Bindy

I do like how you broke down each comment and responded accordingly. It's so great for some one that loves order like myself. Self-Reliant I am, I am 41 and had never had my hand out.....never, I work 40-60 hrs a week so I can fix my roof, put proper food on the table for my kids and not owe anyone a credit card bill. Your talking to a momma that loves the simple life . If I was in need I would nearly kill myself to find a way to provide, that's the way I was raised and the way I raise my kids. Charlie the crackhead is weighing down the system and made the choice to abuse his body. If Charlie was sick, poor and tryed to provide but couldn't make ends meet...then I am all for him and helping him.....if you abuse yourself and the system then I have no respect. If the wealthy can pay a certain amt, so be it. But if you have a job and need to contribute $20 a mo for yourself and that's all you can do...then that's what you do. But we all need to take personal responsability. Afterall that is the adult thing to do. Who am I for? I was never for the dem's.....I feel they enable too much and are too soft on protecting us overseas. I say this with much research in back of my statements. I am not saying the republicans are angels...I feel they are all no good. Palin to me is pretty cool b/c she ousted many in her on party which takes guts. I admire guts! :) SO on election day I am writing in my vote... Co.Klink....my dog. Whataya think?

Personally, I don't think the "O" is the second coming and I see long gasoline lines and long health care lines in the future if he can help it. I feel he is the media's messiah but if you truly speak to your neighbors....you know, the one's that like to take home their own pay check and not share with Charlie on the corner smoking a crack pipe, they'll say they much rather be......self-reliant...... So not all health care workers are licking their chops to be imerged in a socialized medicine society. But....we absolutely need to make insurance less of a monopoly, be able to buy accross state lines and have people pay for insurance according to what they can pay for it by using income guidelines. All children, elderly and disabled insured but if you can walk and talk then go to work and pay your fair share. I feel so much better now.

Sorry I don't do spell-check off hours....just so ya know. Tally ho...Bindy:wink2:

I work agency. I have two....it took some time though to find the "right" ones that would work for me. The one agency knows me and what days I like to work, shifts, knows my personality and what I find a pain in the caboose and what I don't mind doing. I feel that they go all out for me. I refer people to them but I am actually having trouble getting hours. They seem to stick you in one spot and keep you there even when you ask for a new site. So.......that I don't like....because it's like....."You're not listening to me....I want to go somewhere else people....." sorry..., just lost it there. I did ask for my ACLS and PALS to be paid for and they split it with me. They also pay be the very next day. That's pretty cool. Well there, there's getting the ball rolling with this thread. Bindy;) ;)

Don't want to be totally discouraging, but....if there is not an offical precepting program for ER then do Med-Surg and/or Tele for at least...at least a year. Even with that under your belt,( I am talking from experience ) and having twelve yrs of Echo, which gave me a extensive cardiac background, the ER on most days was daunting for me the first 6mo's. I was in a position that was precepted for 8 wks, and then they let me loose. Put it this way, I am O.K now.....don't know everything, who does?, but I now have a stomach ulcer from all the stress. Looking back I would have turned ER down and went to the ICU/CCU. This is mega stressful too but slower paced. Someone had mentioned that you can pretty much tweak your skills there and I would have to agree. Whatever you do, be prepared to self-educate when you are off work. Nursing school was just the tip of the iceburg. This is the way it is for ER, and I am sure it is for any CCU/ICU job. I wish you much success in what ever you choose. Take Care, Bindy

Well, I think this thread has enough replys to gain some attention. Why don't we all group together and have a rally? They do it waiving there non-american flags. Oh...,but wait, we work...so I guess we don't have the time. Bindy:uhoh21:

I believe in Immigration, just not the illegal "kind". I am a ER nurse, I do a lot of agency work so I circulate. I see so much of illegal immigrants that are flooding the ER's. Not only that but they demand to be seem in a real brazen way. They know what they can get away with. The hammock will eventually break and then what? Health Care is already going bankrupt. ANd as far as the jobs.....my husband is a carpenter, works for himself, pays taxes and business insurance and advertising. He wants a viable small business......but he can't. He is being underbidded by Contractors that use illegals while they watch them sweat from their brand new pick-ups. They don't lift a finger, just smoke a pack of cigarettes watching them do grunt work....then pay them nothing so 30 of them have to live in one house. So needless to say, my husband doesn't work much, he won't do this type of practice, so, hence, I work 50-60 hrs a week to get by and never see our kids. Illegals are killing me too. It just isn't right. Let's send this thread to Bush, because he is doing nothing right now about our borders.........and it is only going to get worse. Bindy PS: Sorry for rambling, but it's the only therapy I can afford........I don't get free health care.

SO far this thread is going O.K. The last nurse hit on target when he said remember the gas and parking. Right now I am doing agency, looking to do staff again and started interviewing. Berks County paid the lowest, probably because there aren't many hospitals in that county to compete with each other and housing is lower (although I have friends that say housing is starting to balloon out of control). Mercy Hospitals are typically lower paying, ( I worked at one and I started in the ED under $25.00....and that ED nearly killed me). Then you go to Crozer Health, they are union, they pay well....they have their rates on the nursing job hotline. Check it out. Also down in Philly, hospitals tend to pay more, they also expect more of you as far as experience, and again there is parking and gas. Gas is such an issue now expecially since if you are going to work during prime hours and sitting and crawling to your job...whoa does your car gulp gas. Keep the poll rolling fellow nurses! Bindy;)

Well...in all due respect, don't answer it. If you don't want to know if your making a rate on the bottom, middle or top of the barrel, then don't reply. I have many discussions with colleagues about rates....and I am just a little 'ol RN with no ties, just to myself. Take Care, Bindy

Boy, I agree with all the replies here. I have a heavy Cardiac background and have been only working ED for a year and a half. I learned that you either sink or swim. Yes, it is absolutely possible that you are being dumped on but you have to give it more time before you decide, not four days. ED is all about stamina and the ability to assess quickly, then prioritize. It's a lot different then the unit, and it's a lot simular. Give it time, give yourself time and give your team a clear picture that you are able to handle a load. In a few weeks if you see that you continually get dumped on then quietly go to your supervisor and ask to sit down and talk. Hang in there!:penguin: Bindy

Well Bill apparently your the one and only couragous and spunk to tell all. Starting out in ED all the way in Berks County you get around $20-$21 an hour (that was what I was told). Med-Surg in 20 mile radius of Philly, starting is $26.00, Critical Care with experience in the suburbs of Philly is $30.00. That is not bad. It is good to be informed otherwise RN's have no guidelines of what is appropiate and what is not. Especially if we are non-union. Bindy

Sorry, It has been awhile and I'll have to clean it out. I will do that sometime tonight or tomorrow. Hang tight. I'll be in touch soon. Bindy

Hi to all Pennsylvanian RN's. I want to take a poll. If you care about your salary and future and don't want to work as a missionary....then take a minute and share salary info. Just a simple poll, what is the average rate RN's are making out there. If you are in Critical Care, Tele, ED, Med-Surg, Psych, etc.then share that also. Informed nurses are empowered nurses! Best to all of you hard working souls, Bindy:penguin:

I worked in this ED....you may want to take it very slow. ED is not an easy environment BUT this one takes the cake. I met other old ED "misery" nurses, not one of us stayed more than a year. You can e-mail me privately and then I will touch base with you on the phone if you'd like. Good Luck in your search....but take this one slowly......Bindy

I feel compelled to share. I graduated as a RN in August '04, worked as a Echocardiographer for 11 yrs. prior. Started out in Med-surg, did so for 9 months, then landed a job in a underserved area of Phila, ER. Been there for 4 months. Got my ACLS, going for a dysrthymia class in a few weeks. I feel confident and then unconfident. Codes are intimidating. But the crew I work with are team players. We all work together and that seems to be the most important factor. Hang in there.....that's what I tell myself, otherwise you'll never tackle knowing a specialty. I never wanted ER, telemetry seemed more me since I was in Echo land for some time. But it landed on my lap and I took off with it. I tend to have the mentality that whatever happens is for a reason. So I just try to focus on what I need to learn, ask a ton of questions........(and importantly, not caring if someone gives me the " you don't know that?" look) and take it one day at a time. Remember you must be an advocate for yourself too. Best of luck to you! Belinda,"aka" Bindy, Miller PS: What state are you from?