catholicrn

Are all CRNA programs now doctorate prepared, three year programs of study? Thanks!!

So I've come back home to go back to school and my old hospital is now using travelers. I resigned 4 years ago to travel and left on good terms. I gave my nurse manager 6 weeks notice and there were never any issues. I also had a good rep (no disciplinary, never late never called in etc..) Now the middle man is telling my current travel company that I cannot do a travel contract because I worked for the hospital previously. Has anyone ever heard of this? Maybe I could understand if I had just left like 6 months ago to now want to come in as a traveler. And perhaps if it were the other way around, like a traveler wanting to go staff. But this is pretty strange and the hospital has 15 openings just in ICU alone. It has been suggested to me by my recruiter to ask a "friend" in one of the units if this is true. He thinks it's coming from the "middle man" not the hospital. There is no one I know to ask except human resources. Not sure how appropriate this would be. It never hurts to ask but I'm not real sure how I'd go about that. Any suggestions?? Thoughts?? I have also read the hospitals handbook (it's online on their website) and there is nothing that mentions any thing about this topic. I'll appreciate any feedback and/or suggestions, Thanks!!

Has anyone done a contract here? What charting system do they use? What's the area like? Is there housing close to hospital or do most ppl commute? Please feel free to comment anything you know about this hospital. Thanks!

Sorry just now seeing this...if you pull up anything on here about Alta Bates, you'll find my previous post about the floating. Yes, I floated at both. Heavy floating at AB, not so much at Summit but I hear they float a ton too. I imagine it fluctuates a bit with regard to census and how much staff they have at any given time.

Fastaff...they usually work 48 hour contracts....easy and straightforward. High hourly, low stipend. More tax with them but not a bad gig for the return at the end. Pm if you want my recruiter.

I have worked both. I work in ICU. Please feel free to read what I have posted about Berk. I was there the whole summer. I've also done 3 contracts at Summit (Oakland). Feel free to PM me with specific questions if you want :)

Please accept my apology. I really wasn't trying to be ugly at all or come off as sounding condescending in any way. If you knew me personally, you would know that is totally not how I am in person. I'm sorry. One thing you might consider is working agency or registry...it's a bit like travel and would kinda give you the feeling of what it's like without the commitment. Not sure what they require in the way of experience... Just a thought... Best of luck to you!

A nurse with 6 months on the job, even at a level I trauma hospital doesn't have enough experience to travel, period! If you were at the hospital where I started (which is a level one with HEMS service) you would barely be off critical care orientation. Please just do your time, learn as much as you can, get all your certs and maybe even work at a few different hospitals so you can gain some perspective. You will be doing everyone including your patients and yourself a disservice if you try and strike out before you're ready...and trust me you are not ready! Your time will come :)

Sutter, East Bay...Oakland/Berkeley and Highland General in Oakland.

Maybe some folks are or were unaware as to how much floating...I was merely saying FYI...To some nurses this may not be "old news"....I am currently in a contract there so I won't be discussing who, in my opinion, was dishonest about the amount of floating...I am thrilled to be in Berkeley for the summer, I'm only doing 36 hours a week (they did me right on my schedule) and it's a very lucrative contract. I don't really mind the floating as much as some of the others...I just thought it was worth mentioning if people were considering it...several people I started with have left because of the amount of float and the dishonesty felt by both their companies and the hospital.

I just wanted to put it out there that there is A LOT of floating at Sutter's Alta Bates campus in Berkeley. If you are an ICU RN or even Step-Down/Tele, you WILL be floated to Med/Surg 90% of the time you work. I'm not saying anything good or bad. It will be in your contract that you will float but they are NOT really honest about just how much. If it doesn't bother you, then no worries but just be informed that it's almost every shift. They have also started pulling after the first 4 hours as well. To those of you who work Kaiser, this will not be unfamiliar. Not sure if the float is as much at the Summit location. It wasn't for me 2 years ago. I worked in ICU and only got floated 2 or 3 nights out of two 8 week contracts. I am at Berkeley, and I've worked the floor (NOT tele) more than I've been in the unit. Just a heads up.

Yep, try getting a contract in ICU and being floated to MED/SURG a.k.a. "THE FLOOR" with 5 patients...EVERY shift!! Yep, that's right....start with 3, admit 2 from ER, discharge 1 and then get a transfer/direct admit. You can bet I'm worried about losing my skill set. Meanwhile, I'm getting schooled and raked over the coals most mornings when reporting off to the dayshift regular staffers....wanting t know why I hadn't called the MD on a K+ of 3.4 for replacement...WHAT??? I would never call a doc for that unless it was critical...well, it's an unpublished expectation of the day shift nurses...on the floor, mind you. No CNA at night (11p-7a) but they have them on the other two shifts. The traveler does 12's while staff do 8's...worst place ever....

Just got on through Parallon!! Great contract :)

I would bolt...Had the exact same experience in Dallas. Got to the apartment. It was completely unsuitable, location and condition. Called the recruiter, he couldn't do anything. I booked the hotel and drove back home the next day. Company offered nothing. They threatened me with having to pay out the whole contract. My sister is an attorney. I had her fire off a letter in response and I never heard another word. It was my first assignment, I've since done 8 contracts and never looked back. I may have been new to the travel scene but I wasn't new to nursing or life. I knew I didn't have to stay under those conditions. If they don't hold up their end, I'm out. There are just way too many companies to worry about it. Good luck!!​

Just go with Fastaff......I've loved them..they are like the no "BS" company.