Traveling Advice

elaine55 · Jan 22, 2007

it (like anything in life) is what you make of it! you do need to be flexible and yes being the new nurse all the time you usually do get the more undesirables but go with the flow its all nursing and the goods outweigh the bads for me.

good luck

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zoefire · Jan 22, 2007

What is the biggest 'plus' in travel nursing?

elaine55 · Jan 22, 2007

most nurses who travel say not getting involved with the politics of the hospitals you are almost like your own co. selling yoursel; and when your bored you can move on. learn different specialties different ways of doing certain skills but basically wherever you go the base of nursing is the same.

Thread edited to keep within the TOS of this forum.

cvryder · Jan 25, 2007

I've been traveling for a year and a half, now on my fifth assignment. Whether or not you get dumped on as a traveler varies from hospital to hospital and unit to unit. Most places I have been are glad to see you because they are short-staffed, which means they NEED you! The only place I really felt dumped on was in a hospital which had a union. You got all the stuff the regular (union) staff wouldn't do, like floating. I finally refused to go to any unit I hadn't been oriented to.

LadyNASDAQ · Jan 29, 2007

I think the answer is YES but with practice you can push the issue back at them by discussing the situation with the Charge Nurse and explaining that they are also responsible if the work load is impossible. I've seen some pretty scary assignments and yes, I went to the NM and then over the NM's head via my agency. That was corrected rather quickly. You see, one thing you can say is Dr., I am unable to transfuse 3 patients at a time. That's what happened to me. Imagine 2 units per patient and they were ok with that. I was lucky to have a great agency who made sure I wasn't compromised and it took the CNO to see the abuse on that day. The NM and Charge Nurse were fired for this btw.

Dumped on and impossible are two different things. I could not ever follow the orders from 3 Physicians and possibly transfuse everyone simultaneously. Super unsafe and very much dumped on.

lmessajumper · Feb 20, 2007

I have been traveling for 7 years and I have had some units give me going away parties, employees often say "You're a traveler? I thought you were staff?" I have had good experiences most of the time. This is what I do:

I act like staff - I try to attend staff meetings, I introduce myself right away and talk to my coworkers like I have been there awhile and plan to be around for awhile, I contribute to potlucks and birthdays, etc.

I don't bring up other assignments, my home area, or how much better it may be anywhere else unless asked, then keep it short- I ask coworkers about the area, where to go, what to do, etc. I don't complain about their unit or coworkers or their manager. I often say that every place has it's plus and minuses. I wouldn't be traveling if didn't want the experience of being in a new place and feeling like a "local". People resent their choices being insulted.

I offer to help and ask for help often - I ask coworkers their nursing opinion about situations, I ask the unit secretary how to get things and how they want things organized or done. I ask others if I can do anything for them if they look busy, I ask the CNAs what their routine is and to let me know if I can do anything to help them, I jump in when something needs to be done.

I joke and laugh and am interested in my coworkers and their lives -

I try to be someone people want to work with and be around.

I have worked on units when a new traveler starts and they are so distant or quiet or self-sufficient that you wouldn't know they were working with you. Maybe they are shy but that can come across as unfriendly or haughty so that is something to work on.

Basically: be nice, be helpful, be someone that you would want to work with. Also, you may think they dumped the tough patients on you but we don't usually know what is going on with their patients and sometimes it is just our turn that day to have the crappy assignment. Live with it, jokingly fuss about with with others and try to have fun.

tammyRN64 · Mar 5, 2007

What agency were you with? We are considering travel from Indiana to Idaho. I want, no NEED, a reliable agency with good reputation who does what they say they will do, especially 2300 miles from home. Do most private housing provided by agencies include......kitchen utensils, bath towels, etc. or what do thier "furnishings" include? Any input would be GREATLY appreciated. Thansk so much! :)

Tammy

rdaven · Mar 8, 2007

What you should do is read everything on here about travel nursing and go to Delphi Forums. They have a forum called TNT Travel nurses and therapists. There you will find a all the information that you will need to get going on your travel adventure.