teresagray

@Swellz and @gadgetrn71, to clarify I actually have 12 months to go not 6. I apologize for any confusion regarding the dynamics of my contract. The orientation is 6 months and the requirement is to work for 24 months after the orientation. I have one more year to go and it seems unbearable. @Swellz I can certainly relate. Maybe I can take per diem local travel positions and experience what it is like being thrown into a different hospital setting. It allows me to get a little taste what I'm getting myself in to and I get to avoid paying that fine... for now. Thank you everyone for offering me some insight. I truly appreciate this. I absolutely agree in that $7,000 is not worth it esp if I had just 6 months left. But I honestly don't know if I can take a whole year of this. I really am grateful for the training but I am not happy or pleased with the schedule at all esp since there are other options (traveling or not) offering much better incentives for weekends and hours with one year of icu experience under my belt. I guess I feel a little guilty about leaving the company that invested so much time and training, however I am exhausted and I think that in the end, traveling is much more financially fruitful.

I agree with the above canigirl in that I do need to secure a traveling job first before quitting my current job. I just hope the pay (and schedule) are much better so I can make the $7,000 back quickly.

Marriage counseling is not necessary. Our relationship is cordial and traveling is not affected. The reason I would most likely not be traveling post marriage is because my husband to be has a great job that he loves and is unable to quit and come traveling with me. He is however very supportive in my traveling plan of self discovery. It's my "last hurrah" before settling down. I realize getting thrown into a new hospital system can be bittersweet- being in a new place is exciting and overwhelming all at once. My fiancé is the best support system.

I need some advice and guidance maybe some reassurance. I am 26 years old and nursing is a second degree career. I got the opportunity of a lifetime- an icu residency straight out of nursing school and had a rigorous orientation for six months at a level 1 trauma center in the MICU. It's been 1 year since my initiation to nursing, totaling 18 months of rn-icu experience (6 months orientation + one year RN) I want to pursue travel nursing. I feel as though if I don't take the time do it now, I may never get to this opportunity to do it. It allows me to get out of my comfort zone before I get married in 1 year. I am leaning towards going but it's a complex situation. I have a 2 year contract (excluding the 6 month residency training) with the hospital and I would need to pay $7,000 fine since I have only fulfilled one year. I also absolutely hate my schedule now (working every other weekend and rotating day/midnight). I feel the travel nursing is more flexible- I get to pick nights (my preferred shift) and most are only 36 hours. Why not get paid more and work less? Side note: I know the minimum is 2 years experience for most travel programs esp icu but I also have met several travel nurses who gave the names of recruiters who are great and can function as my advocate! I know that some travel positions might be a little weary of hiring me because of my limited experience but I am confident that the experience that I have now is going to prepare me for the position I am applying for/interested in. Not looking for positions in a big time city hospital but one that is more suitable. My question is, what should I do? Option 1: Pay the $7,000 do some travel nursing? Travel experience is priceless! Option 2: Forget the travel idea. Fullfill my contract for another year and then quit. Get married and have overly exuberant children and find a job closer to my husband. Option 3: Don't breach the contract. Travel on the days that I have off. (Seems expensive) At the end of the day, my contract is getting harder to fulfill with rotating shifts(day/midnight) and working every other weekend! I didn't have a problem signing up for it when I started and as a complete newcomer, I don't have a say in my schedule! I feel like my life needs a adventure. I think that travel nursing is actually more fruitful experience personally. But is it economically as well? Will my hourly pay be better when im a traveler? (I'm in the east coast traveling looking to go to Cali) I know travel nursing pay is highly complex. Will my hours/schedule not be as variable? If so, I am strongly considering traveling. This post sounds like it's in need of a therapist. Thanks in advance for all of your thoughts!