Travel as Physical Therapist Asst

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I am a Physical Therapist Assistant. I can't find any info on travel work. I can find travel jobs, of course, but I really want to talk with someone who has done it. Has the work been consistent? The pay is a little lower than what I make working PRN, is it worth it? I'm just don't want to jump off the deep end here and not be able to work. I'm approved to buy an RV, but I just need some idea of how this works.

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

I know a few travel PTs. They seem to get steady work, it just isn't as plentiful as RN work. There are seasonal places though that always use travel PTs during their busy season. Howard Head in Vail for instance is a place that uses them every winter.....

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Don't buy an RV until you try travel and like it!

You probably will not get a response from a PTA on a nursing site, but I have some suggestions. You need either a large agency such as Cross Country or American Mobile (huge companies that supply everything), or a smaller agency that specializes in allied health. I think Triage does a lot of allied (and nurses). The best bet is to look in your professional journal for agency ads and call them about the prospects for full time. I took a look on an online agency venue and saw that PT job orders outnumbered PTA order by 10 to 1 or better. The few jobs I saw were posted for bill rates $45, with one at $55 (multiply by 0.75 for likely total compensation to you). Not impressive pay by RN or PT standards, but still sufficient if you like the lifestyle.

If you want to talk to a travel PTA, talk to a few agencies and ask if they can set up a conversation with one of their travel PTAs (as a reference for the agency).

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

sorry, I missed the assistant part of the post...... No idea about allied health jobs....

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The travel sites that I have been on have just as much work for me as a PT, as I get paid less, but not necessarily doing what I want to do. And I can't find any PT sites that talk about travel work. So this was the next best place. I make $32.50-35.00 an hour now for PRN work, but it shows $28-30 on the travel sites, and that just doesn't make sense to me. But I guess I'll call the recruiter. I just really want to talk to someone who has been there. And on the rv... well, I've just learned I would need a flat bed car trailer to tow my special car, so that's on hold. But could still happen in the future.

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Those quoted rates might be with housing provided on top of that, otherwise it is a small step down from what you make now for sure.

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

as far as the RV goes, you can look into a "toyhauler" They fit up to 20' cars at about 4000lbs for max size.

I am using a slide in camper on my truck now. I got it for free from some dude that didn't want to keep it in storage any more. That is my wife, she doesn't go on the job with me. I am about to do my longest "rv" stent for the next 3 months. Fortunately it has bathroom, kitchen, eating area and a super comfy queen size bed....

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Specializes in ICU.

My brother did travel as a PTA in Palm Springs, CA prior to becoming a DPT. He said that while on paper his hourly rate was lower, his take home pay was actually much higher d/t the non-taxed portion of his income. He said his take home pay was about 3500 biweekly. He says his take home pay was actually more than it is now as a staff PT and he now has a lot more student loans. He liked the pay, just not the lack of stability from contract to contract.

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