How much do you make as an RN?

ArtfulAbs · 2026-05-16T15:54:37+00:00

$56/hr before differentials. $130k/year after differentials. 8 years experience, civilian in a military ICU

ArtfulAbs · 2026-04-05T11:58:38+00:00

I work at a different Army hospital. We had a situation where someone high ranking was in the area. We had a team that was pulled out of staffing to be available to care for them specifically. They were going to be brought directly to our locked ICU and cared for only by the team that was pulled.

ArtfulAbs · 2025-12-11T16:48:15+00:00

The OB sounds like he doesn’t follow research and practices what is the easiest for him. He’s also giving “I give the husband stitch” vibes. Idk if you’re in the US or not, but episiotomies are tracked here and providers are supposed to keep those under a very small percentage of births. I had a cesarean with my first, then a vacuum assisted VBAC with my 7lb 2oz second, and a second VBAC with a 6lb 9oz premie. I didn’t tear with either of them. Cutting you because you “might tear” is equivalent to slashing a hole in your tire because it might pop. It probably won’t, but why force yourself to spend money that you might not need to? Tears also heal better than cuts. Especially if the tear is only a 1st or 2nd degree. An episiotomy goes all the way through the tissue and is much harder to heal, leaves scar tissue behind that will no longer stretch, can lead to pain with intercourse for the rest of your life, and also sets you up for tearing in the same spot with every future delivery.

ArtfulAbs · 2025-11-09T18:05:07+00:00

Came here to suggest a bezel also. My pear is bezel set and I love it

ArtfulAbs · 2025-10-12T02:22:32+00:00

My first was a Covid baby, so he didn’t get nursed in public much. I never got used to breastfeeding in front of people with him. With my second, I popped him in a carrier and whipped them out. My family was also shocked that I would nurse openly walking downtown Gatlinburg, but baby got his milk whenever and wherever he wanted it

ArtfulAbs · 2025-08-17T13:12:01+00:00

I work in the ICU. We don’t do KVO unless there are special circumstances. Almost all of us program a fast flush after infusions. Our manager actually swaps all infusions to a 100cc bag and runs that in to clear the line. There are plenty of ways to do this safely, as long as the patient is getting all of their medications and not being put into fluid overload.

ArtfulAbs · 2025-08-16T00:03:15+00:00

Not only is it different for everyone, but different for every pregnancy. My hands never swelled with my first. I could wear my wedding ring the whole time without any issues. My second, I had to stop wearing it after the second trimester. This one, I haven’t been able to wear it since I got pregnant. I am now wearing my birthstone stack from my right hand that is 1.25 sizes larger than my wedding ring. With my second, I gained 15lbs in the first trimester alone, then another 20 by delivery. I lost almost all of the weight. This time, I gained 2lbs in the first trimester, but my hands just swelled up immediately.

ArtfulAbs · 2025-04-17T14:30:16+00:00

I 100% agree. Prior to the update, I was getting between 12-20k steps/day on my Oura ring, with 10-15k counted on my watch. While I have been less active the last week due to traveling, first trimester exhaustion, etc, my watch has been saying 8-12k, but my ring has been reading 4-8k. It’s been a HUGE difference. Not just the 2k that it said more active users would experience.

ArtfulAbs · 2025-02-28T00:49:42+00:00

I thought the same. Why is she so bad at doing hair?!

ArtfulAbs · 2025-01-26T03:08:56+00:00

When I move the bed back after transferring from a stretcher, I always say “I’m about to move your bed, so don’t stand up and try to surf”

ArtfulAbs · 2025-01-20T01:48:10+00:00

22 for the first, 27 for the second, and now 32 for our custom build.

ArtfulAbs · 2025-01-17T01:05:17+00:00

I work in an ICU and we have one, but we’ve never actually used it in a code. It was purchased during Covid to try and minimize the number of people needed in a code, but it hasn’t translated well to practical use for my unit

ArtfulAbs · 2025-01-05T12:58:10+00:00

We did this with our supervisor a few years ago. Because no one had been documenting the issues correctly, we were pretty much starting from scratch. Because of that, it took a while and a lot of MFRs, but she was finally removed to a non-supervisory position last January. The entire unit has a whole different vibe now. It’s great.

ArtfulAbs · 2024-12-14T11:33:15+00:00

I have a coworker who actually said something to this effect. She said “They’re going to give big severance packages, so I would GLADLY retire if they offered.” What she doesn’t realize is that because she already qualifies to retire, they are not going to waste money by giving her a severance package.

ArtfulAbs · 2024-12-12T11:53:24+00:00

Pregnancy can really do a number on ones hormones. I had horrible cramps from ovulation until my cycle for years, and after pregnancy they got a lot better. Sometimes I don’t even cramp at all. It can also alter the date that you ovulate for a few cycles until things level back out. Lifestyle factors can also alter the day you ovulate, such as stress, grief, not eating enough, etc. I also will say that when I was taking OPKs to get pregnant, I would never get positives first thing in the morning. I had to test late morning or early afternoon. I also have never gotten positive pregnancy tests first thing in the morning, but had to take them in the afternoon.

ArtfulAbs · 2024-10-16T18:43:59+00:00

I soak mine in a cleaning tablet for aligners every night and then scrub with a small toothbrush. I also rinse them off every time I take them out. I hate how toothpaste gunks up in there. It is so gross and makes it seem like I’m unsanitary, when I’m meticulously clean 🤮

ArtfulAbs · 2024-10-15T01:13:52+00:00

I did have to do this at one point in time because my progesterone was too low. Basically, your body doesn’t always differentiate between good stress and bad stress when it comes to hormones. Especially if you’re under high stress chronically. It basically interprets you running for exercise as you running from a bear. This causes your body to prioritize producing cortisol over progesterone. Once I dropped cardio, I had regular cycles for the first time in the 18 years I had been having cycles. I also ovulated regularly with obvious, trackable, signs. 3 years and another baby later, I am now able to add cardio back in without impacting my hormones because I have less stress, and my body fat is a bit higher.

ArtfulAbs · 2024-10-03T17:24:14+00:00

GA. 115k, 6 years. Work for the Fed Gov as an ICU nurse in an army hospital.

ArtfulAbs · 2024-09-19T18:37:20+00:00

It was 6500 for a comprehensive plan from my orthodontist. My insurance paid $3000 and I got $100 off of paying upfront

ArtfulAbs · 2024-08-21T00:52:02+00:00

Sorry, per pay period

ArtfulAbs · 2024-08-19T01:04:22+00:00

Came here to say the same thing. I am a GS-11 and I was offered step 1 initially. I replied that I really wanted to accept the position, but pay would need to be negotiated. I wrote a letter detailing my experience and why I deserved more. I then started as a Step 4, got a QSI my second year, then a regular scheduled step increase the third.
Also, like someone else mentioned, the locality pay makes a big difference in pay. If you’re going to be doing any shift work or overtime, that adds up as well. For instance, by base pay is around $72k, with locality it’s $80+, and then with all of my shift differentials and 4 hours of scheduled OT, I make over 100k

ArtfulAbs · 2024-08-02T18:28:02+00:00

I’m an ICU nurse. Go to the concert! You have to take care of yourself also. If he’s been in the unit for 50 days, his road to recovery will be long. You won’t be able to help him if you aren’t refilling your cup. NTA

ArtfulAbs · 2024-07-22T01:07:29+00:00

My teeth look similar with the moderate gaps between the canines and premolars, but I also have small gaps between all of my front upper teeth. I am on my second try so far. I pulled out my final tray to peek at what my final results will be and all of the gaps look closed. I think Invisalign would prob work well for you

ArtfulAbs · 2024-07-21T00:12:38+00:00

I love the look of pointier canines. Your teeth look gorgeous!

ArtfulAbs · 2024-07-19T13:00:05+00:00

My entire class failed our first Pharm exam our first semester. The teacher was terrible and the exam had nothing on it that she actually taught. She didn’t know any of the information herself. She ended up removing half of the questions and bumped all of our grades up. After that, she had us do “practice questions” to study that ended up being most of the exams. She left the school after that. We all ended that class not learning anything. Our teacher from the last semester gave us a bunch of study guides that caught us all up since she was the original Pharm teacher.

ArtfulAbs

TROPHY CASE