DCCCRNn2005

Need some advice, getting ready for my third assignment. Had no problems getting things togther with my last two assignments. I was hoing to start in a new assignment next monday, I'm done on thursday morning, and still have nothing nailed down to go to next. My company is doing all they can to get things lined up, but I'm not getting any calls from the hospitals. I'm not being picky, anything paying decent money would be okay. I started looking early, though i did change areas once. And I have experience. I hear that it's not uncommon for nurses to have some unplanned time off between assignments, b/c they can't find anything they want. I know that this time of year everyone is trying to rush around and take vacation and this is a holiday weekend so all that doesn't help my situation. I was just wondering if this ever happens to anyone else? Have you ever had to take off unplanned time, b/c you didn't have anything else lined up??

I'm a traveler from the piedmont of NC, but I just finished up an assignment in New Bern, NC at Craven Regional Hospital. It's a beautiful area, and the people there are awesome. The town sits right on the river, and the beach is only 30 minutes away. You should check them out. Just make sure to ask lots of questions, some of the mangagers are different. Have you considered maybe travel nursing in the area for a while and get the feel of the different parts before you move to one specific hospital? Just a thought, good luck!!!

just finishing up my first travel assignment, and dragging my husband of almost 2 years along. WE LOVE IT!!! We get to be on vacation 4 days a week (I work 3 12s) We are enjoying every minute and plan on traveling for a long time. It can be done as long as he's okay with it pack it up and go!!!

I am getting ready to start my first travel assignment, for 13 weeks. My husband will be traveling with me. (non-RN) I'll be at least 4 hours from my home, and I was just wondering if anyone could give me an idea of what you usually take with you on a long assignment. I know every company is different and all provide different things with housing and such. Obviously scrubs, clothes, toiletries, ect., but I'm sure you leave the kitchen sink at home. I'm trying to decide on my nessesities and not take a bunch of junk I don't need or may already be there. Thanks for your understanding, just have those pre-travel jitters lol.

most of the companies i've looked into require at least one year of experience in acute care. But the more the better. You need to make sure you are comfortable with your skills before setting out in traveling.

I am so excited about getting started in traveling!!! I am a reletively new nurse, only been working about a year and a half. But I am very unhappy in my current job and was looking for a way out. A friend of mine from school has been traveling for a few years and is absolutely loving it. I was just hoping to get some pointers from those who have been in this game for a while. What things do you know now that you wish you'd known on your first assignment? I know it will be different and purpose a whole new set of challenges, but I think I'm ready. I need all the advice I can get so all posts and pm's are welcome. Thanks you all I know everyone has a wealth of info to share, can't wait to hear it all. :bowingpur

I seem to have misquoted by using "power" in my post. And others were right I should have replaced that with responsibility. I don't want the position so I can flaunt amongst the unit thinking I am something special, so that was a bad choice of words. (it just seemed to fit in the title better lol)

Hey there ya'll! I need some advice. I am a relatively new nurse, graduated May 2005. I have been working on my unit since I graduated and got out of orientation. My current schedule includes days, nights and weekends. (weekends gets "premium pay" which is significantly more than during the week) Well yesterday I was approached by my day Unit Coordinator, and was told that the managers and unit coordinators had discussed and wanted to offer me the position of night unit coordinator :monkeydance: (the current one has taken an immediate leave for fam. reasons and they aren't sure she'll even come back.) I was shocked and honored that I was seriously being considered, being so new to the field. They said the felt that not only was it a good career and growing step for me, but that I would advance the unit and help us improve. Here is the problem: I am comfortable at my current salary, (especially since my husband is out of work since he's in school), taking this position would cut my overall take home pay d/t not working weekends any more. I don't think that the manager will give me more than like $1 raise, which is average for this position. To compensate I would need like $2 to $2.50, which I don't see happening. So my question is.... do I take this offer which would mean growth, priviliges, and oppertunities along with authority BUT most of all an uncomfortable pay cut???

I was in no way thinking that I wanted to be in charge, all I want is to go in, take care of the pt.'s and be done. I don't want to supervise (not ready yet) The only reason i put in the comment about the nurse that knows it all (whom i don't have a problem with) was that she is the main CN, but they all rotate. I may have a attitude problem, but it is not that I think I know more than anyone, or want to be in charge. I am approachable and very liked by my coworkers. I know this just sounds like I'm pouting and fighting back, but I'm not. I had to work down at Dialysis today (very hard to go in there, really didn't want to) I discussed my situation with the main CN, and she said that as far as she didn't feel that I wasn't doing my job, and she didn't know of anyone else whom did either. One of my techs told me she overheard one nurse talking bad about me to the manager yesterday. The same nurse I busted my tail to do all the work she should have done yesterday. From that and the other info I gathered I think this whole stink was her trying to cover for herself for things she didn't do completely right. (hmm I can just blame the one who is never here, and she won't be able to defend herself) Whether or not i'll stay is still up in the air. I don't really enjoy the work anymore, so i'm not giving 100%. This situation just pushed me right to the edge and helped me realize it. I'm sorry that my first post was so angry, I needed to vent. I also apploigize that i came across as a smarty-pants know it all. I just think that you should be nice to your prn help, b/c most of the time, they have a choice to help you or not.

Kinda long, Sorry, Okay I graduated may 2005, I immediately started working at the outpatient dialysis center that I have been at since I started my last year in school. The manager knew when the offered me the RN position that I had already accepted a position at a large hospital in the area, in a neuro/vascular unit. She agreed to keep me on prn to help out when I could. Well since then she has gone through spells of needing me all the time to not working at all some payperiods. :uhoh21: It's not that I NEED this extra income, but it makes life a lot easier. Between the 2 jobs I usually end up with around 50 hours a week. My husband is currently in school but about to finish up and he'll go back to work full time, so this extra work would not be nessesary. I feel that I may be spreading myself too thin (although with my proportions I wish that were actually true. LOL) To top it all off, I worked today but after I left my manager called to tell me something to fix tommorrow (she won't be there), and said that the other nurses feel that they have to take up my slack, that it's like I'm there but not there at the same time. I was offended, since I feel that I do more than my share when I am there. She said it was just constructive critisism (SP) and not to be offended no one was perfect, just think how i can fix it. Well as I dwelled on it, I think I am burnt out on it, that's why I can't give 100%, b/c I don't enjoy it anymore. I love the pt's, and the techs are almost all wonderful. I'm not going to think about my fellow nurses b/c I obviously don't know what they are thinking(never said anything to me just went to the manger). :angryfire All that said, I think it's obvious I need to leave there as soon as my husband finishes school. The only problem is that the nurse that seems to always be in charge, and knows it all, is going out on maternity leave in april, and they've given me this sob story about needing me, since everyone else has to be retrained to do all the charge stuff, and all and agreed to raise my salary (just while she's gone them back down). I feel so bad to think of leaving in a time like this but I really don't know what to do. Has anyone out there been in a similar situation when just starting out, agreeing to help then getting stuck in a job you don't enjoy? I would really appreciate any suggestions, and thanks for reading it all!

i had a few pt.'s say that to me the other week but before that i had never heard of anyone tasting iv fluids kinda wierd huh

I know that I shouldn't laugh at others but this was a little personal victory of mine that I need to share. This made my day. About 2 years ago I worked in a nursing home as a CNA while I was in school. I didn't tell many people, because I was only in first year and several other NA's were "in nursing school" but really were taking like the pre-req's, and they liked to show out like they were better than everyone and the nurses hated it. I was actually in the program. But anyway one of these previously mentioned NA's (supposedly to graduate Dec. '04) found out I was in school and asked me what semester I was, I said the course number at the time (like NUR120 i think). Well he made this big deal about how I obviously I was not in the program and I was lying. And that when I actually got in the program that I could come talk to him, then I would know the correct semester #. Anyway cut to this morning about 2 years later, I've been practicing as a RN for 8 months now:nurse: , I go in to give report to the next shift. And who comes up all dressed in thier first year student uniform. None other than that same NA who told me that I was lying about being in school. The look in his eye when he realized who I was, erased all the anger I had about that little comment.:roll I know it sounds childish but it goes to show, never burn somebody, especially when you don't know the truth, b/c you never know (esp. in our field) whom you may be working/ reporting to next week. :chair:

I'm not a LPN, but can I say, go for the crocs!!! I am telling you, you will not be sorry. 12 hours and no sore feet, believe me, I love mine I wear them all the time (cleaning after I leave the hospital of course) you can get them online, or at hallmark stores and Dillards (dillard's have the ones with no holes in the top) Also FYI, if you have any problems with your crocs you can email them and they will either send you a new pair or send you the part to fix them. (I broke one of the rivets, so i know)

Has anyone found a book or website that helps in learning rhythms? I'm a new grad, that works in step-down ICU and I feel somewhat comfortable with interpreting but would like some practice. J/W if any one else had the same problem.

I didn't have a choice as to whether I wanted to open the "did I get in envelope." I was dressed up ready to go to the prom when the mail came. I didn't want to spoil the night if I didn't get in to I told my mom to hold on to it and I'd open it in the morning. Well that wasn't going to happen. She said we just can't wait on such big news and ripped open. Thank the Lord I got in, or that would have been a bummer. But when it came to state boards I was the one calling the number, I don't know how I would have been if I would have had to wait on a envelope for that.