BeccaRN

Thank you for the information. I interviewed Friday and yesterday I shadowed a nurse. The manager came in and told me the job was mine if I want it. The recruiter called my house before I even got home and officially offered me the position. I'm so excited. They're going to send me to an EKG class; but, I do not have to have ACLS, PALS or any other certificates. :)

I'm interviewing for a position as a Radiology Nurse at a local hospital. I like the fact that I will have different patients all the time but I was just wondering what you do in a typical day. The position is days, Monday - Friday with various starting times, on call 1 day a week and a week end every so often. I guess I'm just needing some information on what you do. Any information you can provide me will be appreciated. Thank you. Becca

I've been working midnights on a surgical floor for 6 years and I love it. We all get along and if one of us is done we will go around and ask if anyone needs help, answer call lights and anything else that needs done. We don't seem to have the "that's not my job" mentality that the other shifts have. It does tend to be quieter because we don't have to deal with doctors, family, etc. the way the other shifts do; but, we generally keep busy all night. If not, we sit and talk. We (nurses and aides) all work well together. You couldn't pay me enough to work days or evenings. None of them get along and no one wants to be there. I like my night shift co-workers and wouldn't trade them for anything.

I was a legal secretary when I went to nursing school. After getting my RN I went to work full time at a local hospital and had a baby. After having the baby I went back to work as a legal secretary because of the hours and work per diem as an RN. I am now looking at going back to nursing full time since the baby is going to kindergarden this year.

When I was in school I had a 3 year old and 5 year old and worked full time. It took a lot of time management. I was lucky and had a husband and boss who supported me and would work with me.

I'm ambitextrous and left eye dominant. All 3 of my kids are lefty.

We had a day nurse with us one night and we were getting hit with admits. First she said she was only supposed to have 6 patients and not 11 because that's the way it is on days. When we started getting the admits it was were is the secretary to put in the orders . . . that's you, who puts the charts together . . . that's you, who draws the labs. . .again, that's you. When the day shift came on she had a whole new idea of what we do on nights and made sure days knew it.

I live in the middle of no where in Central Illinois surrounded by cornfields and pastures. I work in St. Louis. The nurses I work with just can't believe I have to drive 30 minutes to get to a fast food restaurant or Wal-Mart.

I too have been on the patient side of this. The doctor sent me for a sonogram the next day and said to call afterwards. They confirmed the baby had died and when we called the nurses wouldn't let me through to the doctor. I even told them he was expecting the call. I finally had to lose my temper with them before they would let me talk to him. He told me I could either be induced or to wait and I would probably go in to labor on my own. My husband and I chose the induction. When I delivered the baby she was delivered by a nurse. The doctor was no where to be found. The nurses were fantastic. They were very comforting and concerned about my well-being. That was the longest night of my life and I will never forget what they did for me and my husband.

I have worked straight midnights on a busy surgical floor for 5 years. It has been quite an experience and I have learned a lot and it has been very rewarding; but, at this point I'm wanting to change. Just can't decide what I want to do. It's a toss up between ED and ICU.

I live in the big town of Shipman, which is about 45 minutes north of St. Louis. We have a whole population of 400.

My first job was in a LTC and I was the only nurse at night with 1 aid for 65 residents. No breaks or anything plus the safety issue. I was there 2 weeks and gave my notice.

My husband owns an archery shop and teaches archery to kids in the summer through the local community college.

I just interviewed for a job in Granite City (which is just across the river from St. Louis) and they offered me $18 an hour and I have 5 years of experience on a surgical floor. They also have a $4,000 sign on bonus plus what they call a GEM bonus and you can get up to $4,000 extra a year doing that.

You have stress in all jobs. I was a nurse at a hospital for 2 years and the hours were killing me so I went back to work for a law office. I have been here for 3.5 years and am now looking at getting back in to nursing because of the stress here. My husband just doesn't understand how I can be stressed out being a desk jockey.