BlackMurse1

+1, You can always learn from every event, it didn't kill you, now get stronger from it!

I currently work in a Level I Trauma Tertiary Care facility on the Surgical ICU. We have 2 LPN's who work on the unit and they are a great help. After we complete the initial assessment, the LPN's pretty much take over. They are also a great help with admissions, especially post surgical (we get a lot of Liver txp). When they don't have patients, (we only have 12 beds) they float around and help with other issues. At times when I have a two patient assignment and am stuck in a room, they are a great aide to lean on.

I dont think there is a single field or speciality in nursing that does not test our patience with our patients

There has not been a single week that has gone by while on the floor where someone did not call me doctor. I think its so funny. One time a Year three Resident came to the floor to assess a really agitated/confused patient. The resident was at the bedside when I walked in, she was trying to assess the pupils. Any ways the patient turned to me and said "O thank God Doctor your here, please help me!" The resident stopped what she was doing and said, "He's the nurse, and I'm the doctor." The confused patient turned and said, "There's no need to act crazy young lady, let the young man do his job." I spun around and walked out in order to have a good laugh.

Hey, Welcome to the site, When I first started I used to have one of those really popular Mo-hawks, mine was more of a V tapper that faded to the back. Most of the staff and patients love it. I have also had a completely shaved head but now, I sport a low Caesar. Its more traditional in African American men. From what I can tell, most patients say very little to nothing about hair on top of the head. However, depending on how you grow your facial hair, it can raise eye brows or lead to questions.

What state/that region do you work in??

OP- I think you need to look at nursing as an investment, you will be able to pay that loan back and over time gain so much more. Depending on your effort and location you should do okay with that amount of debt. I strongly recommend you look up salary rates within your region (if you plan on getting a job there) at websites like payscale.com or BLS.gov Nursing is a very dynamic, very rewarding field, but its incredibly stressful, if you truly think you can do it, then money shouldn't be n issue.

Its and art form that all RN's become better at with practice,keep it short sweet and to the point. Follow your call HO parameters and SBAR

I love the floor I work on so its no issue, with the traveling, I balance life out with exercise and reading. I don't burn my self out because I take the two week breaks, sometimes I take 4 if I need more mental health days.

It is very possible to make 100K a year, it depends on 3 things 1. Willingness to work close to 50 hours a week or more 2. Diversifying your workload 3. Living in a an area with s significant base pay rate. I am in the process of making 86,000 yr (net) and here is how I am doing it I work at a facility that offers weekend contracts for 31-33hr depending if you work days or nights, but you have to work EVERY Weekend with little to no call ins. That equates to 33hr * 36 (3 consecutive 12hr shifts) = 1188/wk, 3500 /mo after taxes. That’s 44,000 a year. I also do travel work at $40 an hour * 36 hrs = 4600/ mo after taxes. That’s 55,000/yr if I had a contract each time, but I take 2 week breaks in between 8 week assignments. So I make 42,000 instead. That’s 86,000 by working 72 hours per week at 8 week intervals. I know people who work two travel jobs at the same time who make $3000 a week after taxes. So is it possible yes! With just an ADN? Sure, but it’s a lot of work. With an MSN in California, NY, TX you can gross 95 a year easy, plus there’s specially fields like dialysis (Fresenius in NY) that pays really well. Bottom line, make a plan, get two years under your belt and make sure you enjoy what you’re doing. Hope this helps!

I have to go work at my other job by "enter name here" said they would be glad to cover

I currently work on an Acute Medicine Floor with great staff, a great nurse manager and heavy patient assignment. I am very much content with what I do and where I work at. I am now engaged to be married and will soon be taking care of my ailing father, I basically need more money for his care and the wedding planned for next year. I pick OT when available but, we are hiring new staff which means the hours will be knocked down within one month. Currently I know 3 friends who are nurses who work as travelers within a 1 and 20 min drive, they make 35% more per week then I do and I am seriously considering leaving my unit to do local traveling. I would be able to stay with friends in the area in order to cut down costs. They work 36 to 40 hours a week and have consistent assignments. Is there anyone out there who works at a traveler and can answer these 4 questions for me? Have you ever been cancelled from an assignment? Is true that the amount of money made is through the stipends? Do you work full time or is it 24 hour a week shifts? Do you consistently get assignments?

I am from Brooklyn Nyc and currently work in Rochester NY. It’s a city of about 1.3 Mil (Brooklyn has 3 Mil people). There are 4 huge medical facilities and new grads make 23.50 an hour. The cost of living is pretty good I used to live in a 760sq ft 1 bedroom and paid $560/mo plus utilities only. I really think people need to be careful when they focus just on the salary. Although I'd make more in Brooklyn, I sat down and did the math and I save about 6 grand less a year then I would in Nyc. Also, there is this huge myth that nursing is getting better. Nursing schools are online, are 1 year accelerated degree and traditional programs are churning out nurses at an incredible rate. In Rochester there are 6 nursing schools who graduate a combined average of 450 students per semester, that’s 900 a year. This saturates the market. I highly recommend that all should earn a certification, an advanced degree and anything else to give them an edge to find or advanced their current position.

At the hospital I currently work at, you can refuse for personal and religious belief or if you are unable to tolerate the vaccine i.e. allergies to eggs. But, you have to wear a mask with any and all patient contact. I for one think it's ridiculous that so many people in this forum agree with the policy of getting terminated if you don't get the injections. They fired a 20+ year veteran nurse who called in sick 4 times in her career over that. In some institutors they tell nurses you can't smoke, it's ridiculous. Why are people so quick to agree with an agenda that violates your civil rights? This type of complacency is amazing to me. You don't even know what they are giving you and you go along and take because they say so. At what point do you think the federal government will cease this type of executive entrapment. You have the right to refuse healthcare, you have the right to refuse emergency care, you have the right to refuse medicine but if you say no to a vaccine, YOUR FIRED. That is 100 % insert dirty word here

Is it possible for you to move to another state or city to find employment?