Traveling RV style...

nightingale, RN · Jul 2, 2005

I am so jealous...

Wish I could join "y'all"; I am raising two teenagers and look forward to easier days on the road with an RV and Travel Nursing.

I read these posts with great interest!

Happy Travels

beaverheart · Jul 2, 2005

I am so jealous...
Wish I could join "y'all"; I am raising two teenagers and look forward to easier days on the road with an RV and Travel Nursing.
I read these posts with great interest!
Happy Travels

The opportunity for travelers continues to grow, don't give up on that dream. Do your homework now and plan. It will save you a ton of trouble when the time comes. I spent almost two years improving my RN market value and researching the perfect home for the road that would suit my new lifestyle.

jansailsea · Jul 9, 2005

I'm looking at Trail Manor campers. They're pop up travel trailers specifically engineered to provide low profile while driving for improved mileage & greater choice in tow vehicles. Trail Manor receives good ratings too.

They're not cheap, but the features & materials used are designed for the traveler to experience quality & comfort yet benefit from lighter weight structure.

As a very soon to graduate student nurse, I'd like to do travel nursing after 1 year of Med/Surg training. Husband is older & retired, we live in Florida, my son & family are in NC while hubby has 1 daughter & 3 grandkids in NC, a daughter & son each with 2 kids in CA.

jansailsea

rosecarrier · Jul 22, 2005

Beaverheart, what did you do to improve your market value? I have been a nurse -on and off- for 23 years, just went back to work M-S at a large teaching hospital in Fort Worth to update my skills, etc. Spouse and I have lived in 5th wheel for a year down here and are anxious to go. I have been researching and talking to agencies--it's all a bit nerve-wracking but nothing ventured/nothing gained! What is the M-S outlook like? Any help is appreciated. PS--have not posted before so excuse me if I do something wrong.

Are you an SKP?:)

beaverheart · Jul 31, 2005

Beaverheart, what did you do to improve your market value? I have been a nurse -on and off- for 23 years, just went back to work M-S at a large teaching hospital in Fort Worth to update my skills, etc. Spouse and I have lived in 5th wheel for a year down here and are anxious to go. I have been researching and talking to agencies--it's all a bit nerve-wracking but nothing ventured/nothing gained! What is the M-S outlook like? Any help is appreciated. PS--have not posted before so excuse me if I do something wrong.
Are you an SKP?:)

Hello Rosecarrier - Sorry for the late response. To improve your nursing market value for travel assignments, continue to add education to your many years of the experience you already have. Most companies now only require 1 year in the specialty that you wish to travel in, including new grads. The outlook for MS is excellent and is highly sought after. I would suggest adding tele experience to that, since many units are now med - surg - tele and this gives you more flexibility for better assignments. AACN has an MS certification program for this specialty and of course track all CEUs, seminars, and classes you take and add those to your resume addendum. I have found it very important to have solid references in writing and letters of recommendation for the interviews with the facility you will be traveling to. Perhaps others can offer suggestions here as well. Yes, I am an SKP member, what a blessing to have this organization for us "homeless" people. "Home is where you park it"

RN2travel · Aug 1, 2005

Hello Rosecarrier - Sorry for the late response. To improve your nursing market value for travel assignments, continue to add education to your many years of the experience you already have. Most companies now only require 1 year in the specialty that you wish to travel in, including new grads. The outlook for MS is excellent and is highly sought after. I would suggest adding tele experience to that, since many units are now med - surg - tele and this gives you more flexibility for better assignments. AACN has an MS certification program for this specialty and of course track all CEUs, seminars, and classes you take and add those to your resume addendum. I have found it very important to have solid references in writing and letters of recommendation for the interviews with the facility you will be traveling to. Perhaps others can offer suggestions here as well. Yes, I am an SKP member, what a blessing to have this organization for us "homeless" people. "Home is where you park it"

What is SKP??

rosecarrier · Aug 1, 2005

What is SKP??

SKP is an acronym for Escapees RV Club, based in Livingston, TX., which we, too, are members of like Beaverheart.

Specializing in the needs of RV'rs with an emphasis on those who live in their rigs fulltime or most of the time, it is a great club with quite a few campgrounds in their system (mostly in the south) and with probably the best mail forwarding service around.

We have been members for two years now and actually visited the headquarters in Livingston, TX., a couple of weeks ago. Really enjoyed it. We plan on making their mail service part of our traveling nurse lifestyle.

housemomma · Aug 3, 2005

http://www.watchthemroll.com/

here is something of interst you may want to see. I found this couple via surfing one day.

NOCED · Aug 19, 2005

Back to the original question of "does anyone live and travel in an RV" - My husband and I live in a 32 ft, triple slide. We recently relocated to a different state in order for me to get a little more experience before starting the "travel nursing" thing. I TOO am interested in hearing from someone that is actually doing the nursing and living in the RV at the same time. I was wondering about the companies that offer to give you a housing subsidy even tho you chose your own housing source.

Anyone out there in that position?

rosecarrier · Aug 19, 2005

I have very limited experience--I am just heading into my first travel job. All of the agencies I have contacted offer a housing stipend if you find or have your own housing. From what I have read in other posts--both here and Delphiforums--it is important to check in the area you will be headed to (before signing a contract) to make sure there is somewhere you can park your rv AND what it will cost to do so. Make sure your stipend will at least cover the rent. From what I read, the stipend is usually quite a bit more--but as I said I am very new. Some of the more experienced should be able to give you more info.

It is really exciting to finally get going! Good luck and have fun!

ffmedicrn · Oct 17, 2005

Hello, DO IT!!!!! I have done 2 assignments this way. My husband and dog and I in a 33ft 5th wheel. We love it. You see so many things by being in an RV, meeting new people is a must when your in a campground, everyone is so friendly and love to visit. We went to NH, hubby worked at the campground, 20 hrs a week, paid for our campsight and housing allowance was spent on lots of seafood and sightseeing. Next was AZ, wonderful and the adventure of getting to these places is undescribable (sp). We stopand see things we would have never thought of and take the time to enjoy some of lifes simplest pleasures. Picture this if your in a apt complex, doubt you would meet lots of people, no fun for your dog, vs campground, lots of people out and about, mingling, campfires every night, staring into the open skys, and meeting so many neat people with so many cool stories.

We are planning our next assignment and it is going to be in Alaska in our 5th wheel and the open road.........theres my advice, good luck and enjoy the ride !!

ffmedicrn · Oct 17, 2005

Sorry I forgot one of the best things is traveling this way gives you the opportunity to pick your living sites, I was always afraid of what I would be getting when renting with animals. just a thought Carol