LPN looking to travel with CNA friend is this idea smart???

Specialties Travel

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Were both from NY and want to get our California licenses/reprocity as soon as we can. I would like advice for traveling based on our situation. I think my friend has a better chance in snagging an assignment because he has a year of hospital exp and a year of ltc exp. I only have private duty experience. Agencies are telling me that they dont get many home health assignments.

Heres what I need help with!!!!!!!!

Im wanting my friend to get an assignment and I tag along with him as his family and then get connections through his recruiter since he will officially be an employee. The 2nd option assuming i will have a hard time joining his agency is to find a job at a hospital near my friends assignment and start getting my hospital experience and hopefully my friend receives an option to renew his contract once or twice as im getting my year of hospital experience in and then join his agency!

What Are Your thoughts?? I feel like I have little to lose if im tagging along and he has free housing. What I do understand though is that his contract wont be guaranteed to be renewed and he may have to take another assignment which may split us up. What im praying for the most is for us to join the same agency and same location eventually if not right away and split the housing subsidy and find a cheap apt to live together!

Help:?

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

There are very few CNA travel assignments. Many areas CNAs are paid $10 or less and it's not worth the expense for a facility to hire travel CNAs when they could go to a local staffing agency or use nurses already working to fulfill the duties. CA has a high unemployment rate of nurses. There are very few job openings for LVNs in CA. Most are LTC seeking experienced nurses.

Plus even if your friend was able to secure a travel CNA job, he would be an employee of the travel staffing agency not the facility.

I've never heard of a PDN travel assignment, the only travel assignments I've seen in recent days for LPN/LVN are for experienced dialysis nurses and those are few because of variations in scope of practice for LPNs (many states LPNs cannot cannulate for dialysis or run the machine).

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Plus very few hospitals in CA hire LVNs so I seriously doubt you would be able to secure a hospital LVN job, especially with no experience.

There is a reason most travel jobs are for RNs, broader scope of practice. Most states have similar scope of practice for RNs. The scope of practice for LPNs varies greatly. Sons states permit LPNs to start IVs and push medications. Other states LPNs cannot push more than a saline or heparin flush.

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Hi I dont know what I mentioned that made you think I thought my friend would be an employee of the hospital? Ha maybe I wasnt clear. I dont think we mind a less pay rate because of the amount we will save not paying rent. Also we dont mind having to do assignments in a ltc facility. So even if hosp assignments are far fetched thats okay. Ive read many people say only dialysis lpn are working but it all seems to be unconfirmed info. Im not saying you are wrong I just have read enough from traveling lpn that dont say this. Im not saying that you dont have first hand knowledge of this its just something I have noticed. Some people seem like they are just repeating from other people instead of a I work from this agency and my agency never has work for me. Again, im not saying that that is you but I really like more personal answers!. Agencies vary also and what one agency might say or do may be different from another agency. If you dont mind and if its possible I would really appreciate more detail on the facts you stated even from personal friends etc. Thank you for your response!

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Specializes in Management, ER, psych.

OP, I am having some difficulty following your post...

Who is the CNA or LPN here? What background does your friend have? Is this an already set travel deal? It sounds great in a perfect world, but this seems drawn on an etch-a-sketch...too many variables.

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Hii im the lpn my friend is the cna. He has 1 yr hosp ex 1 yr nsg home ex and 6 mo home care! We Havent Contacted Travel Agencies Yet Were Developing A list of agencies TO Contact And Apply to!

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I think you should focus on your career needs, not tag along with your friend. Really, he should be tagging with you. You need first to get a specialty, private duty requires no organizational skills nor are you really employable now.

So pick a specialty and get a staff job for at least a year. LTC and dialysis are probably best if you want to travel later as an LPN/LVN. But I would think to further your career. If you take a staff job for a couple years, might as well take advantage of educational benefits and become an RN. Lots more lifetime earnings and opportunities.

If you really want to go with your short term plan (more bluntly, short sighted plan), start with the very largest agencies such as American Mobile and Cross Country. It is unlikely that smaller agencies will be able to supply enough CNA or LVN/LPN assignments to keep you employed.

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Hi. Thank you for your response. The reason I want to do this is because my drivers license was revoked for a min of 6 months. Because of this I am in the process of giving up my main job because I can not get there. Im training a friend to take over my case. I would like to move to a city where public transportation will be my best friend. The other part I I am not currently paying rent where I am. I am also a live in nanny and make only about 50$/ week. I can either stay where I am jobless or travek to another city and work. You see my dilemma? I do not live in an area where anyone uses public transportation besides preteens/teens traveling to the mall. It is very suburban here although there are buses it may sound prissy but thats not my lifestyle at least not here. Sounds crazy but id rather take a bus in a location i desire to live in. Im also not happy with my current job, both my nanny and nursing job. There are a lot of factors into play. The main thing is avoiding rent that i can not afford and unhappiness at my current job.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Depending on why your driver's license was revoked that could affect your ability to gain a nursing license in some states. Traffic fines over $300 are reportable to CABRN and CABVNPT, for example. Something to look at on the BoN websites when reviewing endorsement requirements.

On a side note Even having certain side jobs (such as non-nude exotic dancer ) seemingly unrelated to nursing can affect your ability to gain a nursing license in some states, like PA that has a "moral turpitude" clause.

When I last looked at travel positions for LPNs out of curiosity, most agencies had nothing but local staffing for LPNs and CNAs (contract facility work without expenses paid, basically facility staffing not traditional travel) unless you are experienced in a desired specialty such as subacute LTC or dialysis. This was about 9 months ago. When I last looked at American Mobile they were only entertaining RN applicants.

You may have better luck since staffing needs can change on a month to month basis.

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In 2012 I received 3 speeding tickets within an 18 month period. Thats why it was revoked. The tickets didnt get handles until recently. The courts changed and I had to go conference. There was no options to just pay a fine so I know ppl will think oh why didnt you just pay that wasnt the case. They had to send me dates once they transferred to the new court. So Yea I Have Nothing Restricted me From Getting A License otherwise. I sure hope the traffic tickets dont hurt me. In my honest opinion I dont think that should stop anyone from being able to work. Ive read a lot of recent things related to lpns and cnas traveling with the benefits. I think you may have searched on something like monster or indeed and saw results that popped up for all the words you typed in. Sometimes I see a link that says travel nursing jobs> but click and see a range of different posts mostly unrelated to travel assignments. If this is what you saw then that was just from providing search results from all the words you typed. Actually calling agencies or checking their site is totally different than from a job search site.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Nope, your assumption that I googled or looked at indeed is incorrect. I called a couple agencies directly regarding southern CA and a few other areas. I looked online at American Mobile and two others. Again this was around 9 months ago and those were the offers available then when I looked. I didn't need company supplied housing. What was available the brief time I looked 9 months ago contacting agencies directly, I can pretty much guarantee is different than what is available now as needs evolve. I did look at American mobile earlier today out of curiosity and they were only seeking RNs (at least on the mobile version of the site).

I know there is no shortage of LVNs in Southern California especially and a large number seeking employment.

There is a shortage of facilities wiling to fully staff or replace staff that leave.

I know in the areas where my sisters live (both in Southern CA) there is minimal public transportation because most drive private cars, bike or walk to work. When one sister lived a little further north than where she is now, there was a more friendly public transportation schedule especially as a commuter.

For me what was available from the agencies did not suit my needs therefore I found other employment.

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Actually, American Mobile does a bad job of listing LPN jobs. They do have them if you call them.

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