Travel dialysis nursing

[cynpal25]

Hi!

Does anyone have experience with dialysis travel nursing assignments? I am an acute dialysis nurse with 7 years experience.   The hospital I work at may be losing contract. I am considering a travel position within my state but I need more info. I have a child in elementary school that I would not like to leave for too long so I want to know how flexible the shifts and locations are. Also do travel nurses do on call? Can you work your 36 hours and head home in the interim? How is the orientation and the troubleshooting? Pay rates? Any info would help. Thanks!

[Papaofeleanor]

I have done two dialysis travel nursing assignments. One in AZ acute dialysis and one in Honolulu, HI outpatient clinic. I had approx 2yrs of in-center HD experience and 7yrs acute dialysis experience before my first travel assignment. I had one small child when I did my first contract and a 4yr old and 1yr old in Hawaii. The acute contract involved some call but in general the call burden fell mostly upon the regular staff as I recall. In general, it is best to establish up front what the expectations are for hours/scheduling. I made a point to establish up front with my travel agency that I would be guaranteed a set amount of hours per week whether they used me or not and also made the stipulation that I was not signed up for being diverted to a chronic in-center unit if I was not needed on acutes. Hope this helps a bit.