WanderlustR.N.

I understand exactly what you mean... I have been a nurse for about eight years. Don't get me wrong, I care about my fellow man as much as he next person. I don't have a personality disorder, and I'm fairly well adjusted. I just don't like being a nurse. I find all the boondoggle and extra crap we are expected to do mind numbing. I never dreamed of taking care of people, I'm a horrible "back rubber/sugar coater". The only thing I really do like about nursing is I'm almost out of debt. I got my BSN in order to get out of nursing. I don't really have any advice honestly, other then if your not happy, get out before it's to late life is to short to do something you hate or be married to someone to don't like being around.

I know this is a long time coming in late comment, but here's my two cents. Travel nursing is great... and it sucks all at the same time. I have been a traveler for a few years, after giving up my staff position... reather the facility I worked in closed its doors. I decided to give it a try. The Great: FREEDOM! And as we all know freedom comes with a price tag. You have to be willing to talk to new people, be confident and comfortable with this idea. I'm a very out going person and can talk to almost anyone about anything. I also take no less then two weeks off every thirteen weeks, some times I take more like six weeks. I save lots of money and paid off my student loans easy and fast. You will find it's hard to buy things for your self when all of a sudden you have to carry everything with you. I have noticed that my amazon account has cobwebs covering it. America is amazing and there is so much to see, don't have to dream about going somewhere, you just go. Your not staff, ei your there to work not be part of the drama. After being staff for many years this I love, I can hear the drama, I can see the drama, but I'm not part of the drama. I'm like a ghost, in here while I'm here and then I'm gone. The suck: *disclaimer* I am NOT a negative person, but I feel it would be wrong to only say how great some thing is without an honest review. There is no school that will teach you travel nursing, and you will be screwed so hard in your first contact that your butt still hurts. What?!? What did I just say? Yes you will be cursing at your self and trying to figure out how you got duped in to this low pay check. Here's what I know about this, speaking from experience. NEVER LET YOUR AGENCY SET UP YOUR HOUSING! let me explain you are given a tax free stipend for housing, because of this your hourly rate is much less then you are making as a staff nurse. Stipends can range a lot. Typically between 695 to 995 a week, I'm sure there are nurses that have seen higher and lower stipends. Here's the catch, if you allow your agency to set up housing, you will never see a dime of that money. Suck point number two: Always saying goodbye, the longest you can stay on a contract is twelve months, after that it is not concidered you tax residency and you will lose your stipend, rather they will roll it in to your hourly and not your getting taxes all to hell on it. I don't like to "sit on" contracts for any longer then six months, or two seasons as I refer to them. Traveler do have a reputation as being lazy or stupid. Why? Because if we where smart enough to hold a job for more then three months then we would sign on as staff somewhere right? So you will get used to being watched with a sceptics eye for the first couple of weeks of your contact. That's fine, if your a solid RN, there is nothing of interest to see here. The everything else: I'm single, I'm not interested in a casual relationship or casual sex. I find that I'm never anyplace long enough to have a meaningful relationship with anyone. I'm friends with lots of people, and I keep the line of friends more then that clearly drawn, "No it's not you, or me it's my job, and I respect myself more then that. But thank you for the offer." This is not right for everyone, it's just what is right for me. All and all, here is the takeaway. It's your life, and what is life if not for one grand adventure? We all have twenty four hours in a day. How are you going to spend yours?