sugar12

I encountered the same problem. I signed a contract with StarN program at HCA and quit before my contract was over. They never came after me and even paid me my PTO balance. It was definitely a risk but I was miserable there. Same experience as you. That was almost 2 years ago. Never heard from them since.

Awe gotcha! I work at Baptist now and I drive 45 minutes from the ft lauderdale area. I love the hospital!!! That would scare me too! Good luck in your new job! Cath lab is pretty cool.

You don't owe your loyalty to any place that doesn't make sure your work place is fair and safe. Just follow your other coworkers and leave. When I started to get 7 on med surg and no CNA plus other issues I decided it was time to leave. I was told all hospitals are the same but now I'm at a place where I am much more happier with good staffing. Yeah you can stay there and try to fight but why waste your time and risk your license?

Thank you!! Congrats to you as well. Just curious, 3 years as a new grad?

I don't think the posters underlying intention was to be offensive. I think they were just wondering if there are underlying behaviors from the culture like how we are taught in school that Asians sometimes are stoic. Op I think it means you might not have developed that trusting relationship with the patient. It's not a cultural thing. Whenever this has happened to me from people of all races and age groups I look at my approach. I also let them know all questions asked is to help me take better care of them. Simple.

That sounds nice!! The mileage on my car is sky high too thanks to working home health previously. It's a Honda tho so I have many miles to go. I remember complaining to a friend and they said "Well what did you get a car for if not to drive it". :-)

Holy cross seems to be a great place to work as well. How far was your travel time to Baptist?

Thanks for taking the time to respond!! I think I will enjoy the time to myself. Hopefully Iearn some more spanish as well. I like that part about remembering to pee haha [emoji6]. I asked this question because when I told many coworkers what I was doing some weren't supportive because they thought I was crazy to be driving so far. I wanted to know what the consensus would be on allnurses.

That's exactly how I feel! We were running out of supplies that were a basic necessity. One time the CNO was even called and nothing changed. Organization and coordination definitely makes a difference. I guess it can happen anywhere but all the For profit in this area that belong to this monopoly of an organization seem to be ran the same way. I have done many interviews with various nurse friends of mine. But it's good to know that that rule of thumb not for profit > for profit isn't the same in all areas.

I agree. I see myself at this facility for years to come. After researching I think I will probably buy my house closer to the area. As for now I will be commuting. Apartments in that area are very experience but if the drive becomes too taxing I will have to rent down there out of convenience.

All things being equal as in time alone or quality of the facilities? If time was not a factor this hospital would be my first choice.

Wow! I think I will actually look that up. The area that I will be working in is predominantly spanish speaking and I know very little.

I just wanted to give some hope to anyone out there who is feeling depressed by the job search. Things can change quickly and it does get better. I graduated in December 2013 and passed my boards February 2014. I thought the job offers were going to be pouring in. No such thing. I started working home health February 2014 so I could have an income and I just wanted to work as a nurse. I had a family member who helped me to get this job. But like many graduates I wanted that hospital experience. Fast forward to applying for months and months. After praying and crying one morning I just decided to call a HR department which led me to get my first job in the hospital on a Surgical unit in September 2014. This hospital did not have a good reputation but I felt as tho the experience would be what I made it. I had wonderful coworkers. We were a family. The hospital however was a toxic environment. Sometimes we were really understaffed which does happen a lot in many hospitals but combine that with no supplies and broken equipment and you have a complete nightmare. I tried sticking it out. One day I started having chest tightness at work and I realized it was anxiety related. I knew I had to leave. I would go home and feel down because I felt patients weren't getting the great care they deserved. I felt as though I'm a good nurse but I couldn't make supplies appear and when u have 7 patients and no nursing assistant, it's tough!! All of my coworkers would say they would never bring their loved one their or worst enemy. I wanted to work somewhere that I believed in! So I started putting out my applications beginning of this year. One of my coworkers also landed a job and referred me when they asked for referrals of good coworkers. I am now going to start at the top magnet hospital in my area. I have my ASN too! This will have to change to a BSN in 3 years as a term of my employment. But just to show you nothing is outside your reach. All in all none of the jobs I got was from applying alone. Don't give up. If you are religious trust God and keep the faith. If you are in a bad situation continue to do your best every day and then search for better when you have had enough. I don't think my coworker would have referred me if I was the type who complained all day and gave lack luster care out of frustrations. Be true to yourself. Oh how much difference a year will make!!

Yeah I agree. I think you got the job!

I will still be working night shift as well.

Definitely! I think having kids and/or a husband would make me not want to drive so far. I don't know what the future holds tho. Hopefully I will live closer in the years to come. I hope your situation gets easier soon as well.

Please accept my sincerest apologies for such bad grammar. I would say I promise it wouldn't happen again but unfortunately I am human. [emoji4]

Man and I just started taking classes for my BSN too. Guess I'm going to need a lot of help. [emoji16] You should help me

Florida pay will never be comparable to what others make in another state. Atleast not in the years to come

After working one year in a toxic environment I decided that I had to leave that hospital. I applied and got a call back from all of the hospitals I applied to within 2 weeks. It's crazy to think how valuable just 1 year can be to employers. For me I still feel brand new some days. It took me one year out of my ADN program to find a hospital job. Here's the question tho: the job I accepted is 45 mins of highway driving on a good day. It is literally the highest ranked hospital in my area. I will be driving past other good hospitals to go there. The pay is higher and the benefits are great but it is a distance. So I'm I crazy?

I know For-Profit is just that for profit but I never thought it would be as bad as it was. You are talking 7 patients no PCA or 1 pca for 40 plus patients. This is a heavy surgical floor. There were times when we had barely any supplies. No strips to take blood sugar. I had a patient who became short of breath and I had to run to another floor for the 02 tubing. Many times we only had one vital sign machine that worked. I would never work For- profit again even if you payed me double which would never happen. The pay was non-competitive and so were the benefits. How do places like these stay open?

My old hospital job was 7 minutes away but a crappy place to work. I just accepted a job at a top notch hospital 3 nights a week 45 mins of highway driving away

Yeah I agree with the previous posters. Plan of care, discharge planning and tests performed and pending are important too

Everyone is different but I like a complete head to toe report along with anything that's pending or critical. We also tell all the doctors on the case and if there's anything the pt prefers I would like to know as well. Usually takes 5 mins not long at all.

I am an ASN nurse and I make 23$/hr base in south Florida. Then if u are nights gotta love the differentials ???