Travel Nursing!

grandkids4 · Nov 11, 2008

Travel nursing is great if you can easly adabt to different situations. They provide medical insurance, a place to live and different contracts. usually 3mon, 6 mon. I know sone people have commented that it isn't secure. It really is. You can work anywhere you want. If you don't like the place move on in 3 months. I know some people just continue renewing there contracts and stay years. One of the big things is, if you get called off for low census, they have to pay you anyway. Just check with different travel nurse companies. I never had a problem with regular work. I have met the greatest people. I have one friend that always wanted to see new york city, she took a 3 month contract and had an aprartment to live in and loved it. She then moved to Tx. she has been everywhere. I have been CA, TX Va,md, hawaii.

Some places are harder to staff and they give you a LARGE bonus. It is a great job if you are single and want to see the country.

The pay is reaaly good. Good luck to you.

EJSRN, BSN, RN · Nov 11, 2008

thanks. i just worry i don't know enough. did you feel prepared when you began to travel?

grandkids4 · Nov 11, 2008

I was afraid like you at first. But if you think of it this way. Nursing is nursing, no matter where you are. You use the same skills as you do everyday. it is just the place that's different. Each hospital gives even the travelers an orientation to the hospital and floor. Most of the time the staff treats you like you a part of them and no different. They help if you need it. Just remember, your skills are your skills no matter where you work. I think a brand new nurse would have probmlems, but you have enough experience. They pay icu nurses very well.

Good luck. Hope this helps.

loricatus · Nov 11, 2008

Try working PRN/per diem with an agency first. It is sort of like training for traveling. Hardly an orientation with either and you are expected to "hit the floor running." You can take agency work on your days off from the staff job to see if you can cut it and you will make extra cash, also.

bagladyrn, RN · Nov 11, 2008

One thing to be aware of with looking into traveling right now - with the economic downturn and budget cuts, travelers are one of the first expenses hospitals cut. I've been out here traveling for a long time (>12 yrs.) and there really are less contracts available than I am used to seeing.

This doesn't mean you can't travel, it simply means you will need to be more flexible about where you go than you could at other times.