Insight please on travel nursing..

I am only 21 years of age, just started nursing school, and I have no plans to start a family here in the near future. I was wondering if you all would be able to give me insight of what all a travel nurse consists of. Here are a few questions to help you out, and if you could answer any or all questions that would be greatly appreciated!

1) Do you get to choose where you travel to?

2) Do you get to choose how long you will stay in a certain city/state?

3) Are there companies that allow you to travel out of the country?

4) Do you have the option to decide what hospital you will work at?

5) Do you have the option to decide what department you will work in?

6) Do you have to apply for "seasonal nurse" position through whatever hospital?

7) Living expenses and moving.. Is it paid for?

8) What kind of pay salaries are offered as an RN-travel nurse?

9) What are some well-known agencies that deal with travel nurses?

The reason I ask all these questions is because I Love to travel, and I've always wanted to go to Ireland for months at a time, and it sure would be nice if I could continue to work and do so. I also want to work in the ED or ICU/CCU, but I don't want to become a travel nurse if I can't decide which hospitals and/or units I work in. I've also heard that a lot of the living expenses and moving are paid for, but does that mean your pay salary is cut than a typical RN in a hospital setting?

Thank you guys for taking time to read this, and answer the tons of questions!!

[Skip219, BSN, RN]

I am only 21 years of age, just started nursing school, and I have no plans to start a family here in the near future. I was wondering if you all would be able to give me insight of what all a travel nurse consists of. Here are a few questions to help you out, and if you could answer any or all questions that would be greatly appreciated!

1) Do you get to choose where you travel to?

2) Do you get to choose how long you will stay in a certain city/state?

3) Are there companies that allow you to travel out of the country?

4) Do you have the option to decide what hospital you will work at?

5) Do you have the option to decide what department you will work in?

6) Do you have to apply for "seasonal nurse" position through whatever hospital?

7) Living expenses and moving.. Is it paid for?

8) What kind of pay salaries are offered as an RN-travel nurse?

9) What are some well-known agencies that deal with travel nurses?

Hi,

I will try to answer as many of your questions, but things will vary from situation. I recommend you find an area of nursing which you enjoy and work in a hospital for a couple of years. This experience is essential because as travel nurse, you are expected to function with minimal orientation and varying amounts of help. Your domestic travel sites are determined by the states you have a RN license. If you are licensed in a compact state-you can get a license in 15-17 other states quickly. You are only limited by your travel company and where they have assignments. The travel companies match hospitals with needs to travel nurse who want to work there. You can work in only areas in which you are experienced and it has to be in last 2-3 yrs. I have great deal of ICU experience, but I havent worked there in the last 12 yrs. Your company will provide you with a contact to do a phone interview for the position at X hospital. You will be filling a position at a hospital where somebody quit, on leave, or a unit which is expanding and needs temp help. Your travel expenses are paid with your first paycheck-you will receive 250-300 dolllars. You pay your food, gas, and lodging to get whereever your assignment is. The company will pay for your housing, utiliites, and daily living allowance (per deim). The housing allowance and per deim is tax free. You pay taxes on only a part of your wage, because some companies bulid these allowances into your hourly pay. I cant go back to MN( work a regular staff postion) and make the money I am traveling because of the housing allowance and per deim. Travel nursing companies will provide you with health insurance which is fine for those without families or health issues. The salaries vary from company to company-it depends on if you take the housing stipend and find cheaper housing , you can make more. I have seen 1200-1400/wk advertised by different companies. As far as what agencies to work for:check out highway hypodermics on the internet. It lists a yearly breakdown of the top 20 agencies.

I know very little of international travel, but recommend getting your intial experience in a hospital specialty unit (ICU, ER, TELE, OR, L/D, etc). After working couple of years, try out some domestic travel.

There is great deal of info about travel nursing, the pro/cons of agencies, and the need doesnt seem to be decreasing. The benefits arent as lucrative as years ago, but there are many opportunities in travel nursing. Again, this information is what I have compiled in my first 9 months of traveling. So it might not be totally accurate.

Good luck in your adventure,

Skip;)

[JWestbrook20]

Thanks a lot Skip! First response and I clearly have an idea of what travel nursing is about!

I've been a PCT on Cardiac Tele for two years now, I am going to nursing school through my hospital and thereafter I owe them 2 years. So like you recommended, I will gain some experience through those mandatory 2 years.

It sounds like a lot of fun! Cali/Florida in the Summer and Colorado in the Winter!

Once again, thank you so much!

Jordan

[K+MgSO4, BSN]

If you wanted to nurse in Ireland you would need to registered with An Bord Altranais (ABA) the Irish nuesing board for the Republic of Ireland. If you want to work in Northern Ireland you need to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) of the UK.

Jobs in Ireland are pretty scarce at the moment just like the USA. A lot of new grads cannot find work in acute public or private hospitals and are either working in nursing homes or emigrating to England or Australia or New Zealand.

I left in 2008 before things got really bad, 4th year students replacing staff nurses after 5pm and weekends, given HCAs in place of staff nurses.

Try and get some experience in the US first as there are differences in terminology and drugs names and units of measurement between US and Ireland/Australia.

[JWestbrook20]

Thanks K+MgSO4!! This is one of the more important questions I had about travel nursing!

Like I said, I've always dreamed of visiting Ireland. Visiting might just be the best thing. Working there might be another... But thanks for some of the information I would need if I ever do decide to work in Ireland!

Thanks!!