Can Travels Nurses work PRN? What about disability accomodations?

[SunnyPupRN]

Hi travelers...

I have long wanted to try travel nursing. Most of my experience is in Psych, but I work right now as private duty for critically ill children.

I am a little afraid to take the leap, because I have stage 3 kidney failure, which is why I work about three day a week, 4-5 hour shifts. The kidney problems tend to make me very fatigued.

Now, I know what you are going to say: No way, they want you on 12 hour shifts, you have to be an awesome team player because you're an outsider, etc. Right?

So my questions are, are there any scenarios where a travel company might accomodate for my disability [ I am on disability to supplement my income] and allow me to have shorter shifts?

Ultimately my goal is to see Tampa, possibly move there as the opportunities where I am now are petering out.

Any thoughts toward making this work would be very appreciated. Also, I am a single parent - are there other parents who take their children travel nursing with them?

Thank you so very much!

Sunny

[NedRN]

Search this site for traveling with kids or children. There have been lots of discussions you will find interesting.

The travel company doesn't matter here in regards to your concern. All that matters is the facility or health agency can use you for 4 or 5 hours. Can you picture that possibility? Seems downright impossible to me considering the well established work day in this country. You are filling a need caused by at least one full time employee out who normally works a full time schedule. What good is filling half of it?

If you were able to find someone else willing to travel with you and work half days with similar skills, you might be able to make it work as a job share. Together you would make one full time employee. Still doubtful as the facility would have to pay double for orientation, and logistics become difficult. Needless to say, no employer is looking to fill needs that way. On a personal financial note, affording housing on the road with half pay also seems challenging. If you are financially independent, you could go on your own and volunteer.

I know you are grasping here, and hoping for some ray of hope to fulfill your dreams. It doesn't really matter what we say of course. You might try calling an agency for first hand information. I would suggest Supplemental. They are a now a very large diversified travel company but started out just in psych and maintain a special interest in it.

So I'm not a psych nurse or kidney/dialysis nurse, but it would seem to me that focusing on your health is a better first step. A better dialysis treatment regimen, perhaps CPD? Improved diet? Are you on a transplant list? Improving your quality of life and being able to cope with both job and kids seems like step one from my perspective.