Any travel nurses out there?

[Missy Mouse]

I'm strongly considering becoming a travel nurse. DBF and I have talked about it and really like the idea. I've researched Monitor Staffing as two of my coworkers are travel nurses for them and there seem to be big time perks (100% medical and dental coverage, bonuses, excellent pay, free rent and fully furnished apartment, ALL utilities paid for with the exception of premium cable). I like the contract terms too - 13 weeks at a time but you can resign for as long as you're needed. Besides the obvious being away from family, frequent traveling and packing, are there any downfalls? We really want to travel for awhile before settling down somewhere and this seems exciting. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

[nealymouse]

I went to school with a girl and now her sister who do this. Last I heard they were still both doing it (over 20 yrs) and still loving it. Both have worked all all the world. The pay is very good

 

[jenr812]

I have talked to some travel nurses at our hospital and they love it. I am considering doing this when the kids are grown, too. Great way to travel

 

[jenr812]

PS There is a magazine called Healthcare Traveler that you can get for free. http://www.healthcaretraveler.com/healthcaretraveler/ It is a really nice full color mag!

 

[sugarpie]

I've worked with a few nurses who've gone into traveling nursing. They seem to really enjoy it. One nurse I know only works part of the year.

I do know another nurse whose boyfriend moved to Arizona with her when she took a job & then they broke up when she took another job in Hawaii. I guess it was stressful on their relationship.

 

[Missy Mouse]

PS There is a magazine called Healthcare Traveler that you can get for free. http://www.healthcaretraveler.com/healthcaretraveler/ It is a really nice full color mag!

Thank you for the information. I'll check out that link now.

 

[Missy Mouse]

I've worked with a few nurses who've gone into traveling nursing. They seem to really enjoy it. One nurse I know only works part of the year.

I do know another nurse whose boyfriend moved to Arizona with her when she took a job & then they broke up when she took another job in Hawaii. I guess it was stressful on their relationship.

DBF and I were talking about this last night. He's on board because he wants to travel too, and he wouldn't have to work. Good deal for him! However, if it became too much for him I wouldn't hesitate to pick a career position and settle down. I would very much want this to be OUR decision, and not a burden, which I can easily see how it can become. Thank you!

 

[mickeyboat]

My SIL was one years ago before she settled down, got married and had kids. She loved it! She got to see lots of different parts of the world, meet lots of different people, and learn lots of new things. She worked in Maine, NH, Baltimore, Florida and Hawaii (as far as I can remember).

One assignment was to travel with a very sick child from the US to Turkey. She wasn't paid except for her air fare, but the child's family was so grateful, they bought her every trinket she admired and treated her like a princess.

Denae

 

[Missy Mouse]

One assignment was to travel with a very sick child from the US to Turkey. She wasn't paid except for her air fare, but the child's family was so grateful, they bought her every trinket she admired and treated her like a princess.

Denae

That is really beautiful. Those are the kinds of memories I would like to make.

 

[AprilShowers]

My Mom works in the traveling nurse program and loves it! Right now she travels between Ohio and Florida because her DH is from Hawaii and he can't take the Ohio winters. BUT she wants to be close to her Mom for as much of the year as she can (here in Ohio). So they summer here, and winter in FL.

Most of their things stay in storage. Their apartments come furnished. They don't move their furniture. They take with them the bare necessities. They only live in the nicest condo/apartment communities. Most of them gated.

She has to make sure her nursing license is transferable to the state she wants to work in. There's a ton of paperwork there when you go to a new state.

You can PM me with specific questions if you want me to ask her.

 

[Missy Mouse]

My Mom works in the traveling nurse program and loves it! Right now she travels between Ohio and Florida because her DH is from Hawaii and he can't take the Ohio winters. BUT she wants to be close to her Mom for as much of the year as she can (here in Ohio). So they summer here, and winter in FL.

Most of their things stay in storage. Their apartments come furnished. They don't move their furniture. They take with them the bare necessities. They only live in the nicest condo/apartment communities. Most of them gated.

She has to make sure her nursing license is transferable to the state she wants to work in. There's a ton of paperwork there when you go to a new state.

You can PM me with specific questions if you want me to ask her.

Thank you SO much for the information. It sounds like there aren't many downfalls to travel nursing so far.

 

[clarabelle]

Years ago I worked in the OR as an RN. One hospital I worked at had lots of traveling nurses. The were expected to be at the top of their game and not given much of an orientation. They were thrown in at the deep in and basically were not allowed to complain about it.
They were also given the crummy hours that nobody else wanted.
They were usually a pretty tough lot -and were used to rolling with the punches.

 

[MagicalMom]

Years ago I worked in the OR as an RN. One hospital I worked at had lots of traveling nurses. The were expected to be at the top of their game and not given much of an orientation. They were thrown in at the deep in and basically were not allowed to complain about it.
They were also given the crummy hours that nobody else wanted.
They were usually a pretty tough lot -and were used to rolling with the punches.

I had a friend who experienced the samething as a travel nurse. I thought it would be something fun to do after the kids are grown, but now I'm not so sure. I like the comfort of knowing where everything is, who everyone is and what they expect. It's a stressful enough job without having some doctor screaming because you brought him the wrong size gloves.

 

[MScott1851]

Years ago I worked in the OR as an RN. One hospital I worked at had lots of traveling nurses. The were expected to be at the top of their game and not given much of an orientation. They were thrown in at the deep in and basically were not allowed to complain about it.
They were also given the crummy hours that nobody else wanted.
They were usually a pretty tough lot -and were used to rolling with the punches.

I second that. I was a traveling nurse for a little while before I accepted the job I have now. I was given a 4-hour orientation to the facility (which usually is a WEEK long for new hires) and then given a patient assignment in the very busy ER. There were 6 or 7 other travellers there when I was, and we were all the blind leading the blind. I worked a lot of weekends and a lot of nights, at a hospital that was seriously understaffed. I look back and think that it really wasn't safe at the time.

That being said, if something happened and I HAD to go do it, then I would go in a heartbeat. I'm a much better nurse now, and think I'd be more flexible. I've actually thought about doing strike nursing for the quick money.