zipporah

I figured this out myself recently by picking 2 travel companies and comparing their benefits. Some travel companies have more assignments than others and so many travelers sign on for more than one. But you have to start somewhere. So pick a place that you want to see, find a travel company that has positions at a hospital there, complete all the laborious paperwork and other stuff. It takes time to get liscensure, medical physical etc but then you'll be on your way. The travel company will walk you through it. There is also a healthcare travel magazine online and many travelers to talk to probably in your own hospital. Have fun

ER and ICU are quite different but both exciting. I am an ICU nurse working in CVICU and enjoy the detail that I have on my patients. My job is a job of detail. The ER has a more cursory establish the problem and stabilize and ship. Sometimes a persons nature fits in one or the other better. It probably doesn't matter so much what you pick, make a list of the important things and compare the jobs. Nothing is carved in stone and you probably have time to try both within your career. Have fun

I am traveling locally now and so took my stipend as wage because it isn't "free" to me now, I live in my home. I pay tax on that stipend while I am at home. And I pay more tax when it is a stipend than when it is part of my wage. If you can legally claim that you are maintaining a second residence, it is better to recieve your stipend tax free.

agency usually gets paid more because you are starting with no orientation, you just hit the floor and go and you will be cut if they can cut you. Then comes travelers who have their shifts guarenteed, get some orientation and are on contract for 13 weeks or whatever so get oriented and become like staff if they extend. I don't know what canadiens get paid as nurses so I can't factor that in. Newer US nurses make money as travelers, someone like me with over 20 years doesn't make appreciably more but it is still a good life.

I met a number of travelers who worked "the season " (nov-april) in florida and then returned to their northern homes and worked the rest of the year at their former places of employment. The key is to be a good employee I guess. I couldn't get a leave of absence from my hospital to travel but after a year, I came back and took a travel assignment with them and they were glad to have me , someone they new.

you'll be ok, noone knows everything. If you assist others they will assist you so just be a good team player. Look for other travelers too because there seems to be a kinship. I have over 20 years of experience and probably had similar feelings when I started traveling. You are needed there, be a good employee and you will be fine.

I am thinking that Brugada syndrome indicates a Left anterior desending coronary(LAD) artery lesion implicated in sudden cardiac death, it is indicated on an EKG as ST depression? or elevation? in leads V1 and V2 it seems to me....I have read about it but Dubins book of EKG interpretation discusses it.

It is a shame to transfuse our patients to replace phlebotomized losses. There are risks to transfusion that are dose dependent and involve morbidity and mortality. The presence of lines doubles the blood loss that ICU patients experience. There is excellent research out there to promote blood conservation and only thoughtful transfusion. I am so pleased that my facility has adopted VAMPs for all arterial lines, and central lines. We have a great intensivist team.

I have had some interest in content for CNAs also. There was an excellent article in an AJN inthe last year I believe on dehydration in older adults. Having left my educatiom position I gave it to the reigning educater who promised to work it into a module. It was excellent information and would be beneficial to give CNAs a stake in outcomes. I'mtoo lazy to recall the issue now but would find it if asked. :nuke: melissa

I got 34.50 in naples for cardiac surgery recovery but I know that is high for florida.

So Greywolf, DO you get overtime on that last shift? Your contracts are renewed every 2 months? If you find your ownhousing, does your rate of pay go up? Are you working nights? Is it common in NM to have 48 hour week contracts? Appreciate your information, I am headed that way next.

I worked in florida last year in Naples in cardiac surgery. They needed nurses and so the travel company was offering a good wage. (34.50) It was an idyllic place to be in many ways and I remember it fondly. The florida weather and beaches are believed to be some compensation and as my husband and I look back, well at least we were glad to linger there for awhile. Money isn't everything and as a nurse with more than 20 years, the money isn't generally competitive but the assignments offer variety. For what it is worth.

I took the PBDS in naples florida. Travelers that "flunked it" didn't have a job. I got a copy of my results, don't want to do it again. I wondered if it would become standard. Nurses only need 1 or 2 years of experience to travel, hospitals want a measuring tool. I had no heads up at all; I was traveling with American Mobile.

Could I ask how you negotiated the sign on bonus? Did you ask? Did they offer? Does a big sign on bonus mean a dive job? What unit will you work? Have ou been at this for awhile? These sign on bonuses are something i am trying to understand. Who will pay it? The hospital? The travel company? As for driving, time of year is important, you can take a ferry instead and arrive in anchorage. Alaska is on my list of places to visit and work also.

There are not always nurses nice enough to help a traveler, sometimes they dump on you and and aren't available to help. I have been there. I worked in a hospital in Philadelphia that if you could find a drug book, the index was missing. I got one day of orientation though new core staff got weeks. Whay do you suppose that is? Travelers are supposed to have experience. Be a little patient because your liscense is at stake.