Virgin Islands

nursinadream · Dec 15, 2010

I am on St Thomas, very different from St Croix. Here is a link to a forum that was very helpful for me.

Lots of posts about cars, renting and buying, etc. Use the general/relocating topic. Make sure to

clarify that you will be in St Croix.

http://www.vimovingcenter.com/talk/index.php

Deb

cablack · Dec 15, 2010

Hey thanks for the link.

kimadonis · Dec 20, 2010

I am dying to go to VI in January.I am registered with Trustaff.I am med surg.Who are you going to St Croix with.Thanks for all the info OR RN!I am also registered with Professional nurse.Any info would be appreciated.

kimadonis · Dec 20, 2010

I heard they are trying to hire a lot of new grads and phase out travelers .Is that true?

kimadonis · Dec 20, 2010

Have you had any issues with Trustaff? They have a bad reputation.

nursinadream · Dec 22, 2010

Kim, No issues with Trustaff. Everything was as promised with my wage and benefits. Just know that whatever they provide or arrange for you comes from YOUR paycheck. As I described earlier I chose to locate my own housing, etc. I was much more aware of my income that way, and all my earnings went to my bank.

Please beware of what you hear and read about travel companies. A reputation is made be the way a company deals with you. Understand what a recruiter is offering you, stop and think about, ask co-workers or trusted family members to go over it with you. St Thomas is a beautiful place to live and work. Go there for the experience, but not to get yourself out of debt or to put a lot of money away.

I'm home now, and will say again, "I loved it there", and I'll go back.

Deb

nursinadream · Dec 22, 2010

One more thing, Kim. No sign of phasing out travelers with new grads. They did bring a program in for surgical tech training. The OR has a goal to use their hospital educated scrub techs, but it will be at least a year before they can do that.

Deb

ieatoatmeal · May 5, 2011

Hi Deb,

I'm interested in traveling to the Virgin Islands, and you seem to be a wealth of information! I was wondering if you knew anything about the working conditions in the ER there? Also, do you think buying a moped scooter would be a feasible mode of transportation in the Virgin Islands?

I'd love to find out who your recruiter was, and I'd be happy to say that you referred me. I'd PM you, except that I'm new to this site and I can't figure out how to do it! So if you're able to PM me with your recruiter's name, I'd be happy to try and get you that referral bonus!

nursinadream · May 6, 2011

Hello, "ieatoatmeal" unusual screen name :). A moped is out of the question for the islands. Roads too

narrow and windy and no visibility. Some locals use motorcycles and it is dangerous. I had some traveler

friends in the ER. Lots of them there. Most seemed to like it OK, heard no complaints.

You can't do PM until you've made several posts. 10 or 15 I think. Write again and I'll find a way to send my

recruiters name to you.

Deb

ieatoatmeal · May 6, 2011

Hey Deb,

I'll just give you my email address, and you can send it there if you want. It's [email protected] (I know, I know, I have weird usernames and emails!)

BmansirRN · May 13, 2011

nursinadream,

I'm considering taking an assignment in St Thomas, and I would like to thank you for posting so many details. It's very helpful to those of us who are trying to get a feel of what the place will be like, and to fill in the gaps that previously only my imagination has been able to illustrate.

I guess you are back in the states now, but if you have time, I do have a couple of general questions.

1. Have you heard anything about the Psych unit at the RLS hospital.

2. How complicated / tedious /expensive is the Licensing process.

3. Have you ever heard of a nurse living on a sailboat moored in the Harbor?

Thanks again for posting.

nursinadream · May 14, 2011

1. Have you heard anything about the Psych unit at the RLS hospital.

2. How complicated / tedious /expensive is the Licensing process.

3. Have you ever heard of a nurse living on a sailboat moored in the Harbor?

Hey B, great questions and I can help with those. Didn't meet anyone from the psych department. If you've been told there are needs in psych, I'm sure it would be fine. License was not complicated, though detailed. One of my documents wasn't just right and an agent called me about it. So just try to follow the instructions perfectly. Sorry I don't remember the cost. Less than $200, I think. I've obtained 3 other licenses since then.

A sailboat, huh? now that's what I'm talkin' about. Lots of sailboats there of course, and you know that, 'cause you must be a sailor, as we are. I was hopin' to do a liveaboard thing there, and people do. But I didn't meet anyone working in the hospital doing that. I believe ground transportation would be a challenge. The safaris are plentiful and pass the harbors (Red Hook anyway) and the hospital and some hospital workers, travelers and permanent rely solely on that. So maybe it would work. I met some hospital staff who are boaters, but not liveaboards. I only met 1 fellow who lived on a mooring - and boating was his entire life.

Luck to you!

We have our sailboat in Northeren VA while on assignment here in Washington DC. Haven't launched her yet - soon

Deb