travel nursing

JRapha'sRN · Mar 20, 2006

c3Hunter,

Check out some of the questions and answers in this Travel Nursing Forum. You will find the answers to many of your current questions and ones you haven't thought of yet! You have 2 years to do your research, most travel agencies and hospitals want experienced nurses. Make the most of your two years, ask lots of questions, get as much experience as you can. Jump in on procedures and new tasks when you can. The more you learn the more you will enjoy your traveling--because you will be more comfortable with yourself and skills. Enjoy dreaming and researching, you will find some great opportunities!

NephroBSN, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2006

I am a new grad with questions on travel nursing. I see ads in the nursing magazines and all over the internet about travel nursing, and I am wondering how it all works. Can you take your children with you? Is the housing okay or do you end up in some bad parts of town? Can you really travel to hawaii, I saw an ad for Kahu Malama Nurses, does anyone know anything about this company. What about the hours and the pay. Is it usually all nightshift?
Any input anyone can give me would be great.

You can take your children with you. Many travel nurses do. Some home school them . Sometimes the spouse or SO is the teacher.

Sometimes you do end up in the bad part of town. Many hospitals in many cities are in bad parts of town. I don't know why that is?

Yes you can travel almost any place now. There is a world wide nursing shortage.

Hawaii Aruba, ST. Thomas, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Australia, Alaska, Canada, England . You name it. The world is your oyster.

I believe, but don't quote me on this, that Kahu is a local agency. In other words no housing. Per diem work. If you are truely interested in them give em call.

Pay should be at least in the low 30's for an RN. I've seen LPN positions for $29. No offense to LPN"s I was one for 17 years.

You can work from 36 to 60 hours a week depends on the assignment.

Some people manage to get all day shift. Again depends on the needs of the assignment.

I bet Cath Lab is mostly days. And OR mostly days and evenings.

If you need more info PM me..

I've been traveling for 4 years now. I don't work in hospitals ( well not often) so I'm not so well versed in them.

Good luck and as the previous poster said get that 2 years under your belt. You won't get much orientation or a preceptor. You'll have to know your stuff and you'll have to hit the floor running.