6 weeks left

So, can you tell by the title how well my new job is going? The difference from the west coast is just incredible. First the nurse patient ratio is 7 to 1. There is no one watching your telemetry monitor. This hospital (Grant) has one monitor in each of the 4 halls about half way down. At the end of each hall is a LED screen which flashes the room number and the rhythm in orange letters. Any alarms show up in red and there is a slight noise when it happens but, nothing that would really get your attention. I have to wear a pager, a locator and a cell phone. These are issued to me from a department in the basement where 4 -6 people sit and answer ALL patient call lights. Then they page whoever is assigned to that patient. I personally think the money would be better spent on tele monitor techs. All of the discharges are on the day shift so nights gets all the admissions. It's a little hard to get used to.
My first orientation night I got the scoop on the whole floor, why people are unhappy, why they are leaving, how many have left, who to watch out for. It's a great thing. The staff is unhappy, management is all new on the floor and they are very young. I don't think I will be staying past my 8 weeks unless I really have to. I just thank my stars that I know what else is out there as far as nursing jobs, so I am not stuck somewhere like this. I will be doing my one or two days of overtime a week because I need to.
My traveler friend and her husband just went from Reno to Redding CA. They are in a 2 bedroom house with a fenced in yard and loving it. She just started her job, but sounds happier than I am with the facility.
The weather is typical Ohio. Warm and sunny, then hot and muggy, then cold and gray and rainy. It's been nice being around my brother and my Aunt and Uncle. My Uncle got moved to a rehab facility for PT/OT/and speech therapy. It was a shock to both my Aunt and Uncle how these places operate. The beds are old, the equipment is old, and you have to wait a good while for your call light to be answered. I just hope he works hard and can go back home very soon.
Well, say a little prayer for me to tolerate these next few weeks. Remember first do no harm.

Passed my test

OK,I miss the weather in Phoenix. This is me the week we left Phoenix...I haven't been without a jacket since. The gray skies don't help either. It has been great hanging out with my brother and seeing my Uncle and Aunt. But, I miss being able to go out anytime of day in shorts and seeing the blue sky everyday.
I passed my PBDS test. If I return here within 2 years I won't have to suffer through it again. I thought it was just us travelers that had to take it. It turns out all new staff nurses and agency nurses have to take it, only the travelers can be fired if they don't pass. Did I get a perfect score? No, I don' like tests, but I passed so I'm happy. I am still enduring the orientation process, in a classroom. If they want to pay me to sit all day, I'm there. Yeah, it's boring , and yeah I've heard most of it before, but I'll survive. Our traveler portion of the orientation class is small, was supposed to start out with 10, only 6 showed. The staff portion has 25 people and most of them are going to Grant,like me. Makes me wonder what happened down there, and why they need all of us. I spoke with my manager as well, to get my schedule. I have already been offered overtime and they haven't even met me yet...I'm a little nervous. But, it's only 8 weeks. I start my night shift Sunday...will let you know how it goes.
Remember first do no harm.

Ohio weather

Just a quick entry, we have arrived in Columbus Ohio.It is cold and rainy and tomorrow it might snow. Welcome to Ohio! I am attempting to give Ohio Health another try.My orientation starts Monday for a full week...pretty amazing considering I am only giving them 8 weeks. That means staying at an Extended Stay...it will be interesting. I have just completed 3 hours of mandatory online testing prior to orientation. Monday I have the dreaded PBDS Performance Based Developmental System of testing. It's torture. Watch videos and tell what is going on with the patient and what you would do and what to tell the doctor. Ugh.Wish me luck!