RV's anyone???

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Haven't traveled for almost 7 years. Am contemplating a return. Don't want to do the extensive move every thirteen weeks thing I did in 1990's and am thinking I want to purchase a "Toy Hauler" to bring my garage and toy's with me. I know the price of fuel will almost equal the cost of the vehicle per year but I just remember how much I hated to pack and unpack with every new assignment. I know some who travel with a suitcase, a plate, fork, spoon and some bed linens but I just can't. I even shipped my Kitchen stuff to Hawaii when I did that assignment. What's it like out there now?

wondering if you traveled to Seattle yet. I just bought a Rv myself and am going to take my first assignment in Washington State. Looking Forward to it. I am an Er Nurse. Any feed back on good Hospitals to check out or stay away from.

MotomanRN

Ever thought about traveling to Olympia, Washington? I just finished an assignment at their hospital out there. Though I don't work in the ER...I've heard their ER is very busy. The Providence St Peter hospital is a busier place than I'd ever expected. The area of Olympia and surrounding areas is very beautiful....and expanding....yet still has a nice little town....great seafood....and only an hour away from Seattle. I really enjoyed my stay there. I also stayed in a very nice campground called American Heritage (only open in the summer...probably too noisey in the summer....but they do have a few full hook-up sites in the off season for fully contained rigs). I stayed at American Heritage during the off season....and enjoyed it so much. I was in their RV park with only approximately 8 other RV/trailers. You are in the forest...with firepits at every site....very quiet and private. They are a family owned operation....very nice family. And they also have a sister RV park called Olympia Campground that is opened year round (in case you need to use their laundry or showers). The RV's are closer together at the Olympia Campground but I'd stay there in the summer time because American Heritage gets busy with family and tent campers at that time. But American Heritage is the place to stay if you are fully contained and in the off season. I think I paid around $400 a month and it included electric and everything. The hospital is only about 10 minutes away. There is never any traffic on that stretch of freeway...whereas Seattle has terrible traffic congestion.

Specializes in Paramedic,ER, House Supervisor, OR, CVOR.

The Airbus got sold before I even had a chance to make an offer. Guess I should have made the offer pending financing before I left. Wasn't meant to be.

Talked to my recruiter today and am quite concerned about the pay in South Florida. It's only a couple dollars more than what I am making out in Western Kansas. I am sure that I will be working much harder on the travel assignment. Is it worth it? The other problem that I didn't expect is they are still paying the same amount for travel that they did when gasoline was around $1.00 per gallon. What's up with that?

So far I think I will be looking at Holy Cross in Ft. Lauderdale and JFK in Atlantis. Anyone worked in either the General OR or Cardiovascular OR's? I'd rather do the CVOR but can do General cases. I did a search for Holy Cross and saw some info on housing in the Ft. Lauderdale area. The dates were in 05 so I would think things are repaired from the storms of last year but if anyone knows different please let me know. I am thinking that I may have better luck getting the motorhome I want next spring in Florida than I will have here in Kansas. Thanks for any replies to my ramblings.

Specializes in PACU/Cardiac/Nrsg. Mgmt./M/S.

Be prepared for the lack of strong aggressive medical care here in Florida. Besides the lower salaries, the care is sorely lacking. Unfortuantely, because of the influx of seniors to the area, those who really need the strong medical care, it has created a lackadaisical (did I spell that right?) view of medical care and support. Believe you me, when I first got here, I was in for a shock...a big one.

COL, I believe is not all that different from the midwest. The only thing I have found in which there might be a break is that it is easier to buy a house in Florida, and you get more bang for your buck when doing so. But other than that, I have not noticed any COL difference.

BTW, I am a house supervisor and PACU nurse, and the pace is tremendously low. When I first came to Florida, I took a 7.00/hr pay cut- but no choice. Husband was transferred.

Good luck.

Specializes in Paramedic,ER, House Supervisor, OR, CVOR.

Moonrose2u,

Thanks for the information. I lived in South Florida for 9 years before moving back to the midwest. Not looking forward to the traffic and overall busyness of the area. I had hoped that things may have changed with the medical care. I'm sure it will be a shock to me again. Have you worked at many hospitals? Any place you would recommend? Thanks

We have a 30' 5th wheel that we traveled to WY and CO in. Just make sure that your RV is an all season if you travel to colder states. If you have a choice get the larger hot water heater and couch long enough for you to stretch out on. We have really enjoyed ours and it pulls and sets up easy. Though we have no problem pulling ours, it could be pulled with a lighter truck. Best of luck to everyone traveling.

I am a single woman who wants to travel nurse when I get my kid off to college...I wonder if there are many single women travelers out there who live in there campers while travel nursing. I have read the posts and lots seem to be couples...I am curious about the size campers women travelers usually live in, how much trouble to set up long term camp, what are the advantages and what are the disadvantages? I cannot imagine packing up all my junk everytime I go to a new assignment, I think I would rather pack up my junk and haul it to my next parking place! Thanks for any info I get back!

I've lived full time in my RV for 1 1/2 years. Have to say "I LOVE IT!" I'm working as a traveling hemodialysis RN. I have a 40 foot 2001 Safari Panther 455 (2 slides) diesel pusher motorhome. So I'm not really "rough-n-it". I tow my Honda Civic behind. This is truely a home on wheels...My laundry is running in my washer as I write. This is my third RV...all diesel pushers....but that is what my husband and I wanted because we "get up and go" often....a weekend here and a weekend there. Like to explore different areas. The higher price of gas doesn't really concern me because my agency pays my mileage from one place to another with no travel caps....this pays for my gas. And if gas gets too expensive I can also use biodiesel...which we have looked into and have found that Catepillar says it is OK to use in our engine and OK to use for our heater (we have a hydrohot system that provides us with instant UNLIMITED hotwater....and heats the coach beautifully...and I've camped very comfortably in zero degree weather). Tommorrow I'm finishing up my assignment on the West Coast....and I'm traveling all the way to the East Coast for my next assignment. The fun part is that I'm taking a month to get there. The added bonus of using an RV for your home is that the housing stipend puts more money (tax free) in your pocket. And our repairs and any other expenses....tax write off. Those are too biggies you're missing out on if you go the apartment route. Tomorrow it will take me about 1/2 hour to disconnect and get on the road....it usually takes us only 15 minutes to set up. Motorhomes have less set up requirements than a fifthwheel or a trailer but also require more maintence. Full time RVing is a different lifestyle that works well for some but not for others. I have stayed at some beautiful campgrounds. Right now...I'm in a beautiful campground in Washington....I'm completely emmerced in the forest....no one near me....so peaceful and quiet. I've really enjoyed staying here for the past three months....but now it's time for a new adventure. The best advice I can give someone thinking about buying a trailer or motorhome....is "do your homework" ie....get a good deal on the purchase because these all do depreciate. And make sure what you are looking at will suit your needs. What kind of climates will you be traveling too? Does it have enough insulation....or air conditioners? Is it big enough....or will I feel crowed, etc. Do you have pets? Climate is a big factor that I didn't think about until I had an RV. I have two big air conditioners on my rig....yet still wouldn't even consider taking a summer contract in a desert area. I've been in Phoenix in 110 degree weather and with both my a/c's on it was still about 80 degrees in the coach. I can see why the high end coaches have three a/c's and are well insulated. Anyway....hope this helps. Be happy to answer anymore questions about RV's. Have lots of experience and am an RV enthusiest.....just love being on the road....can't wait to get out there again next week. Guess I'm a gypsy at heart.

After my heart I am a droolin. I grew up with a dad who was a Union Traveler (electrician).We moved very frequently! I hated it as a kid but miss the lifestyle desperately as an adult. I have one kid left in the nest and once he is in College I am hittin the road! I keep my Dream RV on the fridge(picture)! I can't wait!

The flip side of having the really big RV's is to have a really small one like I do. I have a 21 foot'er and it does everything I need it to. Depending on the work parking spaces and so on, it gets good enough gas mileage I can easily use it as my "main" vehicle also so don't really need a new one.....Of course, if I want to keep it someplace as my house and not use it as a vehicle, I can have the Nursing Agency rent me a car as part of my contract. I really like it because it doesn't cost much more than a regular small truck to drive around and drives about the same. Sadly, though, I am also limited on how much I can do with it as my back was injured. Still, I have my "dreams" of "travel nursing" again......So, we will see. Best to all, rn_imw

my wife and i plan to do this in 5 years or so. have travelled a lot and want more. rv`s are cool

hi understand your concern... I bought a travel trailer and take that with me to my assignments. Your housing subsidy easily pays the space and trailer note... and you have all the pleasures of home with you... plus you meet a great amount of people in rv parks..... best of luck Debi

Specializes in Paramedic,ER, House Supervisor, OR, CVOR.

This isn't about an RV today. Yesterday was my last fulltime shift at the hospital I have worked at for the past 3 years. Monday the 27th I start my first travel assignment as an OR nurse. I'm looking forward to the new challenges. I chose to take the housing subsidy and found a roommate from the local newspaper in the area I will be travelling to. It seemes like it will be alittle easier with the packing and unpacking but I haven't loaded up the truck yet and who knows, if there is room I may take the kitchen sink. I'd like to thank everyone who has read and replied to this post. It has helped make the decisions I have made easier. It's probably time to take it off the sticky list though unless someone else has a reason to keep it at the top of the list. Thanks again.

trvlnRN, you are livin' our dream. My wife and I are planning to travel as soon as I get out of school in two years. I'm working at vanderbilt medical center as a trama tech. in the ER while im in school and my wife has been a nurse for 15 years. I use to drive a truck over the road but got tired of it, so figured I would change careers. We have a good amount of property in Franklin Tn that we plan to sell. Property values have ski rocketed so we will make enough on the sale to buy a very nice class A and have plenty of money left over. The way I see it, Two nurses traveling together in an RV can see the country in comfort and style, make BIG BANK, and in just a few years we can retire.

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