Tell me about your ED

Hi, I'm moving from Atlanta, GA to PA (somewhere between Philly/Quakertown/ Lehigh Valley) next year. I'm in an ER at a Level2 trauma center right now. By the time I move I will have exactly two full yrs nursing/ER experience under my belt. I know things are done differently from hospital to hospital, and I can only imagine things being even more different from state to state. So here's some things I'd like for you to tell me about your ER:

1) What is your standard nurse to patient ratio? (In GA, there's no official ratio, but at my current ED, we don't do more than 4pts.

2)How receptive is management to staff going back to school?

3)What shifts do you guys work? (my ED does 12s 7a, 11a, 3p, and 7p)

4) What are the requirements to work ur traumas? ( at my ED, you had to have taken a TNS course, which you have to apply for, very selective/ clique oriented)

5) What certs are required and how soon? (We need BLS to be hired and then ACLS or PALS within a year (our peds is separate from our adults so u only need PALS if you work over there regularly). TNCC and TNS are not required but liked.

6) Do you have midlevels (NPs and PAs ) in your ED?

7) What do you wish someone told you about ur ED before you started working there??

8) I know no one like to talk about $$, but what is ur base pay rate.... $20-23/hr, $24-27/hr, $27-30/hr../ >$30/hr??? Are weekends required, any shift diff?

9) How long have you been an RN??

Any info you're willing to share would be greatly appreciated....Thanks!!!