acern72

Ok, sorry. Its long I am usually ICU traveler Signed on with local agency for PRN work, wasn't getting very many shifts. Agency offers shifts in inpatient Psych unit, I sign up Never workes psych 3days orientation, was plan. Day 1, no pyxis access or Cerner until 2pm, day was just about complete waste. Om the phone half of shift trying to sort it all out. Day2, placed in the acute unit. Charge informs me I am to be the med-nurse, and her and other RN will take patients. That didn't sound very beneficial for me, I've been passing meds for 7 years. I interject and ask to have a few patients as I have never workes Behavorial Health (BH) and need assessment training the most, as I haven't watched a core nurse in the daily assess proces.. This interjection really pissed her off. She huffs and puffs and assigns me 2 pts. And then disappears, comes back, has bad attitude with me. Tension was high. I grab my pt chart start readimg about my pt, walky-talky, I visualize in dayroom briefly, and there are 3 agressive pts at the desk, and they are escalating....so I open Cerner look around at the assessment verbage, trying to get a feel. I can't step out from bwhind the nurses stations as I have no keys to get back in, and clients are agitated. Now while this is all going down charge is condescending and passive aggressive with everytime I ask a question. Awkward to say the least. I keep seeing her and the other chit chating about me, very obvious and so.uncomfirtable. Needless to say WOW/COW cannot be in the dayroom, and I have no key, but have visualized my patient. I still have no idea how to assess for BH discipline. I go through the process in Cerner, kinda play with it to learn. I ended up saving some data durimg. She is in and out, and not really precepting at all. She walks up and asks what I am doing, I explain, learning your assessment info, she asks if I had laid hands, I said no just reading and getting feel.. all assessments (physical) are identicle for this individual (medical) body systems are WNL. So, naturally she becomes condescending and states I nees to be in the dayroom etc, etc. I knew where she was headimg. Tried to explain I just needed the "verbage" I've never done or seen MH assessment, while tryimg to explin my needs, she walks away. I follow her into the medroom and asked her plainly, "can I shadow your assessment" she laughed with condescension, gow did You do in ICU?" With more passive aggressiveness and again walks away and states "you're fine" "its goid" "stoo apologizing" Long story short, this behavior went on all day, and she was talking to co-workers about my mistakes, and va ruous other alienating moves....you get the picture. All day long, but we can do anuthing for 12 hours right???? Bottom line, I almost quit, but went back, and orientation with a different preceptor worked great. Until Noon, I was terminated for precharting assessment, without them hearing my side of the story, and they said its going to be reported to the board. This place was a complete **** show. And a 1 year exp nurse who has control issues wrote me up for stupid crap. She knew how I was trying to learn in that first assessment, she didn't stop it and offer education, just set the trap. I don't feel I did anything to deserve a BON complaint, and she was precepting, isn't she responible too???? She writes me up for precharting, I was termed without seeing the compaint docs and without explaining my side of the story. DON said he is reporting to the board Am I going to receive disciplinary action from the board? Shouldn't she be partly responsible as preceptor and letting me finish vs offering education? She didn't take time to show me anythimg, just threw me out there and then pointed out my errors without constructive criticism...

Enjoy your time!! Looking forward to reading your blog!!

Starting my first assignment this week. When reporting to an assignment is there more paperwork/test modules/drug screens to do or are you generally ready to go with the exception of Hospital/unit Orientation?!?

I am starting my first assignment and the paperwork and tests have been overwhelming. A mess actually. The credentialist sent me to get titers a long with my drug screen. Ok, fine. My titers for Rubella comes back non-immune. So, she calls and tells me to go get this vaccination, at my own expense. I explain to her I was boostered only 5yrs ago. She insists I get the vaccine. So, I get this vaccination at the request from non-medical personnel. I didn't do my homework in the rush of everything. So, after researching, a 3rd vaccine is not recommended. 2 documented doses supersede serum results. 3rd dose only in the event of outbreak. All CDC recommendations. Not to mention prenatal issues. The vaccine is highly contraindicated in prenatal women. I'm not pregnant but was never questioned either, which kinda day blows my nursing mind. Has this happened to anyone else and am I overreacting??? And I am not worried about my own adverse reactions just find it odd for non-medical personnel recommending unnecessary and contraindicated (to baby) vaccinations.

Has anyone ever used priceline for extended stays?? And if so, how did it work out?? I was looking at some of the smaller areas and you can get a feel for what the hotel is and the prices are much better than paying advertised low rates. Just wondering, always trying to keep all my stipend!!

Absolutely about contract before official accepting. I took your advice and posted on CL regarding room share. I landed a really nice room with private bath/large TV/internet/cable for $400/month. So, things are already looking up. Now I'm going to try and bump the OT.

Ok, got my first offer (late friday), will most likely accept and see contract on Monday. I am not overly impressed with the pay. I am taking the stipend and in a smaller community, so housing is going to be pricey. Keeping my fingers crossed to find a roommate @ the facility. My question, does pay go up with more assignments?

I never really thought of it in those terms. My thinking is OT is additional earnings. They aren't going to repay stipend if you pick up OT, stipend technically covers all 7 days of the week.

Correct me if I am wrong--doesn't NY do electronic verification through nursys?

Oh, absolutely!! I would never be dishonest with the board, especially for an additional license. I had no issues with TX and they seemed pretty tough. Thanks for the advice on Massachusetts, they are on my radar.

When applying for out of state endorsements do the boards get more stringent regarding disclosures? I had no problem getting my TX license. I have 2 misdemeanors from 20 years ago and hoping they won't be an issue. I am assuming this will lengthen the process (like its not long enough) Looking at CA, NY and NJ

I am looking at full-on traveling. I live in TX, so close to me means 300 miles. Its all relative, right? I have a tax home, so that means better tax benefits right? I am planing to work some overtime, I guess its not just straight forward time and 1/2. From what I have read. For my first contract i just dont want to be 2000 miles away, some sense of security until i really know my recruiter and the ropes. One more question-if you work several contracts can you take an assignment at home?

Are some facilities particular about taking first time travelers? I am looking for my first contract and want to stay relatively close. I see multiple opportunities that I feel confident about taking. r Just don't want to be the star of one of these travel nightmare stories. And can someone explain the overtime. From what I am reading overtime is not overtime. So many questions!