Please share your happy travel moments! New traveler with some serious jitters!

ERRNTraveler, RN · Jan 5, 2008

When I started traveling, I quit my regular job, sold a lot of my belongings, put most of the rest of my things in storage, got rid of my apartment, and hit the road. It was VERY scary to know that I would essentially be "homeless" while traveling, but I have been traveling for a year now, and I love it. All 4 of my assignments so far have been good experiences. Working at each place has had it's ups & downs, and some places are better than others, but in general, staff has been nice to me & very welcoming. If you let others know that you are there to help them out & aren't afraid to pitch in and be part of their team, you should usually be received pretty well. You'll always have the occasional person who is just unpleasant, but you will usually find that those people are like that to everyone, not just travelers. Make sure that you have a recruiter you trust & feel comfortable with, and make sure you get everything in writing. Read contracts thoroughly before agreeing to anything, ask lots of questions about any potential assignments, and make sure you have some savings set aside for any financial "emergencies." After my first assignment, traveling became less scary & more fun & exciting! Good luck!

GYPSY1349 · Jan 6, 2008

I've got serious jitters about leaving my hospital. While it is not terrible, what is wrong with it I have learned to live with.
After reading a lot of the posts, I'm scared that all hospitals nurses travel to are evil and that I'm doomed to be miserable!
Everyone posts their horror stories, but if travel were so awful, nurses wouldn't do it, right???
Please share some positive travel experiences with a green traveler!

I had to chuckle at your statement that if traveling was so horrible so many wouldn't be doing it! Exactly my sentiments!

I've been a travel nurse for over 10 years. Gave up a management job at a large hospital and hit the road..and I've never looked back! What do I love about it?

I choose where I want to be, when I want to be there...I don't settle for substandard housing or low wages not in keeping with the cost of living where I'm going...If I don't care for an assignment, it's only 13 weeks....I line up my next one, and hit the road.

I visit my family on my own schedule, and leave when I'm ready...I get to see this beautiful country of ours with new eyes and appreciation each time I hit the road...and when I get "home" wherever that happens to be at the time, at the end of the day, my time is mine to do with as I please...

One thing I've learned, is that everywhere you go you will run into unhappy people, and they create unhappiness for themselves and those around them...You can ignore them, or choose to look at them in a different light. Either way, we create our own reality, and one day at a time is the only thing that works.

If you want to try traveling...GO FOR IT! You'll never know, and always wonder what it would have/could have been like if you don't try! Good luck and blessings to you as you make your decision. ;)

Blue IIs · Jan 6, 2008

I have been traveling for nearly two years and I love it. My family is spread from Alaska to Florida and traveling has allowed me to be there for them. I was present when my granddaughter was born and when my daughter lost her husband to the war in Iraq.

I have worked in both good hospitals and bad. Assignments are usually 13 weeks so if the hospital is not what you want, you are only there for 13 weeks. One word of advice: don't extend until you know how the assignment is going to go. I still keep in contact with friends from most of my assignments.

I was scared to start but I knew with the first assignment that I had made the right decision for me (and my first assignment did not start out very well). Traveling has helped me to become more independent, assertive and more confident.

Good luck to you, Tricia

CraigBSN02 · Jan 7, 2008

Been traveling solid for 2+ years now. Seen Hawaii, mostly all of Florida, now staying in DC for a bit (2 years) before probably heading off to Texas. It's been great, assignments have been nearly all good (1 or 2 stinkers, but hey, I can do anything for 13 weeks at a stretch). Salary has been, to quote Family Guy, freakin' sweet!!

Seriously, I'm 33 and love this. However, I'm looking to start a family soon, so I may have to give up this lifestyle for something more permanent.

Don't let the bastards get you down. Travel nursing is a great experience if you're up for the change and are flexible. It's not all doom and gloom. Be positive and work hard and staff will love you just as much as the next guy (or girl!)

-Craig

RN, BSN, and others.

bagladyrn, RN · Jan 12, 2008

I've got serious jitters about leaving my hospital. While it is not terrible, what is wrong with it I have learned to live with.
After reading a lot of the posts, I'm scared that all hospitals nurses travel to are evil and that I'm doomed to be miserable!
Everyone posts their horror stories, but if travel were so awful, nurses wouldn't do it, right???
Please share some positive travel experiences with a green traveler!

I've been traveling for over 11 years now, so you can see that it's certainly not awful (I'm no masochist!). Some of the highlight: Seeing the country from Washington State to Key West, FL, spending days with just me and my camera in National parks, spending New Years of the millenium in Key West, my 50th birthday in Las Vegas, being in New Hampshire for the birth of my first granddaughter, meeting up with other travelers all over the country including my closest friend (Hi sis!).

Some of the contracts were not my cup of tea, but even that is positive - I've learned what I like and don't like in a facility without having committed to it long term and feeling obligated to stay in an environment I don't enjoy. I've learned a lot of new skills and different ways of doing things at every assignment. I've become more assertive and confident in myself as I've learned to fit into all kinds of new places. I've learned a lot about enjoying my own company and having fun when doing things on my own - even going to shows, concerts, events and nice restaurants solo. Living in all kinds of housing - some fancy, some quaint, some just "unusual" - my current housing has a 6 foot giraffe in the living room!(and an incredible view of snow covered mountains out every window)

One of the big pleasures I've just experienced again is returning to a facility I enjoyed previously and after 4 years being greeted with hugs and welcomes of "We're so glad you came back!" It's a great feeling!

kdblueey · Jan 12, 2008

When I started traveling, I quit my regular job, sold a lot of my belongings, put most of the rest of my things in storage, got rid of my apartment, and hit the road. It was VERY scary to know that I would essentially be "homeless" while traveling, but I have been traveling for a year now, and I love it. All 4 of my assignments so far have been good experiences. Working at each place has had it's ups & downs, and some places are better than others, but in general, staff has been nice to me & very welcoming. If you let others know that you are there to help them out & aren't afraid to pitch in and be part of their team, you should usually be received pretty well. You'll always have the occasional person who is just unpleasant, but you will usually find that those people are like that to everyone, not just travelers. Make sure that you have a recruiter you trust & feel comfortable with, and make sure you get everything in writing. Read contracts thoroughly before agreeing to anything, ask lots of questions about any potential assignments, and make sure you have some savings set aside for any financial "emergencies." After my first assignment, traveling became less scary & more fun & exciting! Good luck!

I noticed that you said you sold everything, gave up your apartment, and put your things in storage. Are your things still in storage? If so, by not having a permanent residence, doesn't this affect your tax advantage plan, or whatever they call it? How does your taxing work if you have no permanent residence? I am a new traveler, on my first assignment in Texas. I have owned my home since July, 2006. For personal reasons, I have had to sale my house. I haven't worked much in 2007 because I had to take care of a family member, who has since passed away. So my house went into foreclosure. I contacted a company several months ago, and am doing a short sale. But the house didn't get to be sold by short sale in time, instead it went to a sheriff's sale, this past Thursday. So if you don't have a permanent address, are you happy with this? Are you ever planning on going 'back home' and setting up residence?

Thanks for any input.

Kathy

:innerconf:redpinkhe

kdblueey · Jan 12, 2008

I've got serious jitters about leaving my hospital. While it is not terrible, what is wrong with it I have learned to live with.
After reading a lot of the posts, I'm scared that all hospitals nurses travel to are evil and that I'm doomed to be miserable!
Everyone posts their horror stories, but if travel were so awful, nurses wouldn't do it, right???
Please share some positive travel experiences with a green traveler!

]Everything NEW in life is bound to be scarey, or we wouldn't be human. If we stopped being scared, then we should start worrying about it. As many travelers have posted here, there are good and bad things about traveling, as well as everything in life. As one traveler posted, you will meet some unhappy and rude people, but these people are usually unhappy with themselves, and rude to regular staff members as well.

]I am rather new to traveling also. I am on my first travel assignment (since 2000). I have been in Amarillo, Texas, since December 17. Everyone has been nice to me except for an incident that happened this past Thursday night. I could tell while getting report, that this particular nurse had an attitude, for whatever reason. You can just sense these vibes from others. At this particular hospital (and from what I'm hearing, in the state of Texas, as well), before a nurse can give either Heparin, Insulin, or Lovenox, it has to be checked by another nurse. Keep in mind, that this is probably a good practice. But being a nurse for sixteen years, I have never had to do this before, so it bothers me whenever I have to do this. So I go, and draw up my insulin, take the bottle, the needle, and my MAR, and go to this particular nurse. She said "Oh, you already drew it up", but I didn't say anything. So the night goes on, and I needed to have another Insulin checked again. Instead of being smart and going to another nurse, I went to her again, since we were in the same hall. Well, I had to open up my big mouth (which I am learning to keep shut), and say this, "Well, in Ohio, we don't have to have another nurse check our Insulin." She proceeded to say, "Well, here in Texas, we wipe off the bottle first." It took me by surprise, since I had already done this, but she didn't see me do it. Now, how many of us nurses know this simple procedure. We learned this in MED101.....So, I replied back, "I did wipe it off. I know what I'm doing." She just looked at me, but didn't say anything. Later on, I swallowed my pride, and started to talk to her. It ended up, that this hospital had just became smoke-free, as of Jan 8, and this was her first day back since then. So as the night went on, we started to talk and things were fine after that.

]Here is what I have learned from this experience: Things are not what they seem. There are usually reasons for people being rude, or whatever. Regular staff members ENVY travelers. Most, if not all of the staff here in Texas, say this, when they find out I'm a traveler, "Oh, you make the big bucks". I have met some nurse who have always wanted to try travel nursing, but for whatever reason, they can't. I have even try to encourage one Phillipino nurse (early 20's), to try it. I told her that she had nothing to lose by simply trying one assignment.

]Bottom line: You can't make everyone like you. You can't make every experience/encounter a good one. It's how YOU decide to handle it. Go for it, you will regret it later on in life, if you don't try traveling. And I would try and go the 'extra' mile, and try and help the other nurses you work with. I have found out, in the short time that I have been here, that offering to help someone else, is often times rewarded with a smile, and a thank you. A couple of nurses Thursday morning said they were going to keep me around, since I was so helpful. It made me feel good.

]Sorry for the length of this posting.

]Kathy

:innerconf:redpinkhe

GYPSY1349 · Jan 12, 2008

Hi to you Sis! Glad to see you here again! xoxoxooJess:w00t:

ERRNTraveler, RN · Jan 12, 2008

I noticed that you said you sold everything, gave up your apartment, and put your things in storage. Are your things still in storage? If so, by not having a permanent residence, doesn't this affect your tax advantage plan, or whatever they call it? How does your taxing work if you have no permanent residence? I am a new traveler, on my first assignment in Texas. I have owned my home since July, 2006. For personal reasons, I have had to sale my house. I haven't worked much in 2007 because I had to take care of a family member, who has since passed away. So my house went into foreclosure. I contacted a company several months ago, and am doing a short sale. But the house didn't get to be sold by short sale in time, instead it went to a sheriff's sale, this past Thursday. So if you don't have a permanent address, are you happy with this? Are you ever planning on going 'back home' and setting up residence?
Thanks for any input.
Kathy
:innerconf:redpinkhe

My things are still in storage- so no, I do not have a permanent "tax home." Because of this, anything my company spends on me for housing is considered taxable income. It's still cheaper than having to pay rent, though. If my company spends $1000/mo on rent/utilities, I end up paying about $200-250/month extra in taxes- still way cheaper than paying my own rent! I do not plan on going home to live again- when I am done traveling in a couple years, I will pick some place to live & get my stuff out of storage then.

kdblueey · Jan 13, 2008

I had to chuckle at your statement that if traveling was so horrible so many wouldn't be doing it! Exactly my sentiments!
I've been a travel nurse for over 10 years. Gave up a management job at a large hospital and hit the road..and I've never looked back! What do I love about it?
I choose where I want to be, when I want to be there...I don't settle for substandard housing or low wages not in keeping with the cost of living where I'm going...If I don't care for an assignment, it's only 13 weeks....I line up my next one, and hit the road.
I visit my family on my own schedule, and leave when I'm ready...I get to see this beautiful country of ours with new eyes and appreciation each time I hit the road...and when I get "home" wherever that happens to be at the time, at the end of the day, my time is mine to do with as I please...
One thing I've learned, is that everywhere you go you will run into unhappy people, and they create unhappiness for themselves and those around them...You can ignore them, or choose to look at them in a different light. Either way, we create our own reality, and one day at a time is the only thing that works.
If you want to try traveling...GO FOR IT! You'll never know, and always wonder what it would have/could have been like if you don't try! Good luck and blessings to you as you make your decision. ;)

I absolutely LOVE the way you word things. It seems as if you've made traveling exactly what you want it to be. I hope that after a few assignments under my belt, I'll feel the same way.

Kathy

:redpinkhe:innerconf

kdblueey · Jan 13, 2008

Hi to you Sis! Glad to see you here again! xoxoxooJess:w00t:

Were your nice words directed at me? If so, thanks so much for remembering me. If not, well your words were nice anyway.

Kathy

:redpinkhe:innerconf