outpost nursing/northern nursing

[alianeco]

Hello!

I'm a happy labor and delivery nurse, but lately I've been feeling like I might like to try doing some contract nursing in the north. I'm a fairly novice nurse (about half a year of medical experience and almost a year of labor and delivery), and I'm pretty overwhelmed by the whole idea.

I'd love to have this very interesting experience, and I'm hoping to make some cash to pay off my (huge) student loans and maybe build a down payment for a house.

Has anyone had any experience in this? I've heard some horror stories, and I was wondering what it's really like.

Are they generally pretty welcoming to less experienced (but keen) nurses?

Is it completely terrifying?

How long are the contracts usually for?

What is the pay like for beginning nurses?

Is this safe??

Thanks a lot! I look forward to hearing!

[globalRN]

i would not think that you would want to tackle a job like that yet

er, icu, np experience would be helpful

[Fiona59]

Have you thought about working in Yellowknife? It's northern. You'd get to meet the patient population you'd be working with in the outposts. From what I've heard most pregnant women go into Yellowknife or Whitehorse to deliver. The highrisks and multiples are flown south to Edmonton.

Just a thought. You'd be able to use your experience in a northern environment without the fear factor involved in the outposts.

They say a change is as good as a rest.