Barkow

Barkow specializes in L&D/postpartum.

Latest Activity

1. High Risk L&D question

   Barkow replied to JPatchouli's topic in Travel

   I've worked in both high and low-risk L&D units. I think your bigger difficulty would be adjusting to travel nursing after only working in one facility for seven years rather than the high-risk/low-risk issue. At high-risk facilities you have sic...

2. Travel housing California

   Barkow replied to wayemika's topic in Travel

   Don't automatically classify all of California as having expensive housing! Definitely check pay with multiple agencies to find the best rate, but there are areas with cheaper cost of living and great pay. A city like Modesto, for example, has 1-bedr...

3. Who knew this was so LONELY????

   Barkow replied to mustang_convt's topic in Travel

   CT to TX is a big move! If you want to try another assignment, you could always do something within maybe a four hour radius of home, and see if you can get your shifts in a row and go home for long weekends. And sometimes just knowing you can get in...

4. Tampa General or Bayfront?

   Barkow replied to heidi94's topic in Florida

   Run far, far away from Bayfront! Understaffed, low morale, poor benefits, bad facilities.

5. Considering traveling; your wisdom appreciated!

   Barkow replied to Hambo's topic in Travel

   You probably need more hospital experience before traveling, as well as more savings to account for unknowns. Also, you can possibly make more money in Cali as a staff RN vs traveler (assuming that is where you live currently), plus you get the staff...

6. Any travel RNs also have home-base apartment?

   Barkow replied to shneebee3's topic in Travel

   The real monetary advantage of travel nursing is in the tax-free money you get for housing/meals due to the fact that you are duplicating living expenses at the travel location. If you keep the apartment as your tax home you get the advantage of tax-...

7. First Travel Assignment in Texas?

   Barkow replied to PolishGirlRN's topic in Travel

   I would just apply for the TX license now since you know you want to end up there. Better to have it done so you're able to apply to positions as soon as you see them, and it shows you're invested in making the move.

8. First Travel Assignment in Texas?

   Barkow replied to PolishGirlRN's topic in Travel

   If you absolutely know you want to move to Austin, I'd just go ahead and try to find a staff job. If you're valuable enough to them they shouldn't mind waiting six weeks for you to start, and like Ned pointed out you can sometimes get relocation mone...

9. How to go travel nursing in Africa?

   Barkow replied to jamst149's topic in Travel

   The Peace Corps has a program for healthcare professionals that's a shorter time commitment than regular assignments. Might be worth checking out, and it could give you connections for the future if you wanted to stay.

10. Canadian RN relocating to Florida

    Barkow replied to LaurieMakingA'way's topic in Florida

    I'm currently working as an RN in Florida, but it has only been about eight months, so I'd hate to generalize too much. Staffing where I work does not comply with guidelines for my specialty, and they have no desire to meet those guidelines, so there...

11. Canadian RN relocating to Florida

    Barkow replied to LaurieMakingA'way's topic in Florida

    I'm temporarily living in FL due to my husband's job after working as an RN in several states. Do a search of the travel nurse forum to see if there are more opinions from outsiders, but this state isn't well known for pay or working conditions. Lots...

12. Double income as a nurse

    Barkow replied to ChrisB718's topic in New York

    You might be better off doing overtime shifts paying time and a half at your current job, if available, rather than doing straight pay shifts at a second job. More efficient that way, and you can always do it when you want to, as opposed to the stres...

13. Health Insurance while Traveling

    Barkow replied to slocumml22's topic in Travel

    In terms of a coverage gap before your contract starts (if you choose the travel company insurance), check with your current employer as to how long your health coverage remains after you leave. They might cover you until the end of the month, so if ...

14. Salt Lake City Area Hospital Overview

    Barkow replied to mtskier's topic in Utah

    Might be getting late in the season but check out Park City Medical Center. It's a pretty small but cushy place that ends up with busier winters for ER and OR due to all the ski injuries. They do have some trouble keeping staff due to cost of living,...

15. Utah RN pay, Salt Lake City area

    Barkow replied to PACNWNURSING's topic in Utah

    I left IHC a year ago. The issue with shift differentials at the time was that they were a percentage of one's hourly pay, rather than a straight amount per hour. So a new grad at the bottom of the pay scale not only earned less pay, but their shift ...