antona

I am working three 12's, taking two or three graduate classes a semester and have 3 children still left at home. The youngest is a three year old. I am at the end of my second year, half way there. I am totally overwhelmed and feeling burnt out. But I'm hanging in there. Be prayerful and decide if it's what you really want and if it's what The Lord want for you. If it is, you'll get through it. Hang in there, be prayerful and take it one day and assignment at a time!

The most important thing is to find a specialty that you will enjoy. And remember, most NICU's are located in larger cities, though not always. You are most likely not going to be in a romote area as a NICU nurse. It depends on what you like.

I have been a NICU traveler for three years. I have had no problems finding assignments. My advice to you is to pick a specialty that you will enjoy.

Medical Solutions is posting a part time position right now for MO. Plus I know some people just work three to six months out of the year traveling and vacation or "retire" the rest. Faststaff is a great company to do that with. You can make enough with the to not work much during the year, however, you work your butt off during the assignments and the assignments are not at desirealbe places. But people do it! Good Luck!

For it!

Go to Delphi Forums and check out the reviews of the different companies under the travel nursing forum. I am currently with RNNetwork and have no complaints. Compare the different companies and read your contract well. All companies are not equall. Some will really mess you over. Many good companies are listed on Delphi.

Thanks so much for the info on the classes. I haven't ordered my books yet. I'm going out of town on Wednesday for one week and didn't want them to come while I am gone. I guess I need to call and see how quickly they will come. I would like to order them now if they will take a while to get here. I'm not finding any books yet for that section of Stats either. I even called yesterday and they said they didn't have anything. I'm wondering if they even have a teacher yet. I actually just ordered a computer, if you can believe that. I've always just felt it was easier to go to the library and use theirs. No repair bills or headaches that way. Plus no fighting over computer time with the kids. Hopefully the computer won't come in while I am gone! I can't say I'm really computer savy. I can navigate Word and the Net but beyond that I'm a dunce. I guess I'll learn quickly. My adviser said I should start practicing now sending things in. Kind of nervous about that but she says the college has practice areas and that its not too difficult. PNP is Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. I'm actually taking three classes this semester and two the next. The sent me a parttime plan that has me actually part and full time. Scary. Are you just taking one class a semester? Got to run! Personal name of advisor edited out of post. Please do not include names in post.

So sorry about your health. I hope everything works out. We'll have to stay in touch. I am starting the PNP program at Mizzou this fall. I elected to take the Statistics class the first semester. I'm very nervous about the whole thing. I'm going to be working full time and they say you can't do that while going to this program. Plus I've never taken an online course. I love your quote by Marie Curie. Sounds like my motto: you do what you gotta do. Good Luck!

When I was trained at a NICU they said never flush the NG tube with water, always use air. Now I am working at a CICU where because of the drugs, sometimes it is necessary to flush. So I figured, since they said never give a baby water, that it would be OK to flush with NS. Especially since most of these kids have low lytes anyway. But one of the new grads said they told her never to flush with NS because it could cause problems. So, what say you and why?

I graduated about 5 yrs ago from Southeast Missouri State University. I enjoyed the school and the program. We only had two clinical days per week. I had six kids still at home when I went through. I did fine. Good Luck!

Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO I believe is cheaper than the St. Louis schools. Small town though.

From what I have heard: As far as the fed gov is concerned, you can stay in one area for 365 days and still have it be considered a temp position. Calif may consider you a resident after 6 mths though and require you to be taxed by the state as a resident. If you stay past the 365 days, it will majorly effect you tax wise, especially if you are paid on the tax advantage system. You will also lose the ability to claim alot of deductions. Housing costs paid by your employer will be taxed as income. Most people recommend staying away from an area for at least a year after you have worked there for a year. You have to be able to prove residency and attachment to your tax home, but supposedly, you don't have to work there ever. Hope it's not too confusing.

My husband does babysit. He had a part time job during one assignment that worked around my schedule. My 15 yo is homeschooled. My 13 yo was homeschooled but this assignment she is in public school. Not sure what I will do with her next year. Depends on the school system where we are assigned next. She says she would rather switch schools all the time than get home taught. I've only been traveling a year and a half. My first assignment was three months. Then five mths. I signed on for this assignment for one year. You can ask me anything, I don't mind.

I've worked for RNNetwork for a year and a half. Excellent ins., great housing, good pay, double time for overtime. No complaints.

I travel with my husband and three kids. My youngest is 20 mths. We've been traveling since she was 3 mths.