ParalyticAgent

I've done this for the past two years and it has worked well for me. My boss has allowed me to make my PRN requirements annual, as opposed to every schedule. I work nearly full time while I'm home, and this allows me to take more time between contracts.

I did Berkeley without a car and was totally okay with that. Between BART, the bus, MUNI (in the city), and Uber, I did just fine. I do have a zipcar membership, and I used that 2-3 times. I did a few day trips with coworkers but I just contributed to gas costs for their car.

Know what's going on in your section/the department. A patient wants to go the bathroom? Have them pee in a cup. It's so much easier to have it and not need in than need it and not have it. Know the department protocols and be proactive. Get EKGs done. Start IVs and get blood (if you're allowed). BE PRESENT. Please don't hide. It makes my shift so much smoother when I have am not constantly searching for the tech or doing total patient care on my whole team.

FWIW, I thought I knew what allergens were causing me problems, but when I did the full test, I had no reaction to those allergens, but reactions to five others. It may seem unnecessary, but there's likely a method to the madness.

No. Typically you're brought in to allow staff nurses to attend Epic training classes. You may stay for a couple of weeks after the go-live to replace super users as staff nurses.

Plus ER nurses are very rarely (if ever) required to float! :)

Ned, I'm quite confused by my agency's response to this whole situation. Apparently they have 11 travelers at the hospital already, so I didn't think this would be so difficult. I spoke to my unit manager- she gave me some good information for the first day, but still nothing specific. I'm going to call the on-call for my agency on Sunday and see if they have any information from the facility- all week I was told it was "coming later this week."

I'm starting a new contract on 1/4 and have not received first day instructions yet. I'm a bit apprehensive because I doubt the hospital will be sending instructions tomorrow or over the holiday weekend. My recruiter checked this morning, but is now out of the office for the weekend. Is it inappropriate to call the manager with whom I interviewed? If I can't get any information, I'm planning on showing up at HR on Monday at 0745. Does anyone else have any ideas?

To be clear, orders placed per protocol are in no way a "gray area," so long as the orders are entered as "per protocol" and the protocol is followed. The medical staff has already "signed off" on those orders by making them protocols.

I just finished a contract at University of Maryland, and I would second Ned's suggestion of Fells Point or Canton for housing. Parking has become quite difficult in both areas, so make sure you ask about that when looking at housing. I used street parking, but often had to walk 6-7 blocks to get home. Bus service was not convenient from where I lived in Canton. I had a blast in Baltimore. I was there for almost five months and never ran out of things to do. Some of my favorites included the American Visionary Art Museum in Fed Hill, any crab shack (I was partial to Captain James as it was stumbling distance from where I lived), Red Emma's (an anarchist cafe and bookstore), the Baltimore Art Museum, day trips to Washington DC (the MARC is cheap and super convenient), and walking along the harbor. Patterson Park is also absolutely amazing- I spent a lot of time walking through there. Hopkins uses Epic. The travelers I know who have worked there have enjoyed it.

When I interviewed with the manager of the ER at Alta Bates Berkeley, I told her I've never worked inpatient and I feel uncomfortable floating. She assured me that ER doesn't float, which seems to be consistent with other hospitals. I'll get some info on other units when I start and report back to you all!

Ditch the boy. Travel.

I did what Ned suggests. I stayed per diem, but I asked that the monthly requirement be annual. I'm responsible for 192 hours per year. I work at home between contracts and I work well over my required hours!

Ned, that would explain why they aren't advertising this service! Thanks for the info- glad I went out to get it done. Temporary license in hand 16 days after submission.

I would contact Capitol Livescan for the details. From what I understand, they need two paper copies and then digitize your prints.

Even better: Capitol Livescan is offering a service where they will convert your paper prints to livescan to submit to DOJ. I found out about this when I had already flown to Sacramento, but I can help someone else! :)

Everyone needs help moving furniture, not just women. I'm a 28 year old single female who has moved to both coasts and several places in between by myself. Be smart, don't make reckless decisions. Crime is rarely random.

Littmann light- perfectly sufficient for my rapid assessment.

I absolutely hate commuting. I walk 7 minutes to work. It's wonderful.

I took agency housing for my first two assignments and was provided with the bare minimum- a bed, dresser, bedside table, couch, chair, coffee table, TV stand, dining table, and four chairs. Everything else was up to me- including a microwave. I was able to make a good deal during my first assignment. They were unable to secure housing at the start of my contract, so I was put in a hotel and told that if they should find housing, I would be supplied with linens and housewares in addition to the usual furnishings. Turns out their vendor didn't have housewares and linens, so my agency reimbursed my expenses for those items! I have three totes with everything I need for housing- all at no expense to me!

This is actually a really interesting question. I did a little bit of research, and I can't come up with anything definitive. It isn't a contraindication, but most protocols and research have something along the lines of "symptoms cannot be explained by other etiology- migraine, intoxication." There was a study that showed slightly poorer outcomes for cocaine intoxicated patients who were treated with t-PA, but a cursory search did not result in any discussions about ETOH intoxication.

That's the beauty of travel nursing- it's up to you! I typically take between 6-8 weeks of between contracts. I carry my own insurance, so I don't have to worry about a lapse in insurance coverage.

If you want to work any overtime, I HIGHLY suggest you steer clear of AMN. Their "My Time Bonus" is absurd and they will not budge on a their ridiculously low OT rate.

Take ENPC as soon as possible! Knowledge is power. Kids are not tiny adults- their physiology makes their course of treatment and clinical presentation much different.

I kept a notebook with me at all times to write down meds, conditions, treatments I was unfamiliar with. When I got home, I was able to study them more in depth. That's the advice I give to all of my new hires! :)