PHorvath

I so understand how you feel. I started out working on an SCI unit, then NICU, then Med-Surg, case management, UR, Peds and now school nursing. The common thread with all these specialties is that I have always worked with vent patients in some capacity. I truly find working with children rewarding and the patients are adorable! Also, I think I didn't enjoy previous jobs due to the 12 hr shifts; I missed preparing dinner for my family, going over homework, soccer practice etc and started to resent my job (wherever I'm working at that moment). Try Peds, I can't think of one negative thing about this specialty. Good luck! :)

Yes, I've heard this also...from doctors only. Especially foreign doctors.

Private duty nurses get paid about $20-25 an hour with NO benefits (most agencies) FYI. Also this is about the parents who do not work and lay around the house all day playing x-box.

Private duty nurses get paid about $20-25 an hour with NO benefits (most agencies) FYI. Also this is about the parents who do not work and lay around the house all day playing x-box.

As a private duty nurse I actually prefer my parents to leave the house or find something to do within the home. I do not like to be micro-managed. I had one family who had THREE cameras, yes three and they would watch me on camera while they were in bed. Then the next day, mom would come out and comment on something I may or may not have done the previous day. This family wanted vent weaning (ok that's my job although the child had copious secretions and couldn't tolerate the wean), PT, stander, AND go over letters. numbers, and colors in Spanish. I tried. Until I fell running like a chicken with my head cut off. In the end, mom and I had a blowout where I ended up telling her 1. I do not even speak Spanish and do not know letters, numbers and colors in Spanish. 2. I am not teacher. She should hire one. 3. I am not PT/OT and am not comfortable handling her very fragile child in the manner she would like me to and finally, 4. Mom, I am a nurse and with all due respect, I think you may have me confused for a nanny. NOTE: The child was vent/G-tube, fragile bones, age 5 but severely delayed and unable to communicate. Mom had trouble with her baby no longer being a baby. For example: she wanted me to bathe him on a changing table. The child's legs would dangle off the changing table and he could roll over! So of course this was one of the topics we argued on. Needless to say that was my last day on that case. I went through all the necessary channels and had permission from my agency to have that conversation with mom. I had given the agency a heads up after I had fallen, telling them to bring in another nurse for me to train as this arrangement will not last much longer. I received a new case (family) the very next day and have been with my new family since. :)

Oh you poor thing! I couldn't imagine what I would do in that situation with one of my private duty patients but you handled it so well. Good job in maintaining your composure. I am so sorry this happened to you. {{{{{{{{HUGS!}}}}}}}}}}}

Did it twice with a 3 year break in between. Hated it the first time and yup hated it when I tried it the second time. GREAT pay! And I was good as a CM, it is a rewarding job, BUT micromanaging by the hospitals I worked for, working overtime (for a salary position) and the STRESS made me run from case management..two times.

Thank you to the nurse who started this thread! I have been wondering about this since I crossed over into school nursing. I am a nurse with 10 yrs experience in Pediatrics and Med-Surg. Also did a bit of case management and UR. When I made the decision to become a school nurse I was making a little over $37/hr; $71K/yr. Yes the money was great but the commute, stress and extra hours made family life not so great. Now, as a school nurse I make $30/hr; about $51k/10months. I was wondering if I had undersold myself with the schools but after looking at this thread I am so relieved! Money truly isn't everything. For myself, being home to make dinner for my family every night is priceless.