jenniam

When I lived in California (the land of unions and mandated patient ratios), I was hired as a break nurse. The position was 20 hours a week and I worked 2300-0300. I gave 30 minute lunch breaks (they'd give me a 5 minute report and hand me their phone) to the nurses and if there were more nurses than I had slots, the charge nurse, who did not take patients, would cover their lunches (she would take their phone). A few of the nurses enjoyed signing up for an extra break nurse shift or two per week as it was only 4 hours and they could go into that overtime money. A very different story where I am now, unfortunately.

Just an update in case anyone else is looking... It is very easy to find a job. The pay isn't great (but I am coming from CA). The pay actually did improve after a few months due to hospital wide raises. I'm in Paducah, KY. The patient ratios are pretty awful. I work in a critical care unit and regularly take 3 patients. I have had 7 patients in med-surg and 6 patients in cardiac step down unit.

I'm commenting to find out what happened (not an ER nurse). I would also think she had something slipped into her drink.

I will moving to this area from California in March. I would love some information concerning ease of getting a job as a RN with limited experience, patient ratios, hospital reputations, pay rate, and anything else you can tell me. My husband will be going to school in Carbondale, IL but his family will be living in Paducah, KY so not sure yet where we will be living. Thank you!

Graduated May 2012 in MS, NCLEX June 2012, job February 2014 in CA (Antelope Valley), hundreds of applications, 4 interviews in MS and 2 in CA I did move in April 2013 from MS to CA (military move), otherwise I could have had a nursing home home job March 2013. I now have a break nurse position (4 hours a night, 5 days a week). This was perfect at the time since I had just had a baby, but now I want part- or full-time. I've been trying for the past 3 months with no luck yet.

Reading through this, I'd say the biggest surprise would be the pay for nurses in DC. I always thought the DC area was very expensive and should be more on par with CA/NY/NJ.

Southern California $34/hr plus differentials ($5 for night shift, $2 for weekends) New grad Telemtry

Thanks, I will remember to ask if they have malpractice/liability insurance.

I am a RN who graduated in MS in 2012. I volunteered for a few months at a free clinic before moving to CA. I did finally get a job at a hospital in February, but I was still hoping to do some volunteer work. My main question is can volunteering at a free clinic put my nursing license at risk? When I volunteered at the clinic in MS I took patient information, vitals, and counted pills to fill the prescritptions given. Also, if anyone knows of any free clinics in the Antelope Valley, CA...let me knoe! :)