Leaving Full time to go back to travel...

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Specializes in ER, Nursing Education.

So I am about to break up with my full-time Nurse Educator job soon and go back to travel nursing. I'm about 70% hating where I live (Vegas), and 30% not happy with my job, knowing I can make more money with less stress and hours as a traveler. Plus, I see it as a way to get out and experience other places without commitment. I was a traveler in October of 2011 which is what got me out the the West Coast and the best decision I made for my career. I'm kind of nervous to go back because I was really spoiled at my first assignment and it was a super nice hospital and I fit in perfectly. I realize it can't be like that everywhere.

I'm looking at going to AZ first, I am already licensed there, and possibly establishing residency at the end so that it will be a compact license and then easily be able to go to TX and CO. What do you all think of that plan?

Any one recently been to Phoenix, Tucson, Denver or Austin, I would love to hear about facilities, and experiences.

TIA!

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Any plan is better than none. Having a compact license is "easy", but generally those states pay less and have lower Union penetration. CO has very low pay, and working conditions in TX are notably worse than average. For good working conditions (and pay) you are better off on the west coast and the NE.

You can search this site for further comments about specific states and cities.

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Specializes in ER, Nursing Education.

Thanks Ned, I've traveled on the West Coast and am aware of the better pay. I'm more interested in experiencing other places at the moment. I am licensed in CA, MI, NV and AZ currently.

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

In CO try Vail or Frisco(summit medical center) for mountain places and skiing/snowboarding. If you can get a summer assignment up there it is very pretty. Denver is hot in summer and is just another big city basically.

If you do Austin, i lived there for a while and my son was born there, Seton is a traveler heavy place and was always friendly towards them. I would go for late fall or early spring. Again, its hot, its a smaller city with poor infrastructure so traffic is horrible.

I am originally from San Antonio and like the city alot. Stick to the northeast side of town or the medical center. Downtown is alot of fun for adults, six flags amusement park is a good time for all ages, SeaWorld is also there.

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I'm more interested in experiencing other places at the moment.

A born traveler! Great attitude.

I've never worked in Texas, in part because I know too much (visiting is enough for me). But if I did, Austin and San Antonio would top my list. Happy to just visit. Austin is an oasis of progressive politics in a very red state so it suits me. Austin traffic sucks because it grew too fast. Often one of the downsides to a nice place.

Working in the Colorado mountains in the summer would be great. Add Flagstaff to the places Argo named. They use a lot of travelers so it is easy to get an assignment there. I did an assignment in Denver in the fall and enjoyed it. 200 plus miles of bike paths, but killer Goathead thorns. Definitely the place for flat proof solution in your tubes. Often the leaks are small, small enough that after 80 miles I had to fix a flat within a few miles of home and discovered 8 holes. Other times, immediate stop to fix.

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Specializes in ER, Nursing Education.

Ned, a little bird told me you have your own travel company and have been a traveler for 20 years. Do you have a website or a previous post you can direct me to with things I would want to know? My first assignment was in 2011 and then I became staff so I've been out of the game for a minute. Thanks for your help!

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I do have a rather dated but still pertinent business blog online that describes how I did the agency thing. Google my screen name and FAQ 108 for the link.

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