Leaving travel nursing

Specialties Travel

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I'm so ready to leave travel nursing. The pay lately has been so low (from 6 different recruiters) and no one has the places I actually want to visit. Its not all about the money but this is sad. I can be happier as staff with some OT. Maybe I'm just venting but its bad right now and there are so many new travelers. Also I'm regretting my decision to get an RV as that has limited my options for places when I can't find a place to park it. Just putting this out there for those who are considering travel "It isn't all great"

So the bottom line is that with your specific needs, wife and two dogs, it may well be less costly to travel by RV. I wouldn't compare the cost of your RV to your stipend, but what a very small place would cost you with pet fees, furnishings, and utilities.

Depending on comfort level, you might also try boondocking. With two people, the RV will never be unattended. You will have to pay dumping fees, fuel to charge your batteries and for your fridge, but it could end up saving some real money. Lots of street parking in Los Angeles, libraries might be possible, and of course there is always Walmart. This will free you up from parks and you might spend 3/4 nights out of town in the mountains or by the beach without costing double rent (if you choose a park for the weekend).

Another possibility is parking on private property. That is a bit harder to find, if it was me, I'd scope out possibilities by bicycling about. I've done this for a friend successfully. You can also post an ad on Craiglist describing your need. You can see this is fairly common just riding or driving around almost any LA neighborhood. You are looking for a driveway or industrial compound. It is amazing how many places you can find water and sewer connections readily available and can even spot them from a bicycle. Many commercial locations may charge only a song as they benefit from increased security from a 24 hour presence. That certainly should be part of any pitch to them.

I have a friend who posted an ad to Craiglist at my suggestion, and against all odds he was offered the driveway (with hookups) on a vacant house. The owner liked having someone present on site. I've also saw ads posted for RV parking sites on private homes while I was researching this, but they were rare.

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Im thinking about jumping ship on traveling too. I have loved the last year and a half that I have been able to explore the country, But it has become harder to find consistent work year round with decent pay. It is becoming "take what you can get", "feast or famine", and "beggars can't be choosers" almost. I know that it may be because I'm not extremely specialized - Pediatric Med/Surg - but still. I have been submitting dozens of resumes, and it has been like pulling teeth to get a nurse manager to call back.

I love traveling, and seeing how different hospitals work, but I'm starting to get to the "its not worth it" stage.

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You do know that travelers work with agencies? We don't send our resumes to managers.

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This is rather interesting to read...particularly the comments about travelers who encounter difficulty when applying for staff positions.

Travel truly does ebb and flow.

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Specializes in A variety.
Your Peri Op so things are still good for you. Contracts for ICU at places in the bay area have dropped into 1700-2000 gross instead of 2300-2600 just from last summer.

Do you work 3 shifts per week? Did you bring a car or are you commuting in the RV as well? If you brought a car with you and work 3 shifts a week, have you considered looking for RV parking outside the bay area and and just driving in to town? What about the Half Moon Bay area? Lots of people own lots out there, maybe they'd be willing to let you park on their property for a fee. I just looked on my agency's site and saw ICU jobs paying north of 2k. maybe not 2.6 like you said but few of them were south of 2k.

Someone else mentioned it, get creative. I'm sure somebody out there would love to let you pay them to park your RV on their land or in their driveway to help pay their bills.

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Sorry, I just cannot handle gripes about making only 6 figures a year.

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Specializes in ICU.
Do you work 3 shifts per week? Did you bring a car or are you commuting in the RV as well? If you brought a car with you and work 3 shifts a week, have you considered looking for RV parking outside the bay area and and just driving in to town? What about the Half Moon Bay area? Lots of people own lots out there, maybe they'd be willing to let you park on their property for a fee. I just looked on my agency's site and saw ICU jobs paying north of 2k. maybe not 2.6 like you said but few of them were south of 2k.

Someone else mentioned it, get creative. I'm sure somebody out there would love to let you pay them to park your RV on their land or in their driveway to help pay their bills.

I don't have an RV. Those were three shift ICU assignments. I am staff now. Good Riddance forever Travel Nursing headache.

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