem. Sounds good except - my pay would go down $1/hr for no reason I can think of... seems to me the hospital's life would be easier for all this, and I have talked to other agency nurses there and know they make pay equal to my per diem (but through other agencies). Is this the way it goes everywhere once you sign a contract? I'm feeling a little put out...

This person did offer exactly that.

Not on the job.....

20 years ago I wanted to be a surgical nurse... work in the OR, see the wonders of the human body up close... Didn't take too many "observations" in the OR to realize the OR is a small room, probably does not have windows, and not many seats - I am no athlete but I like to move around!! Did Med-Surg, ER, and Nursery as a tech waiting to work L & D, and in nursing school my L & D preceptor commented that she could see I was "right at home" there... and I was! It's been L & D (or Nursery/NICU) ever since... still the occasional surgery but 45 minutes sure beats 4-5 hours!

Today I got not one but TWO calls to work - and it's my scheduled "Mom" day for doctor appointments and stuff... I had to say no... was THAT ever a strange feeling!!!

Always safest to follow protocol. I worked in a teaching facility that had a "Pit to distress" motto - up, up, up to 42 (and beyond, at times) - unless the pt was contracting 5x in 10 minutes I wasn't doing my job - but we had immediate surgical support, NICU.... Now I am at a smaller place, protocol only allows us to go to 20mu, for ucs q3 mins with a minute rest between.... (and it works!) Anyway if this becomes an ongoing thing I would talk to the nurse manager and see if policy is due for revision... Good luck!!

woo - hoo - things are on an upswing.... hope yours are too!

I haven't had a shift in TWO WEEKS... I am wondering if they are trying to force me into some really crappy place out of desperation!! It just really stinks - especially when last night I was "on the schedule for today" - just call in the am and reconfirm - and I was tossing and turning til the appointed hour to call - called - and was canceled... my kids were happy though, they have loved my being home the past few months! I have started applying to agency #2 but their process is much different that agency #1's - taking longer, but hopefully that's a good thing : ) Hopefully the tide will turn soon.

there's also freewarepalm.com....

Is it breaking any rule to work for more than one agency at a time? Seems like it would be ok unless perhaps both agencies overlapped some hospitals? I didn't see anything on the paperwork for Agency #1 about this... Just left a staff position of many years, agency very new but exciting to me!