Anybody done this? Is it possible?

[Fannie'sMom, BSN, RN]

Hi there!

I am in the process of researching travel nursing and I've read a lot of great stuff from this site and have taken extensive notes. Now I am wondering if you could read the sketch of the plan I have and share any thoughts, experiences, or tips you may have?

I'd really appreciate it....Thanks in advance.

So my husband and I are avid hikers; we've hiked Yellowstone, the Tetons, Mt. Rainier, Yosemite, Kings/Sequoia, and the Rockies-all once. We want to go back. The plan I'm concocting is that we (myself, my retired husband, and my girls whom some people would call dogs) would buy an RV and travel nurse to return to the National Parks I've mentioned above, as well as seeing other great parts of the county. We won't travel year around, as I love my house and will want to return for a month or two between assignments. On a professional note, I am a second-career BSN nurse (18 months in) and by the time I pull the trigger I will have moved up to a Clin II, I will have one years med-surg experience, one years telemetry experience, and my ACLS. I kind of wanted to get certified at my two year mark, but not sure if this would make me more marketable in the travel nursing market.

So I am wondering if anyone else has traveled with the goal of getting as close to National Parks as possible. I wonder just how close I can get. Most of the towns around these parks are fairly small, remote towns with no hospitals, so I am aware I won't be parked at the front gate, but would like to get as close as possible. I am thinking that the hospitals closest to National Parks are going to be fairly small and wonder if these small hospitals ever use travel nurses. Is this a feasible goal? Or will I have to go further into civilization to find a travel gig?

Thoughts on anything I've said???

Thanks so much!

Kim

[NedRN]

There are Indian Health Services hospitals, and some scattered other ones. For example, Mammoth Lakes near Yosemite uses a fair number of travelers. You can hike into Yosemite from Mammoth Lakes but the driving entrance is 20 miles or so away. Lots of hospitals in the Rocky Mountains, ski resorts right in the mountains, and of course in places like Denver. Really, if you work stacked twelves, you will have lots of time to go hiking, even if you have to drive a hundred miles. So that should broaden your hospital possibilities dramatically.

[trackhead, APRN]

I turned down a job in Yellowstone this summer due to very low pay. It was $18/hr and free housing. No thanks, pay me at least near what I'm worth. It was a May through late September position working ER/clinic, but the nurses also did billing, collected co-payments, etc, etc. I'd rather just be a nurse, make good money in a normal ER, then take a month or two off and visit Yellowstone, Yosemite, etc.

[Fannie'sMom, BSN, RN]

Thanks so much to both of you for your responses. Good to hear about Mammoth Lakes, as that's near the Northeast entrance, which is exactly where I want to be. I googled nursing jobs at national parks and saw the gig you mentioned. I loved how they bragged about low wages...the nerve. No location justifies getting paid half, unless I'd be spending the summer at the Ahwahnee, in the biggest suite they have :-)

Thanks again!!!