Hi Craig,
I just posted, but I don't see it, so I am posting again. I will apologize in advance b/c I can't give you any info. on that college. I was hoping you could give me some insights or advice about working at ASH. I am an RN, currently on a Psych. travel assignment in Philly! I saw the ad for ASH, and the money sounds really good, but I know it is a dangerous place to work! Please write back and give me any info. you can.

As far as the RN thing, the money is good and there are a lot of opportunities. Right now I am bringing home about 1200.00 a week (which is good for this area) and my travel company pays for us a private 2 bedroom apt. plus they pay all of my utilities! I need a 2 bedroom, b/c I am married and my hubby and 11 year old daughter and 2 Chihuhua's travel with me. So far we have been to Las Vegas, Albuquerque, NM, and to Delta, CO. I have really enjoyed seeing the country! We are from down in New Orleans and we were actually headed home the weekend Katrina hit! Anyway, I just called my company and they got me this job in Philly! So there are some advantages to being an RN!

As for ASh being dangerous that is true but it is more like it has the potential to being dangerous. Don't forget you would be working in a forensic hospital with mental patients which means these pt's as we call them have commited a crime because of having a mental illness. Ash has changed since I started there 3 and a half yrs ago, we really need psychtechs and nurses. I have only been attacked 2 or 3 times since I started working there, but but never was harmed I saw it coming and handled it with the help of my peers. I would say for you as a nurse this is easy money, meaning what I see nurses doing is assesments, referalls,shots, and monthly notes, I know there are other assinments but you are also handeling the needs of the pt's like us, there is no job below you or above you, you would be expected to also get the pt's there hall pass, ice, hot water, observe the pt's and watch for any break of the rules etc. A nurse at Ash is a vital part of the team. Right now because of the shortage of staff we have mandated overtimes, RN'S and Psychtechs are expected to work overtimes to help this hospital run, right now we are low on staff so we have weekly mandates. THe nurses not psychtechs just got an 18% raise which is why we need more help in the psychtech department because we have people leaving weekly. It is very expensive to live in Ca, I have a family of four and we live in a 2 bedroom condo and we pay 1000.00 a month. Gas here is 3.49 a gallon cost of living is very high. So if you have any other questions let me know I hope I covered some of the ones you were wondering about.
Craig

Thanks for answering! I greatly appreciate you taking the time to answer! I can read all I can, but nothing takes the place of a person that is actually there experiiencing it! I have worked Acute Psych before, but never a forensics unit. How much mandated OT are you required to work per week? Do they use agency nurses at all to fill in the gaps? I have been checking the San Luis paper and I see the prices of the places there. I do think it is expensive, but it is about the same here for places to live. Are the benefits good there? How much is health insurance for you and your family? I didn't think they offer much as far as vacation time. I had thought about taking a job for the VAMC, the pay sucks, but they give RN's 5 weeks of vacation the very 1st year. Well again, thanks for taking the time to answer. Please just write and give me any more info you think would be helpful! Oh yeah, that is really messed up they gave the nurse's a raise and not the techs! I hate when places do that, it is very bad for morale!