cydney7

Thanks for the info, BagLady. I'm getting so much from these posts! How long have you been travelling? How's the pay with Cross Country? Benefits? Do they do what they say they're going to do? I've read good and bad things..........

Hi all-- I would be really interested to hear about bad and good agencies to travel with. I haven't done it yet, but I'm definitely interested. Has anyone heard anything about Onward Healthcare? It looks promising, but after reading all of these posts, you just never know. I know that I need to do my research and ask all the right questions, but it would just help me to know what agencies to look into. Thanks.

Jen-- What was so hard about it for you? For me, it was having to make lightning fast decisions.........the stress of that was just too much to handle! I don't think I'm very good under that kind of stress, you know? People are looking at you, expecting you to know exactly what to do immediately, and you're looking for someone else to tell you what to do! Know what I mean? It was just too much, and definitely not my thing. Besides, all the nurses up there (except for one or two) were very catty and not very, um, welcoming to new nurses. At least I didn't feel like they wanted me there. Oh well. But yeah, postpartum is great. I would still be doing it, but had to get out because I was working nights, and it was killing me. So I'm doing hospice now. Big change, huh?

Baglady-- I did L & D for about three months, and I was in orientation the entire time because I just wasn't catching on. It definitely wasn't for me, and I definitely don't feel comfortable enough to do it when I travel. Thanks for letting me know about that, though, I'll definitely keep it in mind.

I'm really curious to hear more about your experience in Alaska. How small is the hospital that you work at? I'm from Mississippi, so I'm sure those winters would be crazy. Alaska is actually one place I've thought about. I want to go to places that are a little more remote...........Montana, Maine, places like that. Where have you travelled? And if you don't mind, what agency do you use? Thanks for your help.

Re: Advice, thoughts, wisdom........ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cydney: Onward HC, and the others I am not too sure about. On Assaignment has a good reputation. Get a good recruiter that you feel good about. Many assaignments are great. There are lots that are from facilites that can not staff for a good reason (they are difficult). I prefer smaller facilites as well. Take your time in checking. Put together a list of what to discuss with the Nurse Manager. REad through the Travel Nursing posts etc. I think, with your experience, you will do well. It sounds like you have more then a couple of years. Travel Nursing can sure cure burn out. It can be rewarding too financially. Just take your time with choosing an assaignment. Let's keep the conversation on the Board so more posters benefit and you will get more feedback. Happy travels. Quote: Originally Posted by NurseCyd Hi Nightngale-- I've been a member of allnurses for a while now, and just recently started reading posts again. I've been a nurse for two years, and currently work in home hospice. I've only been there for a month, and I really do love it, but I still feel sort of.......unfulfilled, I guess. I think I might like to try travel nursing, but I guess I'm pretty apprehensive about it. Most of my career has been spent in postpartum, which I love. I've also worked in med/surg (yuck), NICU (didn't last), and labor/delivery (also didn't last). If I travelled, I would prefer to do postpartum and/or nursery. My travel experience is severely lacking, I guess. The bravest thing I ever did was leave home and work in Yosemite National Park for three months (before I was a nurse). It was amazing and taught me so many things about myself. I've had a tough year and think I need to do some of that "soul-searching" again. So, I guess I'll get to the questions I have. I'm interested in smaller hospitals, mostly. I've done the big hospital thing and don't like it much. I've researched about three or four agencies so far. Can you recommend some of the better ones? Do you know anything about Onward Healthcare? That's one I've been looking at a lot. Also Nurse Choice (but don't want to do the 48-hour work week), Travel Nurse Across America (I think), and a couple more. Do they expect you to drive to assignments? I know they will usually supplement you for this. My dad made a good point---he said that travel nurses get paid a lot because the working conditions aren't so great. Do you find this to be true? I hope not, because most travel nurses I've met absolutely love it. I think he just doesn't want me to leave home---he worries. Anyway, I'm just rambling on and on here. I guess that I would just appreciate any and all advice you could give me about traveling, or recommend me to someone who can help. I'm so curious but just don't know where to start. Thanks so much. Hope you've had a great weekend. Cydney

doodlemom-- Thanks for responding. From what I understand, the census is pretty high. I live in Jackson, Mississippi and they cover 10 counties. It's a busy office from what they told me. They also mentioned the tax break, so I guess that's good. I wish I had been better informed before I went to the interview, so that I would've known what questions to ask. I guess I could call the director of nursing today and ask her, huh? :) I don't know how good the team is, but I do know that they always have a "backup" on call if you can't get there right away (like if it's thirty miles away and you're on another visit). They claim that the team is great---social workers, chaplains, etc. The DON also told me about the caseload---it's 10-12 patients per RN, with at least two visits to each patient required each week. Is that a typical caseload? Again, thanks for the info. I appreciate any and all advice.

Well, here I am, another nurse looking to possibly change jobs and work for a hospice agency. I interviewed today at Sta-Home (does anyone know much about this agency? just curious), and it went really well. I'm not really worried about whether or not I'll get the job; I think I will. But, I guess that my confidence level is really low right now. I wonder if I'll be good at it, if I can handle it, if it will be a good "fit" for me.........so many things running through my head. Anyone else know what I mean? I've been in a hospital for about a year and a half now, ever since I got out of nursing school. I've worked in med/surg, NICU, and mother/baby (where I am right now). But, I haven't found my niche, my calling, whatever you want to call it. I guess that I would really hate to change jobs again and end up being miserable, again. The pay's okay. It would be about what I'm making right now (working the night shift though). They pay for health and dental insurance, which is great. The mileage is 30 cents per mile (is this typical or a complete rip-off?), and they do rotate call for nights and weekends. I know that it's not really an 8-5 job. But, I also want to have a life. I want to be able to get out of town for a couple of days if I need to. I need that, you know? I don't want to take this job only to find out that I have no free time other than work. I don't know, guys. I'm just confused, I guess. Any advice?? This was mostly written as a "venting" sort of thing, so if it doesn't make sense, sorry!

Hi to all, Thank you, Didi, for saying what you said. It was just what I needed to hear. And to answer your question, my first and second nursing job were at different facilities, then I moved to another hospital and am still there (just got transferred to mother/baby about two months ago). It's not really the facilities........the hospital I'm at now is great. The people are great, for the most part. Thing is, I still don't really get to spend a whole lot of time with my patients like I'd like to.......especially working nights now........and I'd like to make more money if possible. What do you love about ICU? I don't know if I could ever do ER (my friend does it and LOVES it), because I don't handle high-stress well.........and also have trouble making quick decisions (I like to think things through). That's why I couldn't make it on labor/delivery. But the people there were all mean anyway........so I guess it's for the best. I talked to a lady at a hospice today, she said they have a full-time RN position open, and I'm supposed to fax my resume to her tonight when I go in to work. I don't know what will happen with that, but there's no harm in trying. Again, thanks, and thanks to everyone else for their support. Merry Christmas!!

I don't know that I would really be considered a "new nurse", but I definitely still feel like one. I've been nursing since June 2004, and since then have had three different jobs (well, four if you count my recent transfer against my will to another unit). I still haven't found what I'm looking for. I did med/surg, and like many of you, the 3 to 11 shift, which I hated because it was just overwhelming. I would get admissions back to back (once I got two new patients at the same time), sometimes would have twelve patients with an LPN (sometimes not IV-certified, which was stressful), didn't really have any help, and worked with a bunch of old burned-out nurses. Anyway, you get my point. I was stressed out. Then, I worked in the NICU for four months. Didn't like that either. THEN, tried labor/delivery, but that didn't work out (too high-stress and my orientation was lasting a little longer than it should have). Now, I'm on the postpartum unit, which I guess is okay. I started working nights last week and hate it already. I've been desperately searching for another job because I need to make more money and I truly think that I want to get out of the hospital environment. So, now that I'm done complaining, I just want to say that I relate to all of these posts. But now I need some help or advice from some of the more experienced nurses out there. My mom tells me that it will look bad on my employment record if I continue to go from job to job (I call myself a job hopper), but then my good friend (not a nurse) tells me yesterday to go for it, that I should keep trying until I find the area of nursing that I love. I tend to agree with my friend (simply because I don't want to feel bad about wanting to leave my current job). Thing is, I have no idea what I want to do. I've thought about travelling, but I keep thinking of excuses not to. I thought about agency nursing, but that would keep me in hospital work, and some of the places around here are less than desirable to work for (lots of horror stories). I've thought about home health, because I really like the independence of it, and especially the opportunity for lots of patient education. Then, I thought about hospice, but what if I couldn't handle it? It would just be nice to know that I'm not the only nurse who thinks this way. I'm not satisfied with my job right now, and I don't really want to feel bad about it. But I also don't want to jeopardize my career future. I'd like to get my NP, but you need money to do that, and I'm not making enough! And I haven't been in a place long enough to get tuition reimbursement.......ugh. Any advice, magic spells, prayers, whatever............would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, and I really enjoy reading all of these posts. Makes me feel like I'm part of a big community........

Hey all, especially BluEyes-- I got the job in labor and delivery! I went to the interview and she offered me the position, so I took it, of course. I'm excited, but nervous. I start July 5th. I'm sure I will be here a lot, asking for advice. But in the meantime, if anyone has any advice for a "newbie" let me know. Cydney

Thanks a lot. Will talk to you again soon. Probably will post something tomorrow to let you know about the interview.

Thanks for the response, Blu. I'm so glad that I found this website. There are so many different people with so many different kinds of advice, you know? I'm excited about the possibility of working in OB. I always loved it when I was in school........but it's also a little scary too. I've only been a nurse for a year (one year on June 25th.....yay!), and I've already been through two different orientations, one of which was in the NICU. One of my big worries is looking like a "job-hopper." I'm desperate to find what fits me. And the NICU is not it. I mean, I love babies, but I miss interaction with adults. And adult women having babies sounds like a good combo for me, you know? Anyway, thanks again. I will let you know how the interview goes Thursday. Talk to you again soon, I'm sure.

Hi all. I've been reading some of your posts and have already discovered some great new information. I have an interview this Thursday on an L & D floor at one of the hospitals here. It is supposed to be a really good floor, very high patient satisfaction, and so on. I've been working in the NICU since February (before that I did med-surg) and am pretty miserable there. Anyway, to get to my question: if I get hired for this job, how long do you think it will take for me to feel confident? I know that's probably a silly question, but I want your opinion. I just don't want to be a "job-hopper" and then end up hating it. I enjoyed the L & D clinicals I had in school........it was all so amazing to me........ I guess I'm just feeling nervous about the interview. I just want to be good at my job..........most of all, I want to be happy in my job, you know? Thanks for any info you can offer.......... :uhoh21:

Hey there--- I'm finally getting around to posting a reply. Thanks to you, and the others, for all the info. It's such a wealth of good information, and it will serve me well if I ever decide to do home health. I'm still interested in it, but I think that I need to concentrate on hospital work for the time being......... It never hurts to try out new things, though. So I will keep checking this website for info........and would still love to keep in touch with all of you. Thanks again. Cydney