esrun3

I agree, nurses leave because of management. And it's not only in the facilities-even schools, dr. offices, hmo's, etc. seem to attract a large portion of managers who you sometimes wonder if their only credentials are sucking up to higher management. I have actually been told that my expectations of my co-workers doing their jobs and doing them accurately are out of line and I should just pick up the slack. Didn't stay in the job long!! I often wonder why management can't treat their fellow nurses with the respect that we all deserve. I"ve only ever left one job for reasons other than management and that was because I felt my license was on the line and then again...that kind of boils down to management too, doesn't it?

That's exactly how I am. When my grandson had a broken arm and was in the ER, I didn't volunteer it but the nurses picked up on it just from the way I was handling the situation. However, when I went to have my gallbladder out, the pre-op nurse and the anesthesiologist especially were a bit arrogent and talking down to me so I finally said, I got it, I'm a nurse. And they immediately treated me with much more respect! So...depends on the situation. If it's going to get better treatment for my family or myself or if there is a nurse who is rather "iffy" in my opinion, I volunteer it. If the nurses are doing great, there isn't any need for it to come out.

Have interviews with both this week, was trying to get some background on each. I realize totally different populations and I am confident I can deal with either. What I want to focus on going back besides the orientation-which will certainly be a question I have-is what are they doing for nurse retention, what is their turnover like, how do they take care of their nurses so their nurses can take care of the patients? I understand and belive pt care comes first but one of the things I've noticed in many places is that management becomes very complacent about their staff and most don't even stop to say thank you once in awhile, don't care about you as a person or how you are doing. I want a place that is nurturing to the nurse as I, as the nurse, will be to my patients. Please understand, I don't want my hand held, but at 50 years of age, I want a place that I am appreciated in, that friendships can be forged with co-workers and where management puts patients and employees first whenever possible. Have done some research on both on-line and both have good and bad things about them just from that so it may very well come down to pay, orientation and location.

TouchRN, you are welcome and good luck with your endeavors!

You may have read my earlier post about Scottsdale Shea, well JCL N. Mtn called today for an interview. The good thing is, after being out of floor care for a few years I'm still wanted. Now I need to compare the 2 hospitals. I don't know anyone who works at JCL so any input would be appreciated. They are 5 minutes from my home but I think Scottsdale has better benefits so it's going to boil down to how are the nurses taken care of by management, pay, flexible scheduling, etc. To me, pt care is pt care but it's important to me to be in a place that wants to keep their nurses and treats them with respect. This is what I posted about Scottsdale Shea: I'm thinking about taking a tele position there as an RN-several years of experience on Med/Surg but have been out of pt care for a couple years. Any info on pay, scheduling, management style, what kind of a place is it to work? etc. Thanks for any input you may have. Any info at all would be much appreciated! Thanks.

are there any out there that don't require clinical? I work enough without having to do clinicals when that's what I do for a living. Most I've looked at require clinicals of some kind, they just call it something else.

Thanks for the input. I've had some friends who worked there too and enjoy it-just like to get input -especially from those you don't know since they aren't trying to get you to come to work with them! LOL

Thanks for the feedback and your points are very valid on a med/surg floor. I am planning on returning to a tele floor with a night ratio of 5:1. I worked too many nights on med/surg with me, a PCT & 15 pts! When staffed properly, I loved the floor care but as I get older I do know that I do not want to deal with understaffing much and I know most hospitals make sure the icu & tele floors are properly staffed long before a general med/surg floor.

Arizona does not require CEU's for renewal of nursing licenses (which I think is dumb) but I know many nurses here, myself included do take ceu courses and even those that don't offer CEU's. so I think the market is there for you. As for advertising, I would see if you could get a mailing list from the state board and send to the nurses on there. There must be a list somewhere because I often get postcards/fliers in the mail about ceu's and job fairs from facilities in the area. Hope that helps some!

I'm thinking about taking a tele position there as an RN-several years of experience on Med/Surg but have been out of pt care for a couple years. Any info on pay, scheduling, management style, what kind of a place is it to work? etc. Thanks for any input you may have.

My daughter works for Banner and from what she is hearing the new hospital isn't pulling in enough ER patients, plus they have a lot of new docs out there. In fact, they just closed down their cardiac cath lab becuase they weren't busy enough. I hear they are laying-off, and not offering other positions to those they lay-off, haven't hit the floor nurses yet, don't see how they could, they just about always work short handed. One of the reasons I left there.

I think your ICU experience will be a definite plus but it all depends on your state and what hiring practices are like. Many of our hospitals, if not all, will hire new grads for trauma/neuro icu as well as the other icu's. They usually have great oreintation and training programs so not knowing something or not having the exact experience isn't really a hinderance. Good luck in whatever you decide to do. :) You'll learn something new every day!

and I could use some advise. My background as an RN for the last 10 years had been primarily med/surg but also some hemodialysis, school nursing, home health in there. Currently I do telephonic utilization review. I've been out of direct patient care for 2 1/2 -3 years and am feeling the pull to return to the floor for various reasons, some of which are missing direct contact but also working 3 days a week gives me a chance to pick up some overtime and not feel like I'm working 24/7. I'm apprehensive to say the least. Have I lost my skills, how much has changed, do I really want to do this? I do know that I can do my current job in my sleep, my daughter insists I was nicer when I was working nights (which may be-I know I was happier most of the time). How do I stay out of all the politics and do my job and go home in the morning? How short are the hospitals, really? I am interviewing at a hospital this week with a good reputation and I know a few nurses from there that really enjoy their jobs. What does anyone think? Good and bad.......I need some direction. Thanks so much for everyone's input!