Depends on what area of the country you're in. Here in Washington, $28-30/hr is not unusual. Jobs are available, but not advertised.

Alaska and Hawaii. They have no licensure

If it ever gets less painful... time for a new career. We become very hardened to it, both when the patient should not be undergoing life-prolonging procedures and those who shouldn't be dying, are. Each time, it takes a little bit out of you.%0d%0aMake sure you talk about it. If you never unload the grief, you become mentally ill and your world ...

I have had many experiences with 'miracle cures'. That is, the patient got better despite us. I have a setpoint in my mind of how long it should take for the cure to happen, then it becomes suffering. That setpoint is 14 days. If progress is not being made in 14 days, now it is suffering, even if if there is no deterioration. We in respiratory ...

Wow, I know the feeling. The first thing is to decide what specifically twists your tail. In my experience, it was being treated like an imbecile. Solution: get better credentials. Medicine is a game of credentials. For example, LPN means butt-wiper, RN means controller of the drugs and nominal superior. How many stupid RN's do you work with? ...

Wow! I CAN spell and I read ad hominem here. Remember, humorously, the difference between a drunk and an alcoholic is those darn meetings.

Teach them, and have them practice, persuasive argument. Gather up facts, organize them, figure out exactly what you want, then present to the doc. The important piece, I've found, is to anticipate the return argument and have a rebuttal ready. Docs like the exchange, and respect the presentation. They don't always agree, that is not their job, ...

We happen to be the profession most involved in these dilemmas, and often the last to speak up. It is always the right thing to question the physician and/or nurse. In our society, those questions often lead to reprimand. Presenting your point in a diplomatic fashion: "doctor, are we doing the right thing?" "Doctor, at what point ...

Go with the plan. You should be able to get a probationary license at the least and submit to random testing. Remember, even if it is legal, alcohol is considered a drug. Drug abuse is a serious problem in medicine. They want to make sure your nose stays clean. There is an old saying in business: ''I don't care what you have done, but what ...

Live with it. You have co-workers who also are shift workers, develop them as friends and don't try so hard to conform to ''normal'' hours. We are diurnal animals, but whipsawing between di- and nocturnal will play havoc with your immune system and you will seldom be your best. On your last shift of the cycle, go home and to bed early, take a ...