Psychiatric Travel Nursing??

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

Are there opportunities for travel nursing within the psychiatric specialty?

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Specializes in Assisted Living Nurse Manager.
Are there opportunities for travel nursing within the psychiatric specialty?

I do believe that there is the opportunity for traveling. You can do a web search. Good luck!

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I don't have any personal experience with traveling, but I have noticed over the years that there are at least a couple travel agencies that always advertise in the "classified" sections of the nursing journals that they specialize in psychiatric travel assignments (the ads have always caught my eye because I'm a psych nurse). Of course, now that someone's actually asking, I can't think of the names ... :) I'm sure you could pick up a copy of any of the general-interest nursing journals (AJN, Nursing2008, etc.) at work, or do a web search, and find them. Good luck!

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Specializes in Psychiatric, Detox/Rehab, Geriatrics.

PsychNurseStat is a traveling agency I believe. Good Luck on your journey.

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Specializes in med-surg, med-psych, psych.

Oh Micky-B!!!!

Girl, there are so many now!!! I am a seasoned nurse of 34 years. 15 in med-surg fields and 15+ in psych. Just pick your location... :typingGoogle: "psych travel nursing" and watch your computer listing explode! Fill out all the applications you can find on line. Some even have you do their testing on line! Be prepared for ton's of calls as this is major travel seaon right now. You can take pets, husbands and children now.

I did my first travel position in Hawaii for 4 months. :onbch:Came back with experience in parasailing, sailing, skydiving and a host of Hawaiian family/ friends to stay in contact with.

Something about the baby boomer situation being global not just the great USA. Except unlike the USA the global retirement age is about 55 so the world is losing the largest volume of nursing about now especially Canada, Austrailia... God Bless!!!

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Do you mind sharing what company you travel for? :coollook: Thanks!

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Specializes in med-surg, med-psych, psych.
Do you mind sharing what company you travel for? :coollook: Thanks!

"Supplemental Health Care" to Hawaii.

But shop around. You can do much better than their accommodations.

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Specializes in psychiatry.

What were their accommodations like? I heard that a lot of travel nursing agencies will have you private one bedroom apartments? I'm looking to do travel nursing (psychiatry) in new york city. I'm wondering which travel nursing company I should go with...

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Specializes in psych, medical, drug rehab.

I just was hired in NYC through Supplemental. But there is also Onward Health care, White Glove and many more that go there.

I have been down here in NC through World wide and Supplemental in the State facilities in NC.

Now I am going up to Manhatten. It will be a MAJOR change but I am ready for it. The only thing is I have to pass the PBDS exam in psychiatry. There is no way to prepare for it I have been told. So I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed. :)

Good Luck to you!

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Specializes in psychiatry.

Hi Fawn, I messaged you to find out more about your new travel nursing position. I forgot to to ask you what this exam is that you have to write. What does PBDS stand for? I didn't have to write an exam to work on an acute psychiatric unit in Canada (which is where I work now) and have worked at since December (and previously did my senior practicum at for three months, prior to working there).. although I did do a workshop on the foundations of mental health and did a non-violent crisis intervention workshop, hearing voices workshop (about schizophrenia), etc... (the later was not mandatory).

Never had to write an exam though...

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Specializes in psych, medical, drug rehab.

Hi here is a link to it:

http://www.pmsi-pbds.com/.

Hope that helps. There has much discussion on this web site about this exam if you do a search on it. But absolutely NO discussion on the psychiatric PBDS exam. Mostly the discussion has focused on the med-surg , critical care, Labor and delivery and other areas of Nursing. There are 500 different hospitals that utilize this exam. And there are many discussions on the why's. HOWEVER as a traveler, it is an immediate dismissal if you do not pass it. Although they are quick to say that it is not a pass/fail type test. I think Beth Israel is the only hospital system in NYC that utilizes this exam, although I am not positive about that statement.

BTW... my name is Mary Jo not fawn.:)

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Specializes in psychiatry.

Oh thanks, It just seems like a lot of trouble after all the other paperwork that is likely involved in travel nursing, as well as myself having to write the NCLEX to work in the usa and get licenced in New York. I'm wondering if I'm licenced in New York, if I would also be able to work in New Jersey (if there is a New York-New Jersey license since so many people commute from New Jersey to New York). Either way, I am very excited to hear about your travel nursing experiences in New York City with Supplemental since I want to travel to New York City (and just contacted Supplemental yesterday). Tell me everything! (and which hospital? nurse-patient ratio, how accepting staff nurses are, mandatory overtime?)

Thanks so much!!

Melissa

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