HeyNurse2014

My apologies for being clueless - What is HIM? I wondered the exact same thing. Know that a lot of folks will post and never look at the discussion again, I googled HIM. It means Health Information Management. The next post has CDI. Again, google... Clinical Documentation Improvement. I guess the members here know a lot more than me but it is still nice to have the acronym spelled out for the ignorant folks like me. Now that I learned two new things today I can go back to sleep.

My school nor local hospitals hosted anything like the dinner you described. It was every man (woman) for themselves in the job hunt. What I'm finding frustrating is (one) the new desire for BSN only and the computer based application process that boots out applications within hours. Yes the dreaded "no longer under consideration". Even when you send in the application at 11pm on a Sunday night only to wake up Monday with a not considered email message dated for 3am. nice...

you're argument is flawed

I don't know a whole lot about your choices except Keiser which is expensive. USF in Tampa also has an online only program. 6 credits x 5 semesters and your done. Cost is around $7k depending on books and likely tuition increases.

OMG... how did you get that job? I've been applying like crazy with no real results. I have over 1 year experience as an ADN.

Good for you. All the hospitals I've applied to "prefer" you over my ADN even though have a bachelors in a different or non nursing major. Hoping to start an RN to BSN program soon.

yup. At one place I worked it was pretty common to go "borrow" one from a resident who wasn't using it at the moment. The facility would occasionally buy one or two new ones to replace broken ones. (For whatever reason these were often found broken on the floor.) Hence the need to "borrow". Still it all got very old trying to find a working unit for a neb treatment.

Biggest pet peeve... interrupts when I'm pulling meds. It's bad enough in the med room but I've also dealt with those dreaded med carts. Being out in the hallway with patients coming up demanding you drop what you're doing to demand a PRN they can't have for another 2 hours then hear them ***** about how they will get you fired for "withholding" pain medication. Sigh... I'm not withholding when it's not even close to the next available dose time.

right and in the perfect NCLEX world we all have the time, staff and supplies needed.

No one is orienting you?

OP, what is the name of your masters degree?

This may be an old post but... did the OP ever get the job?

I agree... nice to visit but am looking to leave as soon as my current lease completes. It's not the weather, it's the people I see everyday in east Portland. Tons of homeless, panhandling on street corners and car break-ins. Now that marijuana has passed in the November elections it seems everyone thinks its legal here even though its not officially legal until July 1st. That added to the existing meth, heroin and oxycodone abuse and it's difficult to meet people who aren't under some sort of "influence". Sad really... because the natural beauty of the area is awesome. Still it doesn't make up for this percentage of the local population.

In Portland I worked LTC dementia, RN charge nurse evening shift. Started at $26.50 with no shift differential. No idea what the LPN's where paid.

First I'd be careful videotaping anyone these days. Especially if this is happening in a state that requires 2 party consent. My facility prohibits all staff (except upper management) from carrying cell phones. So if in the middle of recording these interactions should any patient info get blurted out then its an automatic HIPAA violation. And who needs that? Second... where's the creativity?? I'd suggest using this as a learning moment. How about creating a care plan for this clinical instructor? The first thing that popped into my mind: Impaired verbal communication R/T loss of memory of professional goals AEB increased volume while using poor vocabulary choices. And what can be done about it? I doubt there is one right answer... yikes it made me think N-clex. Still new nurses need to learn to deal with overbearing abusive patients (and family members), staff and management.

Hello everybody, just checking in to see if anyone has any thoughts on my post. sigh... nothing. Ok, then can someone who works at the LTC/SNF tell me the patient ratio of a typical RN? That would help me understand what kind of work load I'll be looking at versus the hospital. Thanks in advance.

Did you pay the $30 fee for NURSYS license verification? That's what I did, it was sent immediately. Just sent in my fingerprint card and waiting on my background check to be completed. I'm guessing it'll take a few weeks, maybe by Sept 1st.

what does WHPS mean?

I'm looking for feedback on anyone experience with RN to BSN or RN to MSN with a bachelor in non-healthcare field. Basically trying to determine if I should get started with a program (online) while in Florida or wait until I have moved this fall. From my local research I can take 30 credits and get a BSN or take the same number of credits at the masters level plus 9 credits at the 4000 class (bachelor senior) level. The differences.... master level classes are a lot more than bachelors and I would have to be really sure of the masters level track I apply for. Seems to me the BSN would be close to doing nursing school all over again. But then again, until I decide on a MSN track some employers may shut me out for not having the nursing bachelors.

Question on work hours. My hospital experience in Florida has 12 hr shifts: 7a-7p & 7p-7a. Expected/allowed clock in was 6:36 to 6:42, clock out no less than 12hhr 30 mins from clock in. Otherwise you get dinged for an "early" out. Of course staying 30-60 mins over was more of a norm. Is that similar to what the hospitals require in this area?

I, too am deciding on Oregon or Washington and would like to understand the particulars of living in WA and working in Oregon.

oh wow... you take 3 A&P classes? In Florida we take 2 semesters.

Just received my Oregon RN license by endorsement. Soon to have that golden 1 year experience. 1/2 in ortho/med-surg and 1/2 at a rehab-LTC facility. Really want to get into Hospice so I took a rehab-LTC position where most of the LTC residents are on Hospice. The day to day work is ok but the patient load has steadily increased to almost 30 patients per RN. When I was hired I was told it 15 would be average and it would never go over 20 per nurse, however new management has decided to go by my current state guidelines that says 30 is ok. Yikes 30! Knowing this, I'm love to hear from Oregon nurses and your experience. I've heard the hospitals are regulated to 5 patients per RN but not other facilities. How is the job market for Hospice/LTC? How about orthopedics/rehab? I'm open to both hospital and skilled nursing facilities. Pay isn't as important as getting a position secured before moving. I've looked at the VA but nothing much is posted on their website. While I'm looking at the Portland/Vancouver Wa area (WA license is pending background check) I'm also ok with checking out Eugene. Hope to be moving by October.

"come on vacation and leave on probation" Sounds like most of Florida to me.

Looks like 6 weeks for me. Now to start the job search.