working for the VA Hospital

[karenpj]

I am planning on moving to Southern Indiana. Does anyone work At the VA hospital in Louisville. I am interested in Nurse to Patient ratios and of coorifice to rate of Pay. I am a nurse of 24 yrs experience. I have talked to a few recruiters in Indy and the rate I was quoted was around 29.00 per hour. Any information will help

Thanks:nurse:

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

I have worked there through agency, so I don't know their current pay rate. Your nurse: pt ratio depends on whether you are a LPN or RN. They do team nursing there, and techs do things like suction trachs and drsg changes- no kidding. The LPN passes meds, does Txs, baths, etc. The RN does assessments, admissions, etc. I'm sure it's a good place to work if you're a RN. I wouldn't go there if you're a LPN. Also, most of the pt rooms are wards, so you'll have several pt's in 1 room. The bldg is old- they are supposed to be getting a new one. They are a union hospital, BTW.

[organichombre, ADN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

I've been here at the VA in Lou for 20 years as an aide, LPN, ADN and BSn. Our ICU'S consist of one MICU/CCU with 16 beds and an SICU with 8. Pt /staff ratios are 2:1 in the units. On the floors it's usually 3-5:1 dependent upon acuity and whether you are an LPN or RN. Techs do not sx trachs nor change drsgs. Nurses aides only do the grunt work, vitals, baths, personal care, b&b etc. Lpn's give meds except IV push and can now hang blood with an RN cosignor. We have at most 3 pts to a room now, and are in the middle of another big renovation. We are indeed in an old building but hope to have a new facility sooner or later. Nurses do primary care but as with any other place some nurses will abuse this. Stop by and chat sometime we're not that bad...even for LPN's because you will never get the same kind of experience as you do here, LPN's are often limited in their roles elsewhere.