HollywoodDiva

Unfortunately you are starting out at a surgery center and I truly hope they at least precept you for a while because if they don't you will not have the basic foundation of peri-op 101 and learn bad habits that come from surgery centers and later if you decide to go into a hospital setting it will show.

You definitely are in a tough spot. Most places have the same policies regarding call, if you take that away you risk losing people in your dept. If you cut back by laying off staff you risk burnout and increasing work load and staff has to take more call = more overtime. It's a bind and as a traveler I see this frequently. Some places lay off their staff immediately then realize they need staff to run OR's then have to hire travelers for a period of time but essentially lost good employees they had in place. Good luck and keep us posted.

Since it is a travel company we are dealing with I have to agree with Ned and say it is BS. Cross Country used to pay biweekly back in 2008 but with all the complaints they received from travel nurses they switched like 99% of the travel companies that pay weekly.

You might want to gain more than a year experience since most facilities specifically list nowadays at least 2-3 years of current experience in your specialty.

Pay may be low but I'm sure cost of living is not bad either so it actually evens out. Look at the fact that they will hire you and train you since most new grads these days are averaging 1-2 years in finding a job after graduating. Bright side is if you take the job offered you don't have to stay there forever, gain the necessary experience and move forward.

Just wanted to know what your specialties are because it has picked up like crazy for the OR in the last month but then again OR is always open.

No confrontation is necessary but you do need to call her out on her behavior and establish professional boundaries.

Did you take a formal preceptorship class that is a 2 part beginner and advance class? Those classes offered by your facility would or should have taught you how to precept and handle situations.

Unfortunately there is a nursing shortage but what they forgot to tell most people is the shortage applies to experienced nurses. As far as foreign nurses don't think they have it easy coming here because most of them were doctors in their countries at least the ones I work with. Some that are sponsored here had to wait 4 years and btw get paid way less than they should because a hospital claims the cost to sponsor them is enormous which is actually false. Co worker of mine from England was getting paid 50% less than the other nurses and of course was barely scraping by and since most places frown upon discussing salaries she had no idea that she was getting robbed her salary by the hospital. It is difficult for new grads to find work at this time but keep trying because I am quite sure someone will hire you and give you a chance too.

Been traveling since 2002 and it did take a dive in 2008 but picked right back up in 2009 for those of us in OR. Even during that time we just extended at the hospitals we currently were at. Depending on your specialty too would determine how scarce jobs are for you and how much money you would actually make.

Have you tried places that no one wants to go to in CA such as high desert areas? Bakersfield, Fresno, Barstow, Victor Valley, Apple Valley, Lancaster, Palmdale, Santa Clarita?

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Enroll in the BSN program that way you finish necessary courses and by the time you complete those you are considered an adult to go into your clinicals.

Wow!!! That is unprofessional behavior and uncalled for blatant horizontal violence. I would report her immediately.

Utilize your union, that is what you are paying them for. Charge nurses are there as a resource during your shift...contact your educator and tell him or her of your dilemma so you get the proper training you need. Best of luck to you.