vnguyen3

Here's what I normally do: after report go check out your patients, just make sure they're breathing and Alive. Check orders, look at labs to make sure there isn't any critical values that hasn't been reported. (consults HnP can be viewed at a later time) pass meds and assess, I normally read HnP when I'm charting. Time management comes with experience and honestly the amount of patient load you have. There's no way in hell anyone can do it all with 7-8 patient load.

there's a alaska fb group. Lot's of good resources on there.

Hey! mwaits081 I was in Houston as perm staff. I took my first assignment here in Mcallen Tx, working for an HCA (Never thought I could handle 7 demanding patients) but I did. I'm glad I took the plunge like you guys did. I'm looking into northern states too for my next possible assignment.

Thank you all for your input!

Lol love the update!

We do have a taxed home, when I said move, I didn't mean completely (sell our house, sell our belongings). It's more of like "hey this store is opening and you have to help get it running for a few months." Type of business. In any case, I'm not worried about the stipend and pay (at least not on my first assignment). What I'm more concerned about is actually getting the job, despite being shy of 2 full years of nursing experience. How likely is it that a manager would hire a travel nurse with minimal.

Ned those things have crossed my mind and to be honest, I'm not sure. I'm asking because my partner is taking a job that requires us to move every few months. A permanent position would be a little hard to maintain. This is my second hospital since graduation, my first job, I stayed a year, my current one I have 6 months. I've seen your posts on AN and know you have quite a bit of knowledge about traveling. Anything pointers would help. Thank you.

WhAt does "at a conversion" mean? I do have a résumé, but I don't know what shotgunning means, sorry lol. I have a few place in Texas that I have in mind. Another question, did your buddy have trouble finding assignment after his first (since he still didn't have 2 years of total experience, I'm assuming). Sorry if I'm not making any sense. Thank you for your reply.

Has anyone here traveled with less than 2 years RN experience? What is it like? Are you able to find jobs? I have 16 months experience and spoke to a recruiter who basically said I wouldn't have a problem finding jobs. My experiences are in telemetry, IMC, and cardioThoracic (it's 1 big unit). I'm aware most hospitals prefer to hire nurses with 2+ years, but is it possible for someone to work with only 16 months of experience.

The traffic in Houston is terrible!!

It certainly does get better. I've reached a year and 2 months last week, my confident level is a lot better than it was a year ago, and so will yours (to whom if may applies). After a while, you get used to giving report to certain people. For example, Nurse A wants to know the basic, while Nurse B wants to know irrelevant things like, what toe nail polish is the patient wearing . Trust me you'll learn to pick them out real quick. For information regarding patients plan of care: read the doctors note.

For a quick up to date plan of care, look for the most recent physician's progress note. ALWAYS ASK "ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO ANY MEDICATIONS?" If you don't know the patient or giving them a medication for the first time. Repeat as necessary. Have faith in yourself, and Google what you don't know.

It's normal to feel that way. I too have just gotten off orientation for about 2 months. Trust yourself, you know more than you think. Everything will fall in place with time and effort.

We don't get ANYTHING, for being on-call/flexed back.

You can definitely do an EKG class!! It's worth it if you're planning on working for a Monitor unit.