KarenHalse

It sounds like "count sheets" are still being kept as part of the record...is this true. I haven't seen that in awhile. We count, but we do not keep a count record.

Interesting....in the last 4 hospitals I have worked at they don't. The hospital I am currently at does but why? Especially if it is not a requirement. We put in in the pt. record, the doc's progress note and of course the charge slip. Thanks for the reply.

Does your hospital still keep implant logs? Thanks :)

Jason, there are some travel agencies that specialize in "OR" people but there are so many travel agencies now. It's really more of where do you want to go and who has contracts there. There is alot of difference in what the agencies offer and pay. It really is important to read up on the forums for awhile and see what is going on for travelers, whether it be OR (surgery) or another specialty. Have you checked out the Delphi forums? This is an excellent site for Travel Nurse and Tech's, also Travel Nurse Depot has alot of useful information for travelers. Read and become as knowledgeable before you sign up with any of them. http://www.travelnursedepot.com/ http://forums.delphiforums.com/travelnurses/

Shodobe, I can certainly understand your interest. In my home town, (Melbourne, Fl), the larger of the hospitals pays 3/hr for CNOR, (They are also a magnet hospital). Another hospital pays 1.75/hr for CNOR and to the OR nurses 1.25 for ACLS. Lastly, another hospital (20ml. out of town), pays 3,000 per year for your CNOR...that is the only hospital that is unionized. OR pays more than working M/S, no question about it...where do you work that it doesn't. This is not to put M/S down but OR is a specialty area. Ask a couple of Travel companies.... As for experience and traveling, I agree the more experience the better, but I have travelled for 2 yrs now and I have turned down more jobs than taken. Not all hospitals are level 1 or 2 trauma centers. Ortho, General, Plastics, Urology, and Ent is the back bone of most OR's unless you are in a level 1 trauma center. The last OR I worked in had 20 beds, their own Neuro staff and they did not want anyone else working in there. You are given an opportunity to interview before you take a job, that is the time to review what the hospital needs and what you are comfortable doing. I am always up front with where I am most confortable working and that I have limited Neuro experience. Their own staff didn't rotate in there. I worked this hospital for 7 months and loved it there. I felt like I was leaving family when I left...the staff gave me a great going away party...I have been asked to stay at every place I have worked. I am currently considering staying home now because I have an offer from one of the local hospitals that allows me to make more at home, sleeping in my own bed, than going to some strange town where the staff does not appreciate travelers. I have been a nurse for 30yrs and granted not all in the OR but I have a cumulative 7 yrs OR experience. I like going to different places meeting the people there, learning how it is done there versus somewhere else...and traveling is a great way to see some of our beautiful country..

Before you travel you should get at least two yrs experience and try to have a mix of specialties, not just general surgery..I found that ortho and neuro is mostly wanted. Also, learn to scrub...there are more jobs for nurses that scrub and circulate. Lastly, OR is a specialty area and does pay more...

I would like to comment here also. I have just moved back to Fl. (Melbourne) from N.Alabama (Huntsville, 20 mi. below the tenn. border). I really disliked being in the Tennessee valley. The air is stagnant, the ground is all clay, allergies are very bad, the indians used to call this area "valley of the dead" and the work for nurses poor. Poor in choices of hospitals, work conditions and pay. There is a state income tax here and food is taxed totally in the grocery stores. On the otherhand, the change of seasons is beautiful. Really close to the mountains, 7 hrs to the beach, and the people are nice. Florida on the other hand (my home state), is not much better in many ways. It is hot and buggy, most of the year. It gets very boring. There is not a state income tax and food items are not taxed in the store. You can play the lottery, go to the beach all year (almost), seldom need a coat, usually a sweater will do unless in the northern part of the state. The people are nice. Work here in Melbourne is not very good and the pay is poor. I don't think there is really a good working area in the south unless you go to one of the bigger cities. IF I were to go back up north to the Tenn. Valley area I would like it to be to Nashville or Knoxville. I would be happy to send anyone a classified if they sent the postage. Karen:cool:

I would love to hear some replies on this. I am moving to Melbourne next month and will be job shopping. Thanks, Karen [email protected]

Susy, I work in a physician owned surgery center and I can tell you are docs are very happy. I know of one that received a 90k bonus at Christmas time. The pay scale here sucks, sucks, sucks...

Mike, thanks for the reply. I have had some interesting reports from people on and off the list. Most are varied but none it seems are as bad as where I work. The almighty dollar is the bottom line. It is too bad the doc's have to have such a big cut in it all. One alone had a 90k bonus alone.I will hang in where I am for a while longer and then I am gone. They will have to find another sucker.....thanks, Karen

I want to compare OR's. Where I work and anywhere else in America. I work in a small independent surgery center in N.Alabama. Question 1, versed is given before circulator can check the permit. Is this the norm? 2.We have no support help. RN circulators have to do the C-arm, laser, local cases with no other nurse. Is this the norm where you work. I am worn out from pushing the C-arm, neuro microscope, moving beds from room to room, pushing the mop between cases feeling like I have to do it all myself and usually don't have help as the scrub is busy doing their thing...before I walk out of OR for good tell me how it is out there? Please. What can I expect if I leave here and move to Florida...our pay is 15/hr, no shift diff, we have to stay till all cases are completed. You could essentially be here everyday till 5 or 6pm. I am tired and had enough. I have been nursing for 25yrs...what else is there? Thanks, Karen .

Carol, thanks for the reply. It sounds pretty depressing all over. I will probably end up in WPB or back in Melbourne. I will do a little shopping around before I make up my mind. I don't think there is a good solution...do you?

Tracy, where in S.Central are you. I came up from Melbourne 15 yrs ago. Our pay and work was better there than here in No Alabama. I am thinking of going to WPB to be near family..thanks for the reply. Karen

Thanks for the post. I am in N. Alabama and it is pretty miserable here. We have 5 classes of nurses that graduate each year....I moved here 15 yrs ago from Melbourne and took a cut in pay then. I had hoped it was better than here. Attitudes are not much better either, the good ole boy system is working strong...thanks, Karen

I am relocating to central Florida ( Cocoa to Ft. Pierce) and I would like to talk with any nurses who work any where in this region. What do you like/dislike about your hospital and such. Thanks, Karen [email protected]