whofan

My job offers weekend plan. But weekends pay more so most of the new grads want the weekends to help pay off debt.

new nurse starting pay is 24.90 base with differentials for nights and weekends. And we are always hiring.

I work in a newly formed Neuro ICU with a no one physician in charge, we have neurosurgeons, neurology and a medical team all writing orders and making care suggestions. We've had SAH patients on q1 full nihss for 21 days if they are having vasospasms, with multiple trips to CT once they become delirious, because they will no longer participate in the stroke scales because they are tired, frustration, and delirious. It seems like a fight to even get them at 4 hour break between 11p-4a, and that took the patient hitting a neurosurgeon cause he sternal rubbed them. Its chaos at best in our unit even after 2 years. At this point the few experienced nurses left have started doing our education and taking research to the physicians to try to force some consistency.

I love it, some aspects frustrate me cause it hinders the work we do. Also I find from many mornings of post night shift breakfasts, nurses love to complain.

Usually its an either/or situation, probably means they have both shifts available. I personally have never had to rotate. I know the VA system does that, but the majority do not

Its good that you are offering, my hospital is doing away with theirs. We used to get $8/hr over OT pay on all OT shifts if were understaffed by 1-2 nurses. If were short more than 5 we would get $20/hr plus OT, we were still short but people were way more willing to come in, now we having $6 if we are super short, and there is talk about doing away with that, but we are hemorrhaging staff at the moment. Money will help you get OT players in but it won't work indefinitely

Its kinda of annoying when you have had the patient for the past two weeks, I tell them can you tell me what has gone on in the last 48 hours for BP, HR, stroke scale things like that then all I hear is about the family drama or they go into great detail about why they came in, well Dayshift, I admitted them two weeks ago I know why they are here get to the meat and you can go home.

Depends on experience. New grads about 25 an hour at the BSW 5 years experience about 32/hr which is probably under paid for the area

Central Texas 4 years experience 29 hourly 4 night diff 4 weekend diff non union. 1.50 charge pay sometimes yearly merit increases no col increases for last two years. Critical pay overtime bonus of 240 a shift most overtime shift due to short staffing. Mortgage 850 for a 2/2 on a 1/3 acre corner lot including insurance and taxes. Utilities run about 150-300 depending on season.

A good attitude almost always makes for a better night, no matter how sick the patients are or what the unit throws at you. I wish more people, nurses, CNAs and RTs were upbeat and positive.

Excellent time management there.

all true! The one I always forget is the name....mainly because the docs all answer our phones "ICU" and expect us to know who is working that night. It is awesome to have the fellow and resident on the unit at all times.

they hire just about anyone. its always short staffed here because it is one of the few places who will hire a new nurse and because about half leave and go back to wherever once they have a year experience.

Nursing is hard, but like most of the other posters I would rather be tired and busy for 3 days and have 4 days off than work 5 days a week. I don't find I need two days to recover, but that is just me. I do relax the first day but I dont sleep all day or anything.

Knowing 3 people are on call and hoping you are not the tribute..(first one called in).

It might just be late, but I did not understand what was being said. Going to go have some more coffee and try this again.

Stay awake by taking care of patients. It never slow enough to play candy crush where i work

PACU, infusion clinic, or hospital nights, it is not sedentary but half the time it is a bit less hectic.

I would rather handle poop over a mucous and phlegm anyday

JustBeachy has it right, that is the only non-machine way to estimate. If someone says there is another way they are probably inventing the numbers rather than taking an actual blood pressure.

No, they will ask for volunteers if the floors are in a bad way though.

And this is exactly why I think they should do away with group projects. It is unnecessary and way too frustrating for all involved.

That would have been awesome, alas during my nursing school experience that was not the case. Drama everywhere.

If the patient is alert and oriented and all vss are stable then no, but patient should definitely be on a step-down unit.

if the patient is septic, I know that we have a protocol where we will give fluids to help with the sepsis. I am not sure why he wouldn't explain this because it is not a hard concept, but that BP is really high..