Travel Nursing ?

[sandlewood_nurse]

What is travel nursing like? Is it hard going from place to place. I guess since I'm in the OR I'd worry about not having enough time to learn doctor's preferences and find things. In general how do staff get treated while on these travel nursing jobs ?

I spoke with a woman who had done tons of travel nursing as an OR nurse. She said most times staff are great with new OR nurses, and they will help you becasue they really do need nurses. OR nursing is tough ..would you say its the same, more, or less tough (in terms of politics and getting a hard time from other staff) when you do travel OR nursing ?

[SCRN1]

I gave it a try about a year ago. I wasn't sure how I'd like it and found one company who didn't make me sign a contract and I could go for as short as two weeks, which I did. I didn't want to be away from my family any longer than that.

The nurses where I went were very nice. The bad thing is, you don't get much of an orientation. My "orientation" consisted of a 10 minute walk around the hall to show me where everything is and then I was given my assignment and off to take care of patients.

Hospitals where I have worked, I've seen that travel nurses either get no orientation or get one day. I always try to be helpful to them, however, I've seen others who aren't so nice and show their frustrations with them for having to ask so many questions about protocol and where things are kept.

[sandlewood_nurse]

Thank you .. thats interesting. I just heard from a friend that you have to work overtime in most cases .. is that true? I would only want to work 40 hrs not more than that, especially if the orientation is really short. I would like the extra time to prepare, like check out the stockroom, write out preferences etc.

[SCRN1]

Thank you .. thats interesting. I just heard from a friend that you have to work overtime in most cases .. is that true? I would only want to work 40 hrs not more than that, especially if the orientation is really short. I would like the extra time to prepare, like check out the stockroom, write out preferences etc.

Like I said, I was not under contract. They called me each day to see if I wanted to work or not. I think a lot depends on the contract you have with your agency. If you are signed up to a 40-hr work week, I don't think the hospital can make you work more than that...except that lots of times we don't get off when we're supposed to because there's charting left to do that didn't get done during the shift. That's with or without being an agency nurse.