lost my job

[peter78]

How do you know so much about selling your manhole son?
You're probably not even old enough to drive.

Please abide by our rules:
I am think we may be getting into rule 2 & 3, thanks.

I'm not your son. You are half the man my father was. I'm just encouraging the dude not the do anything drastic. The sun will come out tomorrow.

What am I chop liver, hani1400 and t4rO'Prey5, consider this a warning, first and last warning.

I think this is a important subject, but i am going to freeze this thread for awhile, probably till things cools down, I think a cold front is coming in this Sunday, Jan. 11th. I might open it then.

 

[peter78]

Ok, I re-opened the thread. Any rule breaking and you will be banned. No attacks on others.

I know this is an important subject. More and more people are losing their jobs. And to "96runner4x4", good luck on finding a job.

 

[alaskaman]

Ok, I re-opened the thread. Any rule breaking and you will be banned. No attacks on others.

I know this is an important subject. More and more people are losing their jobs. And to "96runner4x4", good luck on finding a job.

The layoffs and outright job loss are staggering. when you find yourself at the end of a job, it is important to stay ahead of the curve. looking for work is a full time job in itself and often discouraging. I still recommend that a serious look at the medical field is worthwhile, and while the training will require time, effort and $ it is worth it.......and much better than always worrying. If you have a license you have a ticket on the job train.

 

[4Evr4RunN3R]

wow what happened here? anways like i said, thanks for the support. And hopefully i wont resort to " selling my manhole " lol.

 

[alaskaman]

Just re-read this thread. Nursing is a strategic job right now. Last month I received 30 job offers with 20 days. Most pay between $35.00 to $50.00 per hour not including the housing which is is free. Let me say that once again, the housing the utilities, transportation and return to your home are FREE. In addition, many of these jobs had signing bonuses up to $5000.00 at the end of 13 weeks. My just previous position transported critically ill patients via air and land. In addition I worked with very dynamic, caring and bright doctors, respiratory therapists and other R.N.s many of them smarter than me. They are really committed assertive and dynamic people. I earned $165,000.00 in one year in that job working 80 hours every two weeks.

If you have an interest in people, and enjoy giving to them while you make a difference, Nursing can be a great job.
If you like science it is a fast way to earn enough to pay for groceries and support your family. Something every man wants to do.........good luck with
your decision.

 

[Mike07SE]

Alaskaman, what is it that you do specifically? My wife's a nurse and has sometimes tossed the subject around about me doing nursing.

As of lately, I've been getting cold feet about the economy. I work directly for a European car manf. and things, like everyone else are not good. Stress is through the roof, and one thing that I know I can count on is her keeping her job. People are always going to get sick/hurt, right?

 

[alaskaman]

Alaskaman, what is it that you do specifically? My wife's a nurse and has sometimes tossed the subject around about me doing nursing.

As of lately, I've been getting cold feet about the economy. I work directly for a European car manf. and things, like everyone else are not good. Stress is through the roof, and one thing that I know I can count on is her keeping her job. People are always going to get sick/hurt, right?

Yes. unfortunately people always will need health care. My training is in Intensive Care that means people who cannot maintain the basic metabolic requirements without machines or medicines which are given through their veins. In addition, I work in trauma and emergency settings which is also considered a critical care setting. I accompany patients who are seriously ill on airplanes and ambulances getting them to medical centers where the MD skills are available to solve their problems. I work 12 hour shifts typically 3 per week. Most critical care units and ERs are collaborative and team oriented. If you want more information, PM me?

If you like science, relating to people and fixing their problems it is a real job.

 

[hulk311]

I agree with the above post.

Also, as a nurse you typically work 3 days a week, 12 hour shifts. Some nurses have two full time jobs, working 3 12 hour shifts at two different hospitals.

$100,000+++ a year :biggrin2:

just think about all the goodies you can buy for your 3rd gen 4runner.:beer:

 

[Thai]

Yes. unfortunately people always will need health care. My training is in Intensive Care that means people who cannot maintain the basic metabolic requirements without machines or medicines which are given through their veins. In addition, I work in trauma and emergency settings which is also considered a critical care setting. I accompany patients who are seriously ill on airplanes and ambulances getting them to medical centers where the MD skills are available to solve their problems. I work 12 hour shifts typically 3 per week. Most critical care units and ERs are collaborative and team oriented. If you want more information, PM me?

If you like science, relating to people and fixing their problems it is a real job.

Wow...you sound like those Army ads to recruit people!! What Alaskaman said is correct...nursing is a great field to go into. I would also recommend Pharmacy, Dental, Optometry, etc.. All of these medical fields have job openings somewhere...with good pay and benefits.

Having said that, i must also add that the medical field is far from being a "cash cow" as some have described. With the economy the way it is and Obama and his team taking office, there will be healthcare cuts from the federal government...less reimbursements to hospital/doctors, which means less profit for the hospitals, which means hospitals will be tight on money. Nurses (and other healthcare personnels) are being "cross-trained" in several areas so that hospitals do not have to hire "specialized" nurses, which costs $$. Nursing hours are being cut...you have to stay home if the hospital census are low, most of the time without pay. Nurses are being forced to take care of more and more patients...it is hard to find a place where you have 1 on 1 nursing care, even in the ICU. This applies to all hospital employees, not just nursing.

Yes, healthcare field is more stable than most and does pay relatively well. But, i just want to put a disclaimer that it is not all rosey all the time. I highly recommend people getting into it, but there is a reality to it that some may not know.

This is what i have heard from nurses in hospital (in TX): (note: 2nd hand info)

LVN nurses salary is about $20-35,000/year
RN nurses is about $40-60,000/year
My nurse practicioner (critical care trained) made about $70k/year but she is a bit on the low side.

Of course, if you work harder than average (more than one job or take extra hours) or have specialized training (or experience), then you can make more than above.

Good luck.

 

[hulk311]

Also depends on where you live.

RNs in CA can make $40-$70 an hour.

Down south they make about $18-$25 an hour.

But if you factor in the cost of living it all evens out.

Now, if you can somehow live rent free in CA while working 6 12 hour shifts, you could be making over $150,000 :bigok:

 

[Thai]

Also depends on where you live.

RNs in CA can make $40-$70 an hour.

Down south they make about $18-$25 an hour.

But if you factor in the cost of living it all evens out.

Now, if you can somehow live rent free in CA while working 6 12 hour shifts, you could be making over $150,000 :bigok:

That is true.

 

[Thai]

Additional note: i know of two hospitals around me that are on a "hiring freeze" due to the poor economy and the prospects of lowered medical reimbursements. BTW, one of the hospital is the world-famous and extremely wealthy MD Anderson Cancer Center. So, you can imagine how the other less fortunate hospitals are coping in these times of financial lockdown.

 

[hulk311]

Hey Thai, you seem to know a lot about this topic.

Have you read the new Newsweek magazine? Hospitals in the US are doing illegal kidney transplants and turning the other way. When I say illegal, I mean people from 3rd world countries are coming here and selling their kidneys (well one obviously) to wealthy patients. :awais:

 

[Thai]

Hey Thai, you seem to know a lot about this topic.

Have you read the new Newsweek magazine? Hospitals in the US are doing illegal kidney transplants and turning the other way. When I say illegal, I mean people from 3rd world countries are coming here and selling their kidneys (well one obviously) to wealthy patients. :awais:

Wow...i have not read it. That is really sad to hear...ethics goes out the window in favor of financial gratification!

 

[alaskaman]

What Thai said is accurate. All of the arts and sciences related to people from pharmacy to physician to nurse are being "squeezed" and that translates to harder work for the dollar. In addition you really do have to like working with people as they can be very "needy" (unless they are on a ventilator):biggrin2: In California there are staffing ratios so unlike the other states, the law provides nurse to patient ratio. in the ER that means 3/4 patients per RN in ICU 2/1 and telemetry 4/1. That is safe staffing. If you work anywhere else you will be paid less and your ratios will be much higher. In this field you have to be perfect with drugs. If a mistake is made and you were there, you will be blamed, so it requires attention and care. So you have to be ready to accept that adult responsibility day after day. So , as Thai said it is no free ride. They are not giving those salaries away and if you work as a nurse making over 150K a year, you should know they want their moneys worth.
You earn it, trust me.

 

[Thai]

"needy" (unless they are on a ventilator):biggrin2:

in the ER that means 3/4 patients per RN in ICU 2/1 and telemetry 4/1.

Yup, those are the kinds of patients that i love to take a history from!

Wow, the staffing ratio is quite good over there! Do you guys have nurse aids in addition to those good ratios?? Here at my hospital, the ratios are not nearly as good, but we do have nurse aids (to help nurse clean patients and do the small things) and unit techs (to help enter orders and handle telephones). ICU ratio is around 2-3/1 depending on patient's conditions or whether they are "med-surg overflow." On the medical-surgical floor, the ratio is around 4-7/1, again depending on patient's needs & severity. So, you can imagine that nurses sometimes complain about being overwhelmed. A few years back, we went with a ratio similar to yours, but then we did not have any nurse aids nor unit techs...and the nurses were also overwhelmed because they had to clean patients AND answer phones AND give out the medications on time AND deal with annoying doctors (like me!).

Either way you cut it, the healthcare industry will likely get tighter and tighter...less profit margins for doctors and hospitals. With the economy the way it is, this process will be accelerated.

My advice: GO PLAY THE LOTTERY!!

 

[alaskaman]

In the ICU we have PCT but not aides. We also get an equipment Tech. In the ER we have a variety from PCT to Cast Techs to Transporters. Alaska in next on the "hit list" for ratios. The ratios provide safe care and a reasonable work environment. No way can safe care be provided at ratios which are 6:1 and up. Silly. Med Surg by the way is 5:1 in California. PACU 2:1. We all know that to accomodate patient realities we should support the org. Doctors as you probably know well don't have the luxury of saying no. Many times I think that they work very very hard with little rest and do fine jobs.

 

[Thai]

No way can safe care be provided at ratios which are 6:1 and up. Silly.

Maybe you need to come to TX and be a nurse advocate! Trust me, i feel bad for our nurses...they have a lot on their plate everytime that they clock in.

 

[4Evr4RunN3R]

UPDATE!

I talked to my boss and i am due to return to work beginning next month. We had a long talk on what had happened and turns out he doesn't wanna loose me as an employee. we had what you call a "heart to heart" talk and he is really impressed with my skills. he said the reason he had to let us go was so that the company can survive. eventually having a job again later down the road when there is plenty of work for us to get done. i guess i took it the wrong way when i got laid off. though he has told me in the past that he wants to see me succeed and eventually take over the company ( I'm the youngest worker there). but like i said, i took it the wrong way when i got laid off thinking he can care less but that wasn't the case. He said he took a risk laying us off and losing some of his best employees in which he did. some of his best guys found another job working for the competition. but anyways, i am gonna return to work and eventually go back to school. i am gonna take courses in business management and administration and see how far i can go in the company while i'm still young. hopefully me sticking with him through the rough times pays off.

 

[Thai]

Congrats!! Good to hear...welcome back to the workforce!