Your travel expertise is needed...

Posts: 2 · Joined: 04 Jan 2009 Posts: 2 Location: Dunlap, TN

Wow, what hospital/floor do you work ? I would like to add it to my list of "avoids".

I have met, and kept in contact, with many nurses I have worked with on my contracts. I have met many great "travel friendly" nurses.

Does she know that we have to pass a drug test before each contract? I myself treat each job as "MINE" and provide the best nursing care I can.

My advise to the initial poster is to
1. Be yourself
2. Provide the best nursing care you can
3. Avoid negative staff
4. Help all staff members out when able (it has been known to turn the most evil nurse on the floor into a friend)
5. Enjoy being a travel nurse; you always have the choice of being a staff nurse, and they always have the choice of being a travel nurse!!

Posts: 20 · Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 20 Location: Cinci-, OH.

LibertyRN wrote:

Hi! I'm looking into beginning my travel nursing career! I am a new nurse with a little over a years med/surg experience. I am talking to two different companies and trying to decide which route I want to take. If you could give me one piece of advice what would it be?? What do you wish you knew when you first stated traveling?? Is it acceptable to keep my apartment and still travel across the country?? Is the money really worth it...(I only ask that b/c I am in debt upto my eyeballs from college loans Sad

) You all have such knowledge and experience so any advice you can offer would be appreciated! Thanks!

WOW,WOWIE, ZOWIE

Well, I guess you got alot to read with Allyally.

Fortunately she really is the exception, and NOT the rule or I would have stopped traveling 14 years ago.... right after my first assignment.

One piece of advice.... now THAT is hard..... there is so much....

Read the comments in this and other areas of this forum, as I read through here, I have found a wealth of knowledge. I have been a traveler for 14 years, have had some good experiences, and some bad. Have worked with a few Ally's, thank God she is not the norm.

If you do your job, are friendly, don't complain much, show up for work, remain OUT of the hospital gossip and politics,...and remember one thing...YOU ARE A GUEST, CONDUCT YOURSELF AS SUCH....then you will not only get your loans paid off (QUICKLY), you will have a rewarding experience, LEARN a ton of new information/methods, have the most exciting time of your life, and make life long friends ALL OVER THE COUNTRY!!!!

I feel very sorry for Ally,...maybe she needs to get out of her stagnant situation and travel....

I have only ever worked ICU, all the ICU's, and ER, but I have had an amazing career, the places I have been, people I have met.

I have saved and lost lives with an amazing group of dedicated people...Nurses....while the rest of the country is fast asleep WE guard the health of their loved ones....hopefully returning them to their family in better shape then when we received them.

I can't imagine having stayed in one place for my entire career, I am glad there are staff nurses, I couldn't do it. As a traveler I am challenged every day, always learning, never complacent... even the ALLY's. provide a need, they teach us to take a deep breath, review our lives/careers, and ask why we are nursing.

Hmmmm, one piece of advice,..... I'll give you three:

1) Remember, no matter how long you contract at a facility, YOU ARE ALWAYS A GUEST, CONDUCT YOURSELF AS SUCH.

2) Find a GREAT agency, if they are not, then find a GREAT agency. (Check out my post in Best Travel Companies)

3) Learn from people like Ally, ... to enjoy your profession, your family, your life, your experiences..... you do not want to end up bitter and alone.

4) Yeah I know I said THREE, HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!