Looking for a career change

[tashacorinne]

Hello all,

So my original career plan was to make a big move to Australia next year and work there for 1 year, but I just realized I could stay in my own country and do some travel nursing here! My main concern though is if travel nursing has a salary high enough to support myself and a significant other. My SO would be quitting his job to start his own business venture and work from home while he travels with me. Also, we love to hike and travel, so is there down-time during an assignment to do traveling/adventures in the state that we're in?

Last question... from what I have read on this forum, do I basically just need to call up every recruiting service and see who has the best offer for me? Seems like a lot of research! Please PM me if you have any personal recommendations on what companies are good so I can look in to them when I finally make my step towards my career move. By the time I make my change, I'll have 3 years ICU, 1 year PICC, and 1 year ED experience (oh and floating between ED and ICU).

Thanks everyone!

[NedRN]

There are close to 400 agencies and every one of them will have fans to recommend them. There really is not a shortcut to calling lots of them to find recruiters that you trust. The plus is that you will learn a heck of a lot from these conversations. We certainly cannot tell you if they will pay as much as you are making now without knowing either figure, Talking to agencies may also find you hospitals willing to put your schedule in a block of consecutive days so you might be able to have a week off once in a while. You can alternatively ask for a week off in the middle of an assignment (usually you would then contract for 14 weeks with a week off).

[BonnieSc]

I have done a ton of hiking and biking during travel assignments. Being away from "real life" means there are fewer distractions and obligations, and not being involved in hospital politics, etc, means I am never being called to answer questions, never have to go to meetings, never have extra trainings, and just bring my work home mentally a lot less. Asking about trails, routes, and bike paths is also a good icebreaker with your temporary co-workers. I was traveling summer of 2014 and in retrospect I remember it as a long vacation, between bike rides, hikes, trips to the beach, farmer's markets, the county fair... even though I know I was working full-time!