Rhonda
Clarkton, NC
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Well, it's been about a year since I last posted asking about travel nursing. I just thought I'd ask again just in case there is anyone here new to travel nursing or someone here that has been one (or spouse is) that has just started posting on the forum, OR someone that just has anything to add to the subject.
Some of you may remember that I'm an RN and am thinking of going into travel nursing when my youngest graduates HS (this coming June) and goes into college. My dream started about 2 years ago. I was working in home health for many years then the travel nurse idea hit me. I realized at that time that you have to have recent hospital experience to be a travel nurse, so I quit the home health field (which I was tired of anyway) and started working at a hospital on a medical floor. Best decision I've made in years! Anyway, that was a year and a half ago and my dream is still going full force.
Also, this past year we purchased a motorhome which would be our home away from home. Travel nurse companies pay TOTAL private accommodations for their nurses on location OR a housing stipend (equal to that of the apartment). We would use the stipend to pay for the campground and then have extra which would go on some of the MH payment.
We're still working on how my husband would still work and do this thing, but that's another matter.  If there's a will.....
I have worked with several travel nurses at the hospital where I work. ALL of them say it's a WONDERFUL lifestyle and they write their own ticket, making lots of money, seeing things they would never see if not for being a travel nurse. Sounds wonderful to me.
Anyone a travel nurse? Married to one? Know one? Have anything to offer in the subject? I'd love to hear from you!
Oh.....I'd love to work 3 months in Alaska (during the summer). Work anywhere near any national park.....just see everything I've never seen before! Stay 13 weeks in one area with plenty of days off to see the sites (you can mostly request the days you want off). Then off to another adventure. Sounds SO good!
Rhonda
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blucrabbie
Raleigh, NC
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Rhonda,
I am also toying with the idea of doing the same thing. I am an OR nurse, as I think I have told you in the past, with 25 years of experience. I also have my certification for the OR.
DH has an occupation that would allow him to pick up some work wherever we are. I have looked into some companies that would allow me to work for 90 days and then take 30 days off and still maintain what we all fear at this time in our lives, health insurance. That is the main issue that I worry about. We both really want to go west. That is one place we have never been with the MAG1CBUS.
He has elderly parents (with him being an only child) plus one of the most important things getting ready to happen in our lives. The birth of our FIRST grandchild is going to happen any day now and they live only 10 minutes from us now.  We were nomads much of our married lives and know what it is like to have grandparents far away from us and I am torn about being so far away from my grandchild.
So lots to think about. DH eligible for retirement next year with 30+ years. So again, a lot to think about. Dunno what we will do right now. Good luck. Hope to meet ya on the road someday!
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mockturtle
Northwest
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BTDT, and it is a wonderful opportunity. I'm sure I responded to your post last year. I 'retired' last year but all the things your friends told you are true.
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Badbowler111
Illinois
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Rhonda wrote: Travel nurse companies pay TOTAL private accommodations for their nurses on location OR a housing stipend (equal to that of the apartment). We would use the stipend to pay for the campground and then have extra which would go on some of the MH payment.
We're still working on how my husband would still work and do this thing, but that's another matter. If there's a will.....
My wife (NICU Nurse) and I were talking about this very same subject while on vacation last August. While staying at a really beautiful KOA in Branson MO. we ended up talking to many of the people working there, and found out that about 90% of them were Workampers.
Personally I'd never even heard of a "Workamper" before. And the more that they told me about it the more sense it made to me. They get a free campsite and usually some sort of wages in exchange for working at the Campground for the agreed on length of time. And after we were all through talking to them, I said to my wife that we should do that, either after we retire or start saving up some money and try to retire early and do it etc. And then she mentioned "Traveling Nursing" which was something else I'd never heard of before.
And the more we talked about it the more sense it made. She was saying that from what she's read about traveling nursing is that you can basically pick and choose your own assignment areas. For example if you wanna spend your winter's in Florida, they'll assign you there for three months etc.
So what we're thinking of doing is, She'll be a traveling nurse and I'll be a workamper.
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firedude
On the road
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Moved from Full-time forum***
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gasolinegypsy
Bella Vista, AR
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Hi, In reply to travel nursing. I'm an LPN. I did travel nursing all over the United States for 12 years, including Hawaii for 6 months. I had a Class C part of the time. In fact, I traded in my car for a 1980 class C in Corpus Christi, Tx. I ended up driving it to work which was a 26 mile round trip--1/2 tank of gas everytime you went to work.
then when I got back to my site, I had to back in. Not fun(I worked 3-11) I wish now I had started out RVing the whole time. Anytime I had a problem, there was always someone to help. Plus you could have an animal and not have to pay a $300 deposit. Fabulous way to earn a living and see the country. Plus most of the assignments were 13 weeks. I told myself, I was going to see part of the country every time I had a day off. I loved it and miss it. If you are a nurse, I say GO FOR IT!!
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lappir
Utah, Iowa, Florida or somewhere between
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I spent last winter in South Florida on a Nursing Travel assignment. Had looked most of the prior summer for a Class A motorhome that I could afford and still keep my motorcycle and car. Didn't have any luck so I did the "rent a room" route that didn't work out too bad. Did find that many of the RV parks that used to be in the area, are now gone and I have yet to find a place to park the Toyhauler that I will be taking south after the first of the year. Found a Diesel dually and have talked my brother into letting me borrow (rent) his toyhauler this winter. I will then know what I will need to start going full time on the road again.
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LYNNCCRN
FOREST HILL, MD
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This past winter we stayed in Suprise AZ at a great snowbird resort. I worked 4 miles away at a 300 bed hospital. Instead of working for a travel agency I hired on directly with the hospital for their seasonal program. You could work 3,6 or 9 months. It was financially much much better than any of the agencies could do. No suprise since it's a lot cheaper for the hospital. This provides another travel option.
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bigbubba1959
Illinois
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Wife and I are doing exactly this in 3 weeks. The housing stipend covers more than enough for Mh payment,park rent,insurances. Have any question pm me. Not about Rv'n cuss i am a greenhorn. But the travel nurse thing i can help
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lappir
Utah, Iowa, Florida or somewhere between
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Thanks for the reply LynnCCRN.
How do you determine how much per hour you need to offset the benefits of the travel company? Are you covered by Health Insurance? I have an opportunity to make around $10.00 more per hour this year than I did last but it's without benefits. I have checked around for a private health insurance policy but with moving from state to state it get's difficult. Cobra for 3 to 4 months of my current policy is over the top in cost and it's a marginal policy to start with.
Bigbubba1959,
How or where do you get enough for all that on one housing stipend?? Oh both you and your wife both are on a travel assignment. Do you work for the same company/hospital? I'm hoping I can just find a spot to park this winter.
thanks
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