kaycee

Both the RN's and the Techs are instructed on splinting. The Techs do it mostly but the nurses do it when the Tech is busy or when we have no tech. The Docs never. Occasionally Ortho will come in for complicated reduction and they will cast. We do a lot of Peds, so the Peds Ortho is who we see the most along with his residents.

Two reasons in my opinion that we get so many nonurgent pt's in our ED. First MD offices are so booked that the instant response of many office personnel is, we can't see you, GO TO THE ER. The other big reason is money. People with no insurance or public assistance don't have to pay up front. People with insurance have co-pays but we don't force them to pay that day. Most MD offices and Urgent Cares want money the day of service or no servive is rendered. Many of our uninsured pt's give false names, address's and SS #'s. They never have ID, and they know we can't turn them away. It's free care to them and they take full advantage of it.

Per diem is a casual position. You work only when you are needed. There is no guarantee of time and no benefits. Yes, you can work when you want to but they have no obligation to use you if you are not needed.

Sewickley Valley Hospital is a nice size community hospital. I don't know what positions are available there or what starting pay is for a GN. Allegheny General Hospital is a level 1 trauma center on the north side of Pgh across the river but not far from the Moon Twp area. They have many positions open and hire new grads. They are part of the West Penn Allegheny Health System. They also have a suburban campus which is called AGH Suburban, located in Bellevue, which is extemely close to Moon Twp. It is a small community hospital that has positions open for Peds, ICU, PCU, PACU, and ER. I think they hire new grads, again I don't know starting salary. Ohio Valley Hospital is not in a health system. It's a small community hospital all by itself. It's in McKees Rocks which is next to Coraopolis on the same side of the river. McKees Rocks is not the best of areas. Then as someone else aready mentioned UPMC has a lot of hospitals. They are all a little farther away from where you are moving but may offer good possiblities. Welcome to the Burgh and good luck with your job search.

When your contract is up, try AGH Suburban campus. Small 6 bed ICU, nice stepping stone for a larger ICU experience.

Just an additional thought. Along with what everyone else has said, we a now are a society of quick fixes. It seems like people have no patience for nonurgent illnesses. Everyone wants a pill for this and a pill for that. Some of the most demanding ER pt's are between the age of 18 and 30 and have had a sore throat since this morning, a cold for 2 days, diarrhea x 2, N/V x 2 or 3, a 24hr rash, I could go on and on. These are normal healthy young people with no patience for being sick for 1 minute. These are the people that aggravate me the most.

We only do belonging lists on pt's who are admitted. We have a checklist of what they are keeping with them in the hospital and they sign it. If they can't sign, have decreased LOC or no family with them, security takes their stuff and locks it up. It has cut down on patients and families claiming they had things that they did not, and expecting the hospital to reimburse them. It really doesn't take that much time. Now if you're talking about every pt that walks in the ER, and not just admits, that is insane.

We lost one of our nurses a few years ago. She was found dead in bed, was young and had no medical problems. It was quite a shock to all of us. We collected money and gave some to her favorite charity in her name and with the other monies bought a beautiful picture of a lighthouse(the beach was her favorite place) with a in memory name plaque, and hung it in the ER. Every time we look at it we remember and she is with us everyday.

$6.00/hr as a new RN in 1975. Now making $32.00/hr as a charge nurse. My salary increased very slowly over the years and was stagnant for quite a while in the late 80's and 90's. Jumped quite a bit in the last 6yrs, but is still considered on the lower end, for my experience level and what I do.

For sure a head CT was in order as well as an admit at least to an OBV bed, with eval by a neurologist. I've never seen a minor narcotic OD result in one non reactive pupil. You were right to be concerned, but you can only do so much. Can you do a follow up call to see how she is?

OTC or not, I would not dispense any medication without an order from an MD.

Started as a GN in SICU/Trauma- 3yrs there then 4yrs in CCU then to ER. Been in the ER now for 24yrs.

Just did ACLS renewal and they mention changes but are still teaching the same stuff. I may be wrong but I believe they said the new material will not be introduced until fall 2006.

Try Community College of Allegheny County or Beaver. You may want to call HR at Butler Memorial and see if they have any info.

Sewickley Valley Hospital and Ohio Valley Hospital still do babies. They are located closer to the North Hills. I don't know if they hire GN's for OB but you could check them out.