Travel Nursing-CNA/PCT

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Hello! I am looking into taking a travel assignment for some of the hard hit areas that contain (or could contain COVID patients). First, I am not a CNA (I am a PCT/MA but can do basically all the duties of a CNA). Some states are waiving the requirement of a CNA (as long as you are a healthcare worker) which is where I fall in. What I am wondering however, is I currently work as a PCT on my floor now in the hospital.

1) Is it possible to keep my FT job (take a leave of absence for emergency purposes) to help these other hazard areas for COVID or...

2)Would I have go PRN or quit my job in order to do so? Or...

3) Would it be more beneficial to try and get a travel assignment closer to home (I live in Dallas) since I have family?

I've never NOT had a job and done traveling before so if there are other CNA's or even RN's who can help me out because I know some nurses have probably been in this situation too. Thanks!

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1.,2., would be up to your employer. 3 is strictly a personal decision that no one else can make for you.

On that same topic of personal decisions, what is motivating you here? It's a zero sum game in terms of working where you live or somewhere else to help with the pandemic. Pandemic means everywhere. The tone of your questions suggest you are best off where you are.

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6 minutes ago, NedRN said:

1.,2., would be up to your employer. 3 is strictly a personal decision that no one else can make for you.

On that same topic of personal decisions, what is motivating you here? It's a zero sum game in terms of working where you live or somewhere else to help with the pandemic. Pandemic means everywhere. The tone of your questions suggest you are best off where you are.

I want to help areas that are really hard hit however, It's a money situation, too. My job is pretty stable (work on a mother/baby floor) however, I was canceled for the first time EVER because they are clearing out portions of the hospital to anticipate for influx of COVID patients which then means that many techs and nurses are getting canceled. That uses up PTO (if you have it) and that makes you wonder, "What's going to happen when the census drops on my floor again because of this and I get canceled again?" It's definitely a concern.

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Just so you know, travelers have less job protections than staff. Health insurance is also much worse if any.

Your job should continue to be stable, babies cannot practice social distancing. But you could ask to switch to acute care. Your area will eventually be hard hit too.

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4 minutes ago, NedRN said:

Just so you know, travelers have less job protections than staff. Health insurance is also much worse if any.

Your job should continue to be stable, babies cannot practice social distancing. But you could ask to switch to acute care. Your area will eventually be hard hit too.

Thank for the input, @NedRN! ?

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@Shauntil07 I understand your instincts, my ER only employs me 24 hours a week as a tech, and I'd love to pick up some extra shifts elsewhere. What companies are you researching?

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2 hours ago, KaityKait said:

@Shauntil07 I understand your instincts, my ER only employs me 24 hours a week as a tech, and I'd love to pick up some extra shifts elsewhere. What companies are you researching?

I've seen a few popular ones. I actually called Aya Healthcare but the assignment they gave me it didn't pay enough for me to leave.

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Specializes in ICU, Surgical-Truma.

@Shauntil07 Just today was looking into Aya Healthcare and I am too in the travel experience for PCTs to make some money. Can I ask how much the assignments were? Just wondering if its worth my time.

I currently have a stable job at the moment in the ICU but will be moving this Summer and was looking into travel assignments before I settle down.

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9 hours ago, chrisarobel said:

@Shauntil07 Just today was looking into Aya Healthcare and I am too in the travel experience for PCTs to make some money. Can I ask how much the assignments were? Just wondering if its worth my time.

I currently have a stable job at the moment in the ICU but will be moving this Summer and was looking into travel assignments before I settle down.

Aya Healthcare was the one who gave me the assignment was applying at the time I put my first post up. The assignment they were going to give me was in arkansas but that basically paid what I was already making here at home. And I decided not to go to new york for losing the job I already have. What travel assignment you take depends on where you want to go. Are you wanting to travel all over or stay local (close to home)? How long are you wanting to travel? A few weeks or 3 months? So you have to ask yourself those questions to figure out which ones you should take. In order to make more money, you ideally would go somewhere where the cost of living is higher than where you live as usually those places the pay is higher (not always but in some cases such as, California, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, etc...) So I hope that was helpful information. Good luck on your journey and hope you'll be able to find an assignment you really like! :)

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