New traveler

[Jleech14]

My fiancé and I are considering traveling. I have one year experience in the ICU and he has one year on a tele/IMU floor. I am just wondering if we would have a difficult time finding placement due to only having 1 year?

Also, had anyone had experience traveling with a spouse? IE: was it difficult being placed at the same facility and the same shift? We only want to take one car, but wouldn't be able to do that if we aren't on the same shift. Also, how would the housing pay work? Would they pay both of us a housing stipend?

any help would be great!

[BD-RN, BSN, RN]

I knew a couple who travelled together. They didn't seem to have trouble being placed.

I don't know about working the same shift though: keep in mind you're going to help the needs of the unit.

While I don't like being just stuck with the leftovers after all the staff requests, I also recognize I have to be flexible. Staffing is left to the facility you're at, not your company.

You both can get stipend, but my understanding when you're living with travelers the taxes can get hairy. Example: (provided you have a legitimate tax home) let's say you both get $2200 for housing: that's $4400 total. Unless you're going to San Francisco, your total rent won't be that much. You'll have a LOT leftover, and that extra income technically now becomes taxable. As far as risk for audit, I'm not sure. I lived with roommates the entire time I travelled, but none were also travelers.

As far as having one year of experience in ICU: a lot of people say 2 years in a specialty is ideal. I had a little over 2 years total experience in nursing, and only one solid year of my specialty (oncology). I was fine. I had no trouble getting placed, and had no trouble on the floor. That being said, while BMT patients are pretty unpredictable, it's not critical care. I'm sure one of these ICU travelers will be happy to chime in :)

[GuEsT78]

Have you thought about looking for nursing positions on a cruise ship? Commuting with but one car wouldn't be an issue. There'd be only one facility, so that would not be an issue either. Since most of those onboard would be well, your limited experience wouldn't be a major factor. With so many of your costs taken care of, if you live frugally, you might even be able to save up money.

Personally, I have no interest in cruise ships as a way to vacation. I think they give vacationers a illusionary view of what foreign places are like. But as a place to work, they could be marvelous, assuming decent pay and working conditions.

That may be the catch. Cruise ships may assume they're doing you a favor by giving you a job and pay poorly. That's what you might want to find out.

[NedRN]

You may or may not have trouble finding assignments but you are certainly not competitive with average travelers. Thus it is unlikely you will get good assignments. The bigger issue is are you really ready to be thrown into a new environment where everything is different with minimal orientation? Different docs, different protocols, different patient populations clinically and culturally, and different charting software? I would suggest a reality check on your skills by working local agency per diem at a different hospital.

[DatMurse]

You may or may not have trouble finding assignments but you are certainly not competitive with average travelers. Thus it is unlikely you will get good assignments. The bigger issue is are you really ready to be thrown into a new environment where everything is different with minimal orientation? Different docs, different protocols, different patient populations clinically and culturally, and different charting software? I would suggest a reality check on your skills by working local agency per diem at a different hospital.

Or if you can land a job at a travel friendly or better yet.... a NEW TRAVEL FRIENDLY, then you will be in luck.

I happened to luck out for my first job. Specialty is oncology and I landed a teaching hospital.

[Conqueror+, BSN, RN]

Hubby and I did it. We stuck to LARGE URBAN facilities so being on the same schedule was no problem. One of us took housing and the other took stipend.

[Edgeorose1]

I've seen spouses traveling together. Same shift should not be too hard to find if you guys are willing to work nights. Talk to your tax man regarding your stipends and the possible deductions you will need to have to avoid purchasing an F-16 all by yourself. You do if fact need to be very flexible when dealing with new processes, employees and supervisors with varying degrees of skills and professionalism. One year ICU sounds a little new to the field but you should be able to find something. Avoid AMN if possible and it's subsidiaries, you might find a better contract.