margeux

Hi Suzanne I'm with Medical Express hope that is going to be okay. we're due to leave this sat. for ca. to start a job in Palo Alto on the 12th. still don't have my contract signed yet as there are several issues I want to get straigtened out. don't like the .2o cent per mile for travel and still trying to neg. that. they kind of have me over a barrel since I"m dieing to work at that hosp. do you know of any other travel co. that staff lucille packard's? I want to work there in the worst way. sounds like you've been around alot maybe you know of another co. that would get on there in case this falls through. I know two units want me bad. so no problem with that. thanks for any help margeux

my hospital had the same problem so what they did was train a few nurses to be intervention nurses. taking care of areas where they were needed as pertaining to kids or babies, they go to er if lots of kids or need iv 's started or for anything relating to kids down there or to nicu just to help feed the slurps and burps or give the staff a break, also to mombaby to help out with feeding baths or giving moms breast feeding instructions when they don't have time to do those things and to L and D to help with normal birthed babies. maybe you could utlilize some of your nurses like that. also we do conscious sedation for procedures , mri, ct scans or ivp/vcug, when ever the kids need sedation, that also gives everybody some hours. maybe some of that will help. our ratio is 1:3-4 and we do primary nursing. and also have all the dx. you mentioned. we almost had a disaster such as yours when administration decided to staff with a rn and a pca. there was a code and it almost wasn't a good turn out. so they quit that practice. maybe this helps let me know margeux

hi we tried to staff one rn and one pca, the first night there was a code and we usually run our own codes so things were a mess every since that we have always had 2 nurses on. unit is 26 beds with average 9-12 pats. back when this happened we would have days when we would only have a few pts. thus the cut back but it didn't work so don't go there it's dangerous margeux

hi pedi rn, good for you for choosing pediatrics,I have nursing kids for 30 yrs. and never tire of my job. always happy to go to work and never call in sick just to get away with not working. there are several things that I have to lay on you so hope it helps. first know your age specifics and what works for the age you are dealing with. you've heard the expression get down on their level that's soooo true with kids. you can't talk to a toddler the same way as you talk to a school age kid. anyway my very favorite distraction is I have a watch that plays its a small world while mickey mouse goes round it provides sound(for kids that are blind) and sight and of course both. it works wonderfully. anything with lights music or moving parts that's easy to carry in your pocket. just remember to always treat the kids and parents as if they were your family members and you'll always treat them right. good luck and if you have anymore questions let me know. margeux

Someone please answer this question when talking to recuriters they quote me a per hour rate and then time and a half after 8 hrs for ca. but some recuriters don't pay that. I thought it was a law that they had to pay time and a half after 8 hrs. what's up with that? I've just been quoted a straight hourly wage for night shift no diff. no ot. other benefits good though am I being screwed? thanks for any insight into this since I'm new to travel Margeux

:rotfl: Hi Mami thanks sooooo much for answering I accepted a travel position for 6 months on 3ns and I'm very excited. I know it's a great hospital I've done lots and research and can't wait. I start on July 12,just kinda dread the ride out 3000 miles from Florida but to escape the heat and humdity is worth it. I also do NICU mostly stepdown and like it pretty good I just don't do vents or micro preemies. I've been doing peds since 1974 and still just love it. I've never gone into work dreading it always excited you never know what you're going to see or do keeps things exciting. How is Palo Alto is it a fun place to live? Can't wait to get away from this area it's full of old people. Not that I'm not older I just have a very young attitude and energy. Nobody from work goes partying without asking me. good luck in your chosen profession. Margeux

anybody out there working at Lucille Packard's Kids hosp?any info for me? How do you like it? etc. thanks for any help Margeux

Hi I just quit smh to start traveling it's a great place to work and they just hired a ceo that started out as nurse( female too) anyway I was on peds so didn't associate with big people nurses too much so don't know names of nurse managers but I do know they don't slow down in the summer on the cardiac floors that's they're biggest population. they have CICU, and all kind of stepdown cardiac units, so I don't think you would have trouble getting a job and they're nurse retention rate is awesome, they really listen to nurses there. Donna Norback is the nurse recuriter in hr so call her. it should be on the web site of smh.com. any questions ask, I haven't left yet so if you want more info email me be glad to help. Margeux

Yeah actually I had a recuiter tell me about that city of hope job. It's been about 8 yrs since I did hem/onc kids so don't know about how hard it would be to get back up to speed but I'm willing to try 'cause I sure loved that kind of nursing. So you liked the hospital and the area? Is it a big busy town? would like to go someplace smaller than LA or Oakland,etc to get my feet wet offers just now coming in for July so hopefully there will be the perfect place for me. Let me know your feelings on any other peds jobs and/or hospitals you've been to. thanks Margeux

Okay everyone the offers are starting to come in and I need to bounce them off you. Any observations, suggestions, or warnings would be great. How about Millers Childrens Hospital Longbeach how is it working there and what's the area like, is it too busy to get around in or not? how about Kern Hosp. Bakersfield, anyone been there? Oakland-Kaiser I've heard good,bad and ugly about that whadya think? Sacaramento-Kaiser same questions?Children's Hosp. of Orange County same questions as abouve?and there's also a small hosp. in Fairfield,ca Northbay Medical Center anyone been there?Thanks guys these are the ones so far. Margeux

Hi laborrn, actually that wasn't my orginal message, somehow it looks as if I'm the lucky one to have that kind of travel compnay, but this is going to be my first time traveling. the company that's mentioned by nicky is On Assignment , they sound good don't they? I'm in the process of contacting them. let you know if they're really that good. margeux :rotfl:

Helllllllo Nurse you do you work with that you get to have avirtual tour it sounds tooooo good to be true.I'm in a quandry trying to figure out who to go with since this is my first travel job. I'll be going to Ca., Wa., or Nv. or any other cool place for the summer. help me please! thanks margeux peds nurse for 25 yrs.

Hi I just had a recuiter tell me about a job in peds there at least I think it was at your hospital. She said Salinas, Ca. is that you? I've got 25+ yrs in peds and peds hem/onc. and was wondering about that hospital . looking to start in July what do you think? would I like it? I'm in fl. now and want to get away from the hurricanes. Any helpful info would be great. Margeux

What can I say about peds nursing! I've been doing it for over 30 yrs and never one time have I hated to go to work. It's always something exciting and you never know what going to walk through that hospital door. I've seen diseases and dx's that alot of people never see it's terrific. And then to make that piece of cake have an icing is when the kids/family give you a big hug and kiss for everything you do for them, or the pics the kids draw for you and say I love you on it. I just can't put into words how much my "kids" mean to me! If you love kids and nursing do it you'll never regret your decision! Remember if you do what you love and make money that's a winning combination. Questions just ask. Margeux

Who are you traveling with I'm just starting out and am in a quandry with who to go with. I'm peds nurse for 25 yrs and want to travel to northern ca. wa state or nevada, any suggestions or warnings? thanks margeux