L&D travel

bagladyrn, RN · Jul 7, 2008

Hello,
I am an experienced L&D nurse but fairly new to traveling with just one assignment under my belt. Would like some info from other L&D travelers about what was your favorite travel assignment, what was your worst...and what agencies are good at placing L&D nurses...
Appreciate any advice you have
THANKS!
Crystal

I've been traveling in OB (L&D, PP, ANTE and M/B) for 12 years now. I've been with Cross Country TravCorp the whole time with no problem getting contracts. They generally have plenty of options.

I can tell you some of my favorite contracts, but it would help to know your preferences - big hospital/urban setting, small rural hospital (my favorites) or suburban hospital. I've worked at all types by now in many areas of the country. One of my favorite places was Flagstaff, AZ both for the hospital and for the area - lots to do and see in that area. Right now I'm very much enjoying a contract in a small town in Nevada - 24 bed hospital - 6 bed OB unit. I don't much care for urban areas, but the hospital in Glendale, AZ was in one of the nicer areas on the outskirts of Phoenix (midsized suburban hospital) and Sarasota Memorial is in a very nice area of Florida's Gulf Coast - larger hospital - I did High Risk Ante there this time.

Let me know what areas/types of hospitals you prefer and maybe I can come up with some ideas for you.

crystal013 · Jul 7, 2008

hi baglady!

So nice to hear from you!

I have been in Jacksonville, NC for 3 13 week contracts-does about 125 deliveries/month. 10 bed LDR-babies go to nursery and mom's move out to postpartum after delivery. I think that's the set up I like best, although at Pitt County Memorial in Greenville, NC I did mother/baby which is ok as long as you have enough staffing. It seems like most hospitals that do mother/baby forget that the baby counts as a patient. What do you think?

I've done high risk/low risk and everything in between.

I think my favorite place overall was St. Joseph's Women's in Tampa. I interviewed in Sarasota once a long time ago but didn't take the job. It seemed like a nice place.

I'm pretty flexible as long as staff is friendly and decent to travelers.

What are some of your worst places you've been that you would never go to again?

Thanks for your reply-look forward to chatting with you!

Crystal

bagladyrn, RN · Jul 11, 2008

Sorry it took so long to reply (I went over to Reno for a couple of days to play - and shop!)

A couple of the hospitals I didn't like (keeping in mind that this is just my personal experience and others may feel differently) were Brandon in FL and the hospital in Pasco, WA. As a general rule I don't like working for hospitals owned by HCA as I find them to be usually short staffed and with an emphasis more on profit than patient care.

I have done large facilities in urban areas when I needed to be in a specific place, but I prefer the smaller more rural facilities in general.

crystal013 · Jul 13, 2008

Hi!

I worked for HCA a long time ago and it was not so good...hmmm....Do you know anything about Henrico Doctor's Hospital in Richmond, VA?

PreggersRN, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2008

Baglady,

Have you ever traveled near Miami or Fort Lauderdale. I like big urban areas. Do you have any suggestions. I have been an RN on a high risk antepartum floor for 3 years, and I have signed up with Cross Country because I want to travel with a friend who is a PICU RN.

What is the pay like in FL? and what are my chances of doing high risk antepartum? At this point I am not interested in L&D. This will be my first travel assignment. What areas should I avoid.

Any help would be great.

April

bagladyrn, RN · Jul 27, 2008

Baglady,
Have you ever traveled near Miami or Fort Lauderdale. I like big urban areas. Do you have any suggestions. I have been an RN on a high risk antepartum floor for 3 years, and I have signed up with Cross Country because I want to travel with a friend who is a PICU RN.
What is the pay like in FL? and what are my chances of doing high risk antepartum? At this point I am not interested in L&D. This will be my first travel assignment. What areas should I avoid.
Any help would be great.
April

I've avoided Miami/Ft. Lauderdale since I don't really enjoy the big urban areas anymore. For High Risk Antepartum I'd suggest looking at Sarasota, FL or Health Park (part of Lee Memorial group) in Ft. Myers. I've done contracts at both in the High Risk Ante and enjoyed them. Both are on the Gulf Coast of FL, in areas that have all of the amenities of a "big city" area. You might also want to check in Orlando. FL payrates tend to be a little lower than other areas, but some will pay decent rates (and may be negotiable).