lilmisstiger94

OkieICU - I would like to talk with you about your travel nurse experience..I'm in Texas looking to start traveling...msg me if you don't mind...thanks!

I love med/surg! I have been done it all: ICU, L&D, ER, Tele and I always come back to med/surg. Being able to find your niche and what you love early on is a wonderful blessing. Although I do have to disagree with the comment about not giving detail to each thing. We DO give detail. Our patients aren't in CCU so they don't have the need for the constant attention, but when we are in that room ~ our attention and skills are focuses solely on what that patient needs in order to meet the goal: to go home. :redpinkhe

I work at BASMC now - have for almost 3 years and love it. Don't get me wrong, we have issues, but if a nurse says their hospital or facility is great and has NO problems - they are lying or smokin' something the rest of us aren't. We are tight knit and care about each other. We are still keeping our nurse/patient ratios down as much as possible and the childcare facility is still great. Pay is pretty much in line with other DFW facilities - but our perks are great, too. I love the 5% matching retirement and the concierge service - I have used it a time or two. I also like our credit union - it's in Dallas, but has great rates and you can do direct deposit. Good luck and welcome!!

Sounds like the PBDS test to me, also. We don't use the test anymore - but when we did new grads hardly ever passed ~ don't sweat it - just learn from your classes and and ask questions....you'll be fine!

Texas is still hiring ~ probably always will be...

Texas is hiring - almost anywhere in the state. I am in the DFW area and you can find a job most anywhere IF you're willing to work in whatever unit they have available.....

I personally love the night shift; and I've worked both. 7p-7a 3x a week is great. My kiddos are in school while I sleep. I don't get home at 8 or 9pm with my hubby running around saying he's been trying to get everything done and I have to tie up loose ends and feel like I am giving them "quality time" for maybe 30 minutes. I get up, shower, pick them up from school - spend time with them and cook dinner. It's great. Nights are not for everyone - neither is days. Neither shift is easier; each has it's ups and downs. I do have to disagree with a post about days having more responsibility. Responsibility is everyone's job and when you have more patients and less staff - it's a huge factor. Trust is, also. Right now, I work with three other nurses and we have over 80 years combined experience. I trust them infinitely. I also count myself blessed to be in this situation. Just my

I love being a nurse - do I hate my profession - no - do I dislike some aspects? Absolutely. Everyone has a right to voice their dissatisfaction at some point - but others take it to a whole new level and you have to learn to decide for yourself how you feel about nursing. No matter what profession a person chooses, it's all about PERSONAL choice and what you make of your situation. If you don't like a particular setting - change - but don't hate the ones that love where they are and don't stay there making everyone else miserable. If a person truly hates nursing - they shouldn't be there - it's not good for them, their co-workers and MOST importantly - the patients.

I do not agree with the administrator having your mom call and tell them that their neighbor found their son; however, nurses have a responsibility to their patients and when something happens, right or wrong - we are held accountable. The no alarms is rather disturbing, personally and the administrator should have a more level head than he apparently does. She should be able to defend herself but she is still going to have to take some of the responsbility since it occurred during her shift, IMHO.

Not only is it fraud (and just plain dumb) - but she should lose her license - that is unacceptable. We hold ourselves to higher standards than that. Nurses must maintain that reputation and respect if we are to keep moving forward.

I work a med-surg that has 16 beds - we just got rid of our semi-privates & changed them to privates (hallelujah!!) We work 12 hour shifts (I didn't realize 8 hour shifts in the hospital were still around) Our ratios are 5-6:1 - when we have the staffing. Night charge nurses take a full load. We have an awesome manager who works nights and days depending on need and tries to listen as much as possible & fix what she can. Life is not always easy; but it does go on. The paperwork is the killer here. They keep adding and adding and adding to it. Duplicate charting takes up more time and cuts into patient care - but the administration machine keeps putting it out there. I worry with flu season peeking around the corner - we haven't had a slow period yet.

I have been a nurse for 6 years now - recently moved to a large city from the small town life where I did everything (and I do mean everything). Was given the opportunity to work anywhere - chose Med-surg b/c in the end - I love it. I can't stand L&D (too many babies having babies and screaming at me that it hurts too bad and can't I take away the pain)... ER is too feast or famine and I just needed a break from critical care. Charge nurse from 7-7 and love the diversity!

I am currently enrolled in Excelsior - and it is very legit - it takes a lot of self-discipline relating to setting times for yourself to sit down and study and block everything else out of your life for that specific time because you don't have instructors giving you due dates, but it is worth it - I have 3 more nursing theory classes left - so far so good!!