BlkDog

I work in ep. I came from ICU. We don't take call, but we end up staying past our shifts about 30% of the time. Ep is interesting to a point. I find devices interesting, but ablations are boring! I miss the ICU. I hear cath lab can be more exciting, but they have to take call. We have to wear lead a lot of times and sometimes are in a room for 4-7 hours at a time! If you need a drink of water, BAthroom break you need someone to cover you. Also, lots of conscious sedation, which I'm not a huge fan of. I feel like the physicians often want the patients "deeper" than I feel comfortable with. Sure, no nights and weekends, but to me that is not everything! Still work per diem in ICU and love the autonomy of taking care of my own pt... and being able to drink water and pee! Good luck! If you can't decide shadow someone!!

Thanks.

Hi all, Just started a contract near my home - I have completed an assignment at this hospital before and everything went well. I started orientation yesterday (hospital orientation, not on the floor) and I received another offer from a hospital I've been wanting to work at for a year or two now. It is a bigger medical center and at this point I am really trying to strengthen my resume in hopes of finally settling down at a permanent job sometime in the future. This hospital also offered me a position 2 days after I accepted my last position and I had to decline... so their timing is terrible. I would hate to miss this opportunity for the second time. Also, they are offering me 20% more hourly pay and sign on/end bonuses. That is a lot of money. I understand I signed a contract, but I also don't want to be a fool and miss out on a job that would be paying me a considerable amount more in a bigger and more prestigious medical center. I don't know what to do. I don't want to tarnish my reputation. Any advice would be appreciated!! Thanks!

I guess I was just under the impression that being enrolled in a BSN was acceptable. Also, I have what I think is great experience in a downtown hospital - I don't really want to have to go to a small community hospital (not like there is ANYTHING wrong with community hospitals). With the economy I thought the fact that I have 4+ years of experience at a city medical center would trump the fact that I'm not done with my BSN. I know new grads are having a miserable time and I don't feel like I'm having much more luck. I'm just so discouraged.

Hey all, I live in Boston and have 4+ years of experience in a Boston hospital. My background is surgical/tele/step-down. I was very unhappy at my previous job - I felt stuck and bored and everyday was just putting out fires and running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I looked for other jobs in Boston with no luck and finally took a local travel assignment - which was great. Now that is over and I need a job badly. I've been applying for months but I don't even get any calls back. I have ACLS, BLS, and IV skills. I'm currently in enrolled in a BSN program as well. Sometimes I think it's the fact I don't have a BSN, but I thought being enrolled in a program was also acceptable? Does anyone have any advice? I don't want to do home care or work at a long term facility. Am I doing something wrong?

Hey all, I am currently on my first travel assignment - it's local to my home - only about 10 mi or so away. I am wondering how much I will owe in taxes? Close to nothing is taken out. My rate is $10/hr and $30/hr per diem money. When I asked my recruiter she said she'd never heard of any former nurses owing taxes - blatant lie? I know I'll owe. I'd love to hear from any other travelers about this. Thanks :) C

Thanks for the encouragement. I've been looking for a job for 3-4 months now. Not one call back... even jobs that are in less critical areas which I am very very qualified for (Internal medicine office). I've been applying everywhere. I just applied to a CVICU in another hospital in Boston, but honestly, I'm not even getting a ounce of my hopes up. I am such a bummer. The CVICU in my hospital has no openings. I was thinking of taking the CCRN to strengthen my resume? Any opinions on that?

Hi All, I'm a nurse with 4 years of experience on super busy surgical step down unit. Primary patient populations are cardiac surgery and neurosurgery. I love Cardiac surgery and have been itching to take care of these patients in an ICU setting. Do you think my resume will be thrown out because I don't have ICU experience? I have taken care of many patients on postop day#1 after heart surgery (this included Chest tubes, epicardial wires, q1 I&Os, frequent vitals etc, have some basic experience with vents and believe I can do it. I know nothing about vasoactive gtts. I am BLS/ACLS and IV certified as well as tele certified. I'm going back to school in a few weeks for my bachelors. I am ready for the next step, but I don't want to get my hopes up with the job market being so bad. The only thing I can think of is it seems that ICU nurses have a lot of longevity and seem to stay put with jobs...that gives me a tiny bit of hope. Can you think of anything I can do to better my chances? I would appreciate any opinions. Oh! Also, I live in Boston, where everybody and their Mom are nurses, haha. Thanks!