so to recap, we are now down to only 2 scrubs, myself and one other. We got a traveler in in December to replace one of the ones that resigned, and another came in January. A traveler here has a 13 week contract, and can resign if they and we want them too. So the 2nd traveler came in the last part of January. Then on Feb 9th, my one remaining scrub just up and quit, no warning.
So that leaves me with the travelers. We are now down 3 permanent employees. And I have been on call now since Feb 9th.
Flash forward to 8 weeks ago, we finally filled one of the spots. But the woman we hired has some serious training to do before she can come to the CV team. Then 3 weeks ago, we got another traveler. He was awesome, able to pass instruments without a major problem the first day he was here. One of my travelers, that just left, still couldn't get all the steps, even after 17 weeks of being with us and scrubbing on every case. To me, the most critical part of an open heart case is cannulation. This is when we are putting the tubes in your heart that hook up to the heart/lung machine to oxygenate your body while we are working on your heart. Very important to do it correctly and quickly. Very few pick up the steps as rapidly as this new quy did. And he is funny to be around, keeps us rolling on the floor whenever we have a free moment.
I was finally looking forward to having a week off call next week, as the new guy and my other traveler were to be on call together. And we have a new traveler starting on Monday. Well, my boss called yesterday afternoon late to give me the good news . My crackerjack guy just up and quit!!
We are back to square one. I am frustrated and tired, both mentally and physically. My house is a wreck, and it is a struggle to keep up with the laundry, or even to cook on a consistent basis, so we are spending way too much on eating out and convenience foods.

My boss thinks naming me nurse of the year for the OR department is a compensation for all this crap. I think something along the lines of a 5 dollar an hour raise might be more in line.

Sorry, I am so cynical and burned out right now it aint even funny. But I feel a moral obligation to hang with my job. Besides, I refuse to go back to the general surgery end, and therefore to stay with my love of the OR, my only option is to travel. And then I would be away from my girls even more than I am right now, and I am not willing to do that.

Thanks for letting me vent.
And if you know of a good CV scrub tech willing to relocate to the 5th level of hell( South Arkansas) for a mere pittance, PLEASE put them in contact with me.