Seasonal nursing

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Now that many of us are getting older, we would like to leave the colder months to go south to work, rest, go on missions, spend time with distant relatives, etc. We would like to keep our seniority, our positions, and return to them after our leave. It would be nice to work the busier months so others could go on vacation. Or perhaps mothers would like the summer off and we could work. Or more nurses could be on vacation a time. Does anyone have experience with this type of scheduling. We are a union.

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I have heard of travel nurses who go to their follow the seasons with their assignments.

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Does your contract allow for personal leave of absence? I would look into that. Otherwise it seems like seasonal would mean losing all of your benefits and seniority unless you stay on prn and work every so often to keep up an active status.

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

when i did my travel nursing i did follow the seasons with my assignments, it worked for all involved :D

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Specializes in Adult/Ped Emergency and Trauma.

I work 6 mos of the year at a small Critical Access Hospital in the US Southeast (or travel nurse if they are currently staffed when I return to the states), 1 month off (March, YEAH!!!), and 5 months in the United Methodist Church as a Foreign Missionary.

Surprisingly, not all of what I do in the mission is nursing related. I wouldn't change my current situation for anything.

Usually, when it is time for one of my "seasons" to end, I am ready. I love the rotation through, and I think in a few more years when I save approiately, I will spend more and more time in the Foreign Mission Field. I just wanted to make sure I get my home, vacation Chalet, and a little retirement paid for to go with my small UMC retirement 401K(which suffered tremendous loss in the economic downturn).

Getting to spend more time in our little chalet in the Smokies would be fun too. That little getaway has saved my sanity a many March's (like to get up here for 2 weeks in October or November too to see leaves changing). But, March is almost over, and it's a toss-up between Peru and Slovakia next with the Church. I would recommend this lifestyle to anyone. Piece of advice, get a house sitter, you would be surprised how fast a home goes down without general care, and renting is not the answer if you want it to look the same when you get back to it, I learned that with the Chalet, but your only young once.

Good Luck with all your dreams!!!!

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