irnpsych

These are two very good resources for new travelers. I will post more later when I have time. http://www.travelnursingcentral.com/ http://www.healthcaretraveler.com/

i have been a psych nurse for 14+ years. i have worked mostly in the hospital setting.i have been traveling since 2003. i worked in an out patient psych clinic for 6 months this past year, but it was 65 miles away, and i took a huge cut in salary to be home. it was all good for a while, then they "restructered" broke up the med department. my deal was, taking, a cut in pay, and driving 130 miles round trip everyday was ok when i liked the job, but when i started to hate going was when i decided to go back to traveling. i am married, and have a 20 yr. old son at home, and miss them terribly when i am gone. i have to admit there are several perks to traveling. the money, and not having to get involed in the politics are the greatest things. it is always the same thing, just different locations. i don't have to go into details. we all know what has happened to nursing. it's all about the all mighty dollar. also, it's getting more, and difficult to find a psych job. this country is running out of psych facilities. everyone says "change specialties" can someone tell me how to do that? no one wants to pay someone with 14 yrs. experience, and train them too. i can't go back to school right now. i have to pay bills. i just had the second neck surgery of the last three years. every time i am home i look at other career possibilities. i am too scared to try something other than nursing at this point in my life. i would appreciate any feedback.:thankya: :redbeathe everything happens for a reason.:redbeathe

I just completed a the longest four months of my entire life. I am a psych nurse, and spent a seventeen month assignment at Bakersfield Memorial's Psych facility. The management, and the staffing is horrendous. So much for the 6:1 ratio. I found that they only complied when it was convenient. Much to my surprize the same things were happening at the main hospital per ICU nurses there. I will say that Californians in general are very nice, warm, and welcoming. If you find a good facility it will be well worth it. Ask other travelers from that facility before accepting an assignment. Get the phone number, and call in the middle of the night. Someone will tell you the truth if you ask for it. Good luck, and have fun!