plinytheRN

$21 for new grad in Baton Rouge, LA.

I posted a similar topic almost 2 years ago, I work at a large magnet/ trauma center that newly implemented SBAR paper reports instead of a verbal handoff… it lasted a few months and we went back to calling report. There has to be give and take on both ends, the floor can't stall report and the ED can be understanding and willing to compromise for a timely report. There are a lot of factors that need to be taken in for this system, largely patient acuity and staffing. I don't doubt that a paper report system can work when appropriate, but for a large, high acuity medical center- we were unable to make the change. Same issues tend to occur when PACU is trying to call report for their patients to the floor, when there is compromise and understanding on both sides- it works!

I lost 10 pounds my first year nursing working days on med/surg.

Hi, I am a Northern CA native, that as a new grad could not find work and I am currently working in Louisiana in a big trauma center. I am desperately wanting to come back to CA, I want to know is working at an RN affordable? I no longer know what wages are like, and housing costs. I want to stay in bay area/ Nor Cal. In the south, it's not uncommon for RNs to work 2 jobs to make up for how underpaid we are. I'm not asking for luxury or anything extravagant, I just want to know I could afford a nice apartment and work normal full time hours. Considering I will probably to travel assignments for awhile until I find a hospital I like to stay at, I should make a decent wage (I work ICU/PACU)? Thanks for feedback.

Keep your chin up! I was in the same situation as you, it gets better. I found my place in ICU and PACU. Being a new grad is just tough.

I am in the same boat, ICU making the PACU change! Hope all is going well!

Hi bayareaFNPstud, what hospital are you working at?! I am from the Bay Area/ Nor Cal, went out of state for a joband am looking to come back to the area. Thanks, sorry for crashing the party!

This reminds me so much of my first experience as a new grad on a medical telemetry floor! Same stress, very sick patients with 5-6 patient ratios on day shift... It's rough, but you will get it, have faith in yourself and keep trying. I eventually did get a little bit more comfortable.

An update on the whole thing, the hospital cancelled this policy within a few months or so. I figured with J. Co coming and magnet status re-designation coming up they did away with it. The new policy is that if after trying to get a hold of the floor nurse or a charge nurse for report, the ER nurse can write an SBAR and the nurse can call down for verbal report if necessary. But otherwise the need to call report is re-instated. Thanks for all the info and perspectives.

Hi sorry for the late post, I haven't been on here in awhile always happy to help some cali new grads!! We need nurses here so bad.

Just a scary update on this situation, ER sent up a patient with no report. They came in for hyperglycemia in addition to something else (not my patient). They came at a time when the BG didn't have to be checked, but the receiving nurse knew better, and assessment tipped her off, and found them to have a BG of 27. no insulin was charted, there was no way to know what they had been given except to call and ask, which isn't going to happen when you are dealing with a BG of 27... Frequently the ER does not chart meds they have given. Not to mention a sticky situation that happened the other night when a pt was sent up at shift change, no one knew they were there (not sure all the details) and they coded and died. Scary stuff. Such a lack of communication and patient care suffers.

it seems like this is the dark ages of nursing... hoping it gets better, scary to think it could get worse. with acuity and responsibility increasing but pay and time decreasing or not keeping up with the changes.

disappointed as well... I made more as a student intern in CA ($23), than I do as an RN in Louisiana ($20) the whole cost of living thing is cheaper is mostly untrue (my rent here is $988). sigh... underpaid and overworked is the norm in the south. can't wait to get back to cali with pt ratios, better pay, and unions.

Appreciate all the posts, eye opening definitely. What it all comes down to was what is best for patient care, and the rationale for implementing this system? After reading through all this, it's hard to have a concrete answer when we all come from different situations, laws, states, and hospital systems. So yes, there is a lot of variety and something that may not be a big deal one place is against policy at another. My main frustration is the lack of time to prepare, we are slammed all the time and I am lucky if I can take the time to navigate through the chart, which in some cases the H and P isn't even put in yet. Not super helpful. But with enough warning and time, it's ok. Our ED gives meds and doesn't document in the MAR, that is a detail they would give in report. It seems like so many things can get missed. Also like someone mentioned, sure I can call with questions but chances are there isn't a whole lot of time to try and find the person that sent up the patient. Just have to figure it out as it goes I guess. As far as IVs go, I start them very frequently, it's not a matter of not being able to do it it's a matter of having fluids and IV Abx due, not having access if this patient codes and the time constraints of starting an IV sometimes.

BSNs make a whopping $0.25 more an hour than ADNs. seriously? a quarter of a dollar? Not super motivating... But I work in Louisiana, in the south everyone is underpaid.

I believe that is true, but we have to have orders to not have any access on the floor at this hospital. I don't know all the details, maybe this pt was not very critical but from my position, I barely have time to get all I need to get done in time and starting IVs take up time. Appreciate your response. My real question is, why this change? what is the rationale behind it? Im ok with a walkie talkie, with no report, but otherwise I don't see it being beneficial to the patient or the nurse.

I totally agree in taking initiative, the issue is I don't have time to look at the computer and sort through all the details most of the time. I don't know who sent them, therefore who do I call for clarification or report if I need it? The patient shows up, I have little warning and know nothing about them. It's very unsettling to me, especially when I am already swamped in all my other patients.

I was wondering about that, I will have to look into the laws about it. I am in Louisiana. They even sent one patient up with any IV access! I am starting to wonder what they do down there!

1. Baton Rouge, Louisiana 2. 4 months, new grad 3.med surg/ telemetry 4 20/ hr for BSN (19.75 for ADNs) 5. $5 diff for NOC and weekend and $4 for eves. 6. Ha! I wish I am from CA, couldn't get a job and look forward to coming back! My rent is almost $1000, cost of living is not cheap in this area for how much they pay us. I am barely scraping by with this joke of a paycheck. CA is where it's at. I miss ratios, unions and a solid paycheck.

Hey all, our hospital started a new policy where the ER nurses don't have to call report on the patients coming to our floor- they can choose if they want to call report. Most don't call report. It is up to us to find this patient and research all about them before they get to the floor, hopefully. Most of the time, they show up before we know they are coming. It is very frustrating and unsafe, we don't know anything about what we are walking into. I work on a medical telemetry unit, with usually 5-6 pts per nurse, it's hectic and busy no time to be clicking through a computer on a new admit. From what I understand this is a trial to test out this new policy, I am hoping it doesn't last. It seems the only one that benefits from this new policy are the ER nurses, it's definitely not ideal or safe for the patients... Anyone experienced this sort of thing? Thoughts? Thanks.

Go out of state. I moved from CA to LA, I know for a fact my hospital is hiring new grads in a few different areas, I work at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge Louisiana. Gonna get my one year experience and then see what's next.

On that note, I got less than 7 weeks training and my manager was kicking me out on my own without even telling me I had a new schedule. I was promised 8, I am sure I could have if I really felt I needed it, but I just went with it I couldn't have made that much more of a difference. Ugh, management.

you can use glassdoor.com also to look at specific hospitals and wages

6 months is a lot of training, I would expect that maybe for an ICU or PACU area for a new grad. The fact is many places want to give the minimum amount of training and get you going on your own ASAP mainly for $$ reasons. I have seen avg of 6-8 weeks for acute hospital floor jobs for new grads. Not too sure about LTC, but I have heard they usually only have a couple days training.

yes! I am in a similar spot, I have been off orientation for a month from a medical telemetry floor. The more familiar things are the better, so overwhelming and frustrating sometimes. The learning curve is so steep. Besides the fact that the nurses are supposed to know everything about all the patients all the time and be responsible for other people's jobs... it's going fine, my advice is to get to the full patient load ASAP on orientation so you don't drown when you get off of orientation. Having a great preceptor and people you can go to for help is key.