Alaska Travel Nursing

MentalRn · Dec 15, 2012

I have worked on contract in Anchorage Alaska. I have worked at the Native hospital, Providence medical center and I did a contract on Ft. Rich military base. I had very good experiences. I would not however work in any of the remote areas. Stick to Anchorage, Fairbanks, Junea, Sitka, Homer, Seward. Stay out of the villages, outsiders are not always welcome. All of my family also live in Alaska, so I often choose an assignment up there. Take care and I hope this helps.

sweetgurly25 · Dec 20, 2012

how is the pay?

Truckee · Dec 24, 2012

I am in Bethel AK (part of the YKHC system) right now. Started my 13 week assignment the last week of October, will finish my assignment Jan 26th and will extend another 6 weeks into March.

Bethel is one of the small hospitals and I have been able to talk to nurses who have been to all of the small hospitals from Kodiac to Barrow, and big city hospitals in Anchorage and Fairbanks; here is my take.

1. It is cold in the winter, be ready for it. Summer days are long and buggy.

2. Things are more expensive here than in the lower 48. $14 for 12 pack of soda. $7 for a gallon of milk (not quiet as bad in the bigger cities).

3. Most of the hospitals have travelers (read as A LOT) all of the time. You are pretty much one of the many who are there for the same reasons as everyone else. In Bethel almost all of the nurses have taken a travel assignment here before they signed on perm. When you read descriptions of hospitals that say "travel friendly", this is where that term came from.

4. Pay is pretty good. I would guess in the top 10-20% for regular travel jobs. What I found enticing is the possibility for OT. Work as much as you like (I don't know if this is true in the bigger hospitals).

5. I am VERY happy here in Bethel. Nothing pretty, nothing fancy, work is good and quite easy.

I would love to share more, I have a lot of info and it would be great if you had specific questions. I will continue to watch this post if you do reply.

Good luck

sweetgurly25 · Dec 25, 2012

i sent you pm

I am in Bethel AK (part of the YKHC system) right now. Started my 13 week assignment the last week of October, will finish my assignment Jan 26th and will extend another 6 weeks into March.
Bethel is one of the small hospitals and I have been able to talk to nurses who have been to all of the small hospitals from Kodiac to Barrow, and big city hospitals in Anchorage and Fairbanks; here is my take.
1. It is cold in the winter, be ready for it. Summer days are long and buggy.
2. Things are more expensive here than in the lower 48. $14 for 12 pack of soda. $7 for a gallon of milk (not quiet as bad in the bigger cities).
3. Most of the hospitals have travelers (read as A LOT) all of the time. You are pretty much one of the many who are there for the same reasons as everyone else. In Bethel almost all of the nurses have taken a travel assignment here before they signed on perm. When you read descriptions of hospitals that say "travel friendly", this is where that term came from.
4. Pay is pretty good. I would guess in the top 10-20% for regular travel jobs. What I found enticing is the possibility for OT. Work as much as you like (I don't know if this is true in the bigger hospitals).
5. I am VERY happy here in Bethel. Nothing pretty, nothing fancy, work is good and quite easy.
I would love to share more, I have a lot of info and it would be great if you had specific questions. I will continue to watch this post if you do reply.
Good luck

blazbm · Feb 7, 2013

I'm also wanting to travel June-Sept in Alaska. Pass along any info :) Also, can anyone tell me how to PM? Bc I have been looking and am new to all nurses. Haha.. any help?

Truckee · Feb 17, 2013

you have to have 15 posts before you can PM.

Alaska is great, jobs are plentiful and pay is good. To be quite honest there are jobs in the lower 48 that pay as well and maybe better with better locations but if you want to put a check mark in your book of places to work... come on up.

There was a post quiet a while back asking if there were $100,000 jobs out there, and I can tell you Alaska is one of them.

I will try to PM you.

apr08 · Feb 26, 2013

Hello is Alaska a compact state?

nursinadream · Feb 28, 2013

AK is not a compact state. Here is a link for that info, I refer to it often.

https://www.ncsbn.org/nlc.htm

I'm on assignment now in Anchorage, just a little over half way through my 6 month contract. phew. Working at Providence in the OR. We are enjoying the city and the beautiful scenery. Anchorage has every amenity. Furnished housing is very suitable.

apr08 · Feb 28, 2013

AK is not a compact state. Here is a link for that info, I refer to it often.
https://www.ncsbn.org/nlc.htm
I'm on assignment now in Anchorage, just a little over half way through my 6 month contract. phew. Working at Providence in the OR. We are enjoying the city and the beautiful scenery. Anchorage has every amenity. Furnished housing is very suitable.

THANKS FOR THE ADVICE! AND hOW DO YOU LIKE WORKING IN ALASKA. I HOPE ONE DAY TO WORK IN ALASKA! :)

mcpkin · Mar 9, 2013

For those that have traveled to Anchorage, what apartment's were you put up in? Just trying to get an idea, of how nice they are, and areas located in.

Thanks:)

nursinadream · Mar 9, 2013

I'm in Anchorage now with a contract at Providence Med Center. Cross Country is the vendor manager for Prov and I'm with NovaPro, part of CC. I am in company provided housing. It is a fully furnished apartment very close to hospital. It is very functional and comfortable for my non-working husband and me. Other travelers, my co-workers are in similar apartments nearby. Most of us are on 3-6 month winter contracts; there are over 20 of us in my department, the OR. Some have chosen their own housing they located on Craigslist. For example the stipend for this time of year in AK is around $1400 per month. A co-worker found a semi-furnished condo that she is sharing with another nurse (a local) and she is sharing the rent and is saving around $900 a month. This is a great scenario for my young single friend/coworker, but its not for me. We are all (?) satisfied with housing choices and options. I believe the winter contracts are higher than summer when tourist season is booming and housing is more expensive.