Travel Nurse to Hawaii

U.S.A. Hawaii

Published

HI,

I am an RN in Virginia. I have one travel experience in my 6 years of nursing, and it didn't go well ( I traveled about an hour from where I lived.) I work in a float pool now, mostly floating to med-surg, but occasionally to ICU or physical rehab. I have a travel agency persuing me; there is an opening in Hawaii. I can only leave home for 8 weeks max. I have never even been to Hawaii, and don't know what to expect if I did accept this med-surg position. Can anyone give me any pointers? How are travel nurses viewed? I have never worked in a hospital with a union either- will I be ostracized? Are there any active strikes? I don't want to cross strike lines. I currently make around $30/ hr now. How much would the pay likely be? I would be getting free private housing- are there areas that might not be safe to live in? I want to bring my daughter (age 11) and brother (18). What are the hospitals to avoid ? What is the average patient load? What type of charting-ie- computer? Thanks !

:nurse: Fawn

Fawn:

If you move here, you're gonna leave behind ALL of your family and ALL of your friends and ALL of your support system. You want to bring an 11 y.o. and an 18 y.o. When something happens to one of them, who are you gonna call for help? It's something to think about.

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I wrote my comment a few months ago. The company I was talking about is Island Temporary Nursing.

Here's just an idea, by no means a suggestion (please read other forum posts about the reality of LIVING in Hawaii as opposed to visiting)

but..assuming you are for sure moving here or maybe you are married to someone who is stationed here..instead of applying as a travel nurse, many of these same companies also do temp staffing for resident nurses of Hawaii. ITN does both..as an example. I cannot comment yet about assignments or the facilities you are sent to, but I am aware that they hire nurses that already live in Hawaii and it may be easier to get on with the company that way as opposed to being hired as a travel nurse.

Also , I am not sure if working as a travel nurse, if you are more likely to work in a hospital as opposed to long term care.

This was in another state, but when I worked as a RN for agency before, I filled a LOT of LPN assignments for long term care because that is what they needed, and I did not mind, as a new grad, working as an LPN as I searched for a RN position (later found a RN position with a hospice but stayed with the agency and picked up an occasional weekend or holiday for extra $$)

Agency work is extremely flexible..there are drawbacks but the pay is good and the schedule can be awesome..work 4 days, surf 3 days :)

You have to be ok being the new kid all the time.

Not only will Hawaii be VERY unfamiliar to you, but the facility as well. Driving around in Hawaii is not always easy for a new person.

I second what Lisa says about bringing your kids/siblings. My teen tried to spend a summer with me in Hawaii and HATED it. He feels much better with familiar mainland surroundings, so he lives with his dad now. I mistakenly assumed he would love Hawaii but it is a VERY tough adjustment.

ps There are scary looking people and neighborhoods EVERYwhere..it's not exclusive to Hawaii. I used to live in one location that was very family/safe on our side but one street over was meth alley. A good neighborhood does not mean you will be safe no matter where you are. My advice is if you travel here, get to know your area, where the police and fire stations and hospitals are, use common sense and safety, etc. Try to build a friendship and support system on the island. If you do not have any family here with you, you will need reliable friends. Maybe you can meet fellow workers thru the agency.

I am happy to help newcomers with info that I know about..I have only been here four years (Oahu..except for one year on big island) .

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Hello! I am a Pediatric nurse wanting to do travel nursing to Hawaii. I have been there a few times on vacation and LOVED IT!!!! But i here it is different for mainlanders to actually live there. I know this is kind of childish but will people not respond well or have a prejudice against me because I am wanting to live there but am from the mainland with pretty much all Irish ancestry? I really love Hawaii and would love to give living there a shot. I know that is will be expensive that I am not afraid of I used to live in DC, but I am really afraid people will I guess not like me there? Am I just hearing the wrong things? Help!!!!

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I think especially since you have not traveled a lot or in a long time to give it another shot. If that is not reason enough this land is gorgeous and there is such strong culture. It would be a shame to look back and not be a part of such a beautiful opportunity.

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Specializes in Pediatric.

You can be disliked anywhere you go, so if your heart is set on Hawaii, try it.

It is beautiful! Do have a back up plan! Good luck.

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Aloha everyone. I just started reading some article on this site today :)

Anyway, Ive only been to one state (Texas), so far I like Hawaii comparing to Texas. If your more on to nature, and quiet environment Hawaii is the right place to be. Its not true that people here are "scary looking" or "bad". People in Hawaii are nice, you'll feel the "aloha spirit".

For job, I currently work as a New Grad RN in one of the hospt. in down town Honolulu. For us New Grad our starting is $32/hr and $3 night differential (Im not that sure). This is my 4th week at work. Kinda hard cause I'm a foreign RN graduate and I have to deal with the transition from the country where I came from to Hawaii good thing I worked as nursing assistant at the same hospt for a year. We do all computerized charting, so it is easier for us. Our hospital is hiring travel nurses, but mostly into special areas. I had my orientation last month with a OR travel nurse from mainland.

And yeah, someone mentioned Ewa, I live ewa.. and if your planning to move here or work here I wouldn't suggest you to stay ewa specially if you don't have your own car, You'll end up traveling 1hr each way. Cause I know most of the big hospitals are by down town Honolulu. Housing? I'm not so sure If they provide housing at my working place, but I know, we have apartments there.

We'll if you have any questions just email me. :spam:

Aloha!

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Hello everyone,

I am a nurse currently on travel assignment in San Diego in the post op department. I am coming to Oahu for my best friends wedding, she lives in Kailua, and thought that I should take the opportunity to take an assignment there. I have several agencies calling me for Maui but none for Oahu. Does anyone have any knowledge of particular agencies that might be staffing Oahu? Thanks for all your help.

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