BadgerAlumna

I'm sorry I can't help you at all because I don't have an answer. Is it possible to to do just a peds/gyn clinical independent study type of deal to get hours and check off a box? I just find that whole reason to be weird because I did ZERO clinical hours in pediatrics or gyn. I remember some maternal-child lecture, but I didn't do a clinical for those because I knew, without a doubt, that I did not want to work in those fields. I've been looking into going abroad for nursing: Scotland, Australia, or Iceland maybe, but the prospect of changing my license to an international one is daunting, especially since I'm more than a few years out from school.

Hi, I just came across your post. I don't currently live in Vietnam, but I was an English teacher there for a year and I've been back multiple times (I'm also an RN in the USA). You say you're a new grad nurse, but how new? Medical missions are great, but it's been my experience in researching them that they usually want experienced people because they won't have time to hold your hand and nursing roles on medical missions (depending on the organization) are often more of a supervisory role. Regarding that company, I don't know much about them specifically, but I took a look at the website and it doesn't seem like you're really doing anything in an actual nursing capacity. You would be shadowing actual physicians and nurses, maybe helping out, maybe just getting in the way. I'm notorious for side-eying a lot of voluntourism organizations though. As for your other questions, for insurance when I travel I have the DAN insurance associated with my scuba diving membership and if needed, I also get a policy with World Nomads. When I'm in Vietnam, I rent a motorbike to use, but I would recommend against that unless you know how to drive one and feel comfortable in Vietnamese traffic (it has it's own rules). Same for renting a car. You may even technically need a Vietnamese drivers license to rent a car, which isn't worth obtaining unless you're going to be there for a significant amount of time. Cabs and motorbikes are everywhere, and there's even an app called "Grab" which is like Uber or Lyft. But I do recommend visiting Vietnam, even if you don't volunteer. It's a lovely place and one of the few places I've repeatedly returned to.

There's a market for sure, but it definitely depends on where you want to work. For Madison, UW-Hospital is in the middle of a hiring freeze and as far as I understand it, the new grad nurse residency is on the chopping block. The VA Hospital hires ADNs pending openings, but they also give positions to new RNs coming out of their residencies and the VALOR programs first (though its not impossible). St. Mary's takes ADNs last time I checked and Meriter . . . . idk what is happening there, but something bad just went down with the NICU and I don't know how that's going to affect hiring going forward. If you care less about being in Madison there are a bunch of smaller towns with hospitals that I'm sure would love to have you. I know nothing of Milwaukee or the other larger cities.

I'm not sure about "intermittent" being a PRN position. My VA doesn't have any on-call/PRN nurses like other hospitals do. When I was a CNA, I had an intermittent position. I had a set FTE, but no benefits.

At my place of work, they can't force us home once we are there and on the one or two times I can think that half our floor was empty, no one was called at home and given the option of coming in vs. using vacation time. More of than not our unit is less than 4 beds open and we're usually full.

I've read through the whole thread to this point and even if the picture of him eating a brownie/gummy/cookie/whatever other food was captioned "Happy 4/20" or whatever it said, that still isn't actually evidence that the food was made with marijuana. If someone is concerned yes, report it, but everything else the OP did after reporting is completely inappropriate.

I live in WI in a city with multiple hospitals and with 1.5 years of experience post-residency, my base is ~69,000 (so ~$33/hour). I work full-time and rotating day/night shift (more night than day). With shift differential, holidays, and occasional OT, I hit close to 85,000 this year. It's 100% dependent on location though. People I know in TN are making ~$20/hr with a bachelor degree (new grad) before shift differential.

My motto is "treat yo' self". I don't live extravagantly, but I pay my bills and set aside money for savings. I still make more than what I need to live, so I don't get too concerned about spending money on nice things. I'm not obsessed with technology, so I don't run out and upgrade my phone, for example, every time a new one is available. But I love high heels and there is a difference between expensive shoes and cheap ones, so I spend money there. And I like to travel . . . it's usually budget travel, but I splash out on nice dinners and a couple of 5 star nights at the end before coming home. It's about what's important to you.

Don't wear scrubs to an interview. Ever. I always wear at a minimum business casual and I even busted out my power suit for my RN interviews. Depending on the facility, you may even find that you don't wear scrubs at work. When I worked at an assisted living memory care unit, we didn't wear scrubs because it was supposed to be more of a home environment.

I know one person currently working as an Air Force nurse and this person seems to like it. Did the ROTC route. I know another individual that was part of the Army (National Guard or Reserves, can't remember) and this person ended up joining the Navy and loves it. I heard a rumor from another friend in the Army National Guard that there aren't any officer/nurse positions at the moment, but maybe that's just in our duty station area of whatever it's called. To answer another question, the Marines get their healthcare from the Navy nurses. EDIT: I wouldn't say deployments and such with the Navy are always to tropical islands. My cousin has been in both San Diego and Norfolk and is deploying to the Middle East shortly. And I know people that have been in Europe.

Pay off your student loans is a big one and set aside for retirement. My personal advice (based on how I feel about life, lol) is to also move out and get your own apartment. Also travel. And don't be afraid to do nice things for yourself. For example, I love theater/Broadway, so I got myself a season ticket package to the performing arts center.

Never mind that in most states, I think that constitutes "public sex" if another person is unwillingly present . . . .so it was probably actually a crime.