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Whipera, are you saying you know his medical history?

I completely understand how you feel. Yes, Ageism is a big problem (in Canada at least) in hospitals. I am an ICU/ER Nurse and I am 56. I will also have to work until I am about 70. I have often thought about doing the school Nurse thing. I think it is a great idea and I think you should go for it. I don't believe you are 'inexperienced'. You are simply changing your specialty. You simply have to become educated in that specialty.

I don't think he was bipolar. I don't think being a Comedian means you are bipolar. Having said that, some antidepressants can make you very manic. What you see on the outside is rarely what is happening on the inside. I think people in this line of work or the class clown are coping with what they are feeling on the inside. Comedy is often 'not funny' but relates to very serious matters presented in a way that makes us laugh. It's like going to a funeral. People sit in groups and often end up laughing about other stuff. It's not wrong - it's coping. It's letting all the stress you have on the inside out in a positive way. But then you go home and you can't hide from those feelings anymore. I think it is so sad that he believed the only way to make that pain stop was to die. That really hurts me. Thank You Robin for all the laughter. You will be missed.

Starting Jan 2015, all US and Canadian Nurses will the same NCLEX exam. Yes, you will be able to work in both Countries after writing this one exam. They are working on the questions for the exam so it is applicable to both Countries.

I hope you passed :)

@NedRN Can you rent RV's? Never thought of buying one.

Crating your dog is not cruel. It's actually safer. They don't like it at first but eventually it becomes "their room" and they love it. They'll go in there on their own. They also get used to the 12 hour shifts. I always put a pad in the kennel - just in case and of course water. I have happy dogs!

If you are planning to settle in one of these cities, I would stay away from Dallas because all of their hospitals are "connected". If you have a bad experience with one, it is shared with every other hospital in the city. It's like one big corporation. They have this thing where all is shared. So beware of that. I tend to prefer Houston because of its' proximity to the beaches. I don't like living away from the water. Austin has a lot to offer but most of their hospitals belong to the same corporation too. That's never a good thing for workers.

@NYCNurse I believe I understand your question. You know you have to do some hospital work before you hit the road as a traveler. What can you do to get ready. Am I right? These are my suggestions to you: 1. Do 1 year on Med/Surg (not just Med. Not just Surg - both is best 2. If you do not wish to work in Travel in Med/Surg, spend at least 1 year - 2 is better in the specialty area you want to work in: ER/ICU/OR etc. 3. Take advantage of all the courses your hospital offers and keep them up to date - ACLS/PALS etc etc. After those 3 years, you'll be ready to fly. Choose those first assignments well. You're still a newbie after 3 years but you will learn a lot in those 3 years. Good Luck

I live in Canada and I know a lot of Nurses who have gone to Saudi Arabia and loved it +++. They did make a lot of money because it was not taxed here or there. Enough money to come back here and pay cash for their houses which start at $500,000 plus. I've known Nurses who came back home - bought their homes for their eventual retirement and headed right back. The travel opportunities are outstanding - Africa/Australia especially. You have to accept that you are not in North America and things are different in different parts of the world. They got a kick out of dressing in the local clothing. It's not like they were going to have to wear it at home. You just have to choose carefully. You want to live in the compounds with all the other expats. with the pools and the parties and not the hospital apartment buildings. That's when you feel trapped. You also have to make very certain that you will not be working at a military hospital. One Nurse I know got stuck in one of those. It was not a good experience especially when she wore a star necklace and was harassed for what they believed was a "star of David". They eventually kicked her out of the country. That is the only negative comment I have ever heard. Helen Ziegler and Assoc. are a great company to go through.

I'm looking at Alaska in the future as well. I've been there before and it is definitely a unique environment. I loved all that sun in the summer. Big giant mosquitoes but who cared - all that sun! I want to spend the dark winter there once so I can get a really good view of the Northern Lights. Working on that bucket list :) Not a great place to travel with pets. The stories I could tell but otherwise, it's a great place to see. I say go for it.

@NedRN, I read in another comment that you have been traveling for 18 years. Bravo! You're my inspiration today because I see it can be done! So, if you don't mind my asking, what agencies do you work for?

Thank you Vampy :) I'm curious - are you a Nursing Student? I always wondered what kind of situation Nurses were in when they lived in hotels like this but it sounds doable for sure!

I plan to begin Travel Nursing this Fall. I will be traveling with pets. Any advice? Are some companies better than others for Nurses traveling with pets?