ginceasar

Hi all, Has anyone done the phone interview with AMN, for the Epic computer conversion? It is the one where they have you call into a toll free number, with a password, approx 20 minutes long. Just curious. This one if for Modesto next month. Thanks.

Hi Heidi and all, I have researched many programs over these weeks and outside of U.S.A. it seems that Frontier has one of the better programs and this is where I will be applying. The price and length of program is comparable and they got great ratings. Almost all online programs require that visit or two, to the University but it will be worth it. Good luck everyone.

Hi all! The Univ of Cincinnati's program is 72 credit hours!! It is $452 per credit. Most programs are 52-58 credit hours. She stated each quarter is 10 weeks and the 72 credit hours is correct! Eek. That is pricey! Just FYI is all.

Thank you for all the information. Ball State's FNP enrollment is full until 2012. I heard the Cincinnati requires much more credits for their program but I will research this today. I am applying to Frontier. This program got great reviews from USA Today and also people I have talked to rave about this program. I am still waiting to hear from USA but this could be a while. Thanks for the info!

Hi all! Has anyone found a good RN-FNP program online that does not require GRE and maybe does not charge out of state tuition rates? I have already applied to U.S.A but this is really a difficult school to get in to. GPA is 3.5 or higher, which I have but many people apply 2-3x for this program. Many schools are changing over to DNP program requirements, as it will become mandatory and ISU which had a great FNP online program but they have already changed over to DNP requirements. I believe the date is 2014 mandatory. If anyone has any suggestions I am eager to get in other applications ASAP. I am ready to get out of ICU after 11 years. Thanks. :)

Hi everyone! This is just an FYI about the Kaiser contracts for travel nurses. Kaiser hired AMN (American Mobile) to be in charge of all the contracts and interviews for Kaiser. They pay less now because of it and the companies that offer Kaiser jobs, for examples; Fastaff, RTG Medical, Nurse Choice, On Assignment, etc. They all have to go through AMN to do the interview. This means you may wait a long time with other companies to get an interview. Be prepared. My profile was in TWO different Kaiser facilities for almost TWO weeks, with two separate companies. I called an old recruiter, whom I had at AMN on Fri am and the interview was booked Fri afternoon. So...AMN has all pull and control with Kaiser. The other companies will pay a bit more but if you tell them you have to make a certain amount to be comparable to the other company, so they will have you as a client, they will work with you. That is only my experience, as I have had a great recruiter there for many years previously. About the interview: 1 hour long 5 easy scenario questions 10 ICU gtt medications ex.Dopamine, Nitro, Vecuronium, Neo, Levo, Nipride, Amio, Lido, etc. She just wanted classification and what they do 5 medication rights and the 6th one also How to deal with conflict resolution in clinical setting And the start of the interview is all about the job and the hospital. It was easy, I thought! Also, when you work for any Kaiser facility in ICU or Tele related units, there are a few tests you have to do when you get to the facility. They are VERY DETAILED rhythm strips and rationale (high potassium, low potassium etc) KNOW YOUR STRIPS, or you will fail. I hear they are tough on remediation nurse. Also, the policy is you will float anywhere, anytime in your shift and just do it. Complaining does not change it. Kaiser employees come first, always. Hope this helps. Have a good day!

These MN nurses deserve the support to walk out and stand up for their patient's and for themselves! I feel it is unfair for anyone to make them feel guilty for this. We nurses need to use our voice to be an advocate for our patients and our profession. We have to stop accepting poor pt ratios, poor benefits and poor pay, right? What is about to happen to the nursing profession, with our baby boomers and our shortage ahead of us, it really is important for all of us nurses to take a stand in what we believe in. Good nursing care, patient safety, better working environment, good benefits and a pension. They are not walking out on the patient's, there are three companies that staff hospitals and do a very good job at it and the patients get good care. Let's support them!! But if you are a nurse who has to work in the hospital to take care of these patients, while these nurses are striking, don't feel like you are doing a wrong thing. Someone has to also care for the patients. O:)

Good luck with Downy! Read my post from last summer. It was awful! Yes, AMN has all Kaiser contracts and they do the interview through AMN. If you are submitted to Kaiser through another company (which I am, 2 different Kaisers with 2 different companies and 1 Kaiser with AMN) you will still be interviewed by AMN and maybe the facility too. The pay rate is $6/hr less with the other companies and the the top pay is $40 (blended rate) which means no overtime over 8hrs. So, $40 per hr for 36 hours is $1090 take home after CA taxes, crap money with AMN. Hope that helps.

Hi there! How are you? I just read your post about Cottage SB..ugh! I can't find a travel contract anywhere in CA, that is not Kaiser, except this one! I have the interview tomorrow!?? I have ten years of ICU nursing and I am so over this kind of stuff! How bad was it? Did you rotate days/nights as a traveler? Did they let anyone have straight days? Was most of the staff travelers? How was the core staff to work with? And was that the norm, no clerk, no techs no help? Is it a mixed ICU of everything, neuro, cardiac, etc? I am not looking forward to my interview now.. I had a friend work there for a year in 2003 and she loved it?? What happened to that place? Where did you live? Thanks...Lori

Did you actually work in this hospital? I am an ICU travel nurse and they just sent my profile there, did not hear great things in the last two years there? Any thoughts?

Thanks again! You are right, most kaiser's are pretty bad and I heard that one was awful...just looking for confirmation before I do an interview..

Thank you for the information! I lived in SF for over a year, therefore, I know the area very well. I was concerned and actually asking about South San Fran Kaiser facility? The job? The environment? How was the hospital? What unit did you work in and when? Thanks! Lori

Hi there! I am curious to know how that assignment went? I am potentially going to San Rafael or San Francisco South Kaiser next week. I am ICU, where did you work and how was it? I hear terrible things about all Kaiser and I did work in one that was very tough! I would love your thoughts before I accept either. Jobs are tough and I need one but if I have to go through what I went through at another Kaiser, it isn't worth it. Thanks.

I just finished, actually leaving for a medical emergency, contract at Kaiser Bellflower, in CA. After interviewing with Nurse Finders for 45min, getting the job at Kaiser Sunset, 3 days before fly time, they canceled my contract and said "they over interviewed" They sent my file on to Bellflower to compensate? East of Long Beach area. It was awful! I was one of the only Caucasian persons working most days and they treat you terribly! They are just starting to warm up to me and ask me if I need help, this past few shifts!! They sit around and talk while you run your ass off! They float you like crazy, although, I was lucky because the unit I was in really needed me. (being one of the few ICU trained nurses on a step down) They floated all the DOU (step down) to ICU and all the floor nurses floated to DOU and they are not capable of taking gtts and vents and they are in over their heads! Unsafe environment, nobody cares. You serve and feed all your patients, no care techs! The management and supervisors really don't acknowledge you. They will call you at 10pm at night to ask something about charting! They won't pay you for anytime you worked past your 12 hours, which happened half of my contract! They want you to have a DAY supervisor sign it and approve it, when they are gone at 2030??! You are suppose to call for help throughout the day to prevent this. Whatever! So, I will never work Kaiser again, after 7 years of ICU travel nursing. FYI, don't go to the DOU at Kaiser Bellflower. Most of the nurses are not nice, you are busy as hell and nobody helps you unless your pt is ready for intubation or crashing and when you are gowned in a room and your pt is laying in a huge code brown, asking for help gets you a response like, "what does she need in there?" (talking to another nurse, thinking I can't hear her) REALLY!! You got the jest of it!

I just finished, actually leaving for a medical emergency, contract at Kaiser Bellflower, in CA. After getting the job at Kaiser Sunset and 3 days before fly time, they canceled my contract and said "they over interviewed" They sent my file on to Bellflower to compensate? East of Long Beach area. It was awful! I was one of the only Caucasian persons working most days and they treat you terribly! They are just starting to warm up to me and ask me if I need help, this past few shifts!! They sit around and talk while you run your ass off! They float you like crazy, although, I was lucky because the unit I was in really needed me. (being one of the few ICU trained nurses on a step down) They floated all the DOU (step down) to ICU and all the floor nurses floated to DOU and they are not capable of taking gtts and vents and they are in over their heads! Unsafe environment, nobody cares. You serve and fee all your patients, no care techs! The management and supervisors really don't acknowledge you. They will call you at 10pm at night to ask something about charting! They won't pay you for anytime you worked past your 12 hours, which happened half of my contract! They want you to have a DAY supervisor sign it and approve it, when they are gone at 2030??! You are suppose to call for help throughout the day to prevent this. Whatever! So, I will never work Kaiser again, after 7 years of ICU travel nursing. FYI, don't go to the DOU at Kaiser Bellflower. Most of the nurses are not nice, you are busy as hell and nobody helps you unless your pt is ready for intubation or crashing and when you are gowned in a room and your pt is laying in a hug code brown, asking for help gets you a response like "what does she need in there?" (talking to another nurse, thinking I can't hear her) REALLY!! You got the jest of it!