update

Last week, while at work, my Cross Country recruiter called and left a message on my phone.  I finally called her back today and we went over a few more details for my upcoming travel job.  I need to get a nurse manager reference and a charge nurse reference.  Thankfully, I think I do have both at my current job that will work just fine. 

Currently there are 20 positions listed on their website and the one I am most hopeful will still be around in September is a 12hr dayshift position in Chicago for 12 weeks.  Of course, I would love to find a position that didn't last 12 weeks, but Chicago is only 5 hours a way and would be perfect for my first assignment.  The current listing is for dayshift, which is ideal, and 12 hr shifts, which would give me 4 days a week to explore the city.

I think Chicago would be perfect, and I am excited at the possibility of it being my first assignment.  My current recruiter (I will have a new one for the remainder of my employ with them) said that those listings are for now, and so we'll see what will be available in September closer to the end of August, beginning of September.  That makes me extremely nervous- to change my status at Covenant to occasional without an official signed assignment is unsettling.  But, even if I don't get to go to Chicago, there will be an assigment somewhere.

Anyway, Chicago would be ideal:  5 hr drive, dayshift, and even though it'd be for 12 weeks, it is within driving distance for family and friends to visit.  In those 12 weeks, I am certain I would have visitors at least every 2 weeks.  And I could come home as well.

Tomorrow I will apply for an Illinois license and then wait for my new Placement Consultant to contact me.  In the meantime, I need to take advantage of my dental and vision insurance that I am paying for.  My eyes are due for new glasses, probably, as I've had these for 2 years, and I'll need to go in for a dental check up before I lose the insurance.

removed

Just spoke with my Educator at The Cove and told her I didn't want to be on the transport team at this time and to please remove me from the classes this month. She was cool with it. She thinks I could still take the classes for my own educational purposes, but I don't want to catch any crap from coworkers or NNPs for taking the class and not joining the transport team. Work politics are so annoying!

transport vs. traveling

Transport RN- Remain full time at The Cove, most days would be as usual but if a baby needed to come to us from another hospital, the transport RN would go get him/her via helicopter or ambulance. More skills are learned and more money is earned while on the actual transport.

Traveling RN- Become Occasional at The Cove (2days/4wks), be my own boss, choose from hospitals that need RNs, travel to that location for 8-13 weeks (I have to do 2 travel assignments of 13 wks each before I can take shorter assignments), more skills are aquired (working at new facilities with new people) and much, much more money is earned. Plus, I get to see all kinds of places and learn new techniques from different facilities.

first application

While we visited in Cincinnati, Tonya told me about a traveling nurse that was stationed in their NICU and he loved it so much he was extending his assignment to Labor Day. I asked if she could get me any information from him, as I am forever researching from people. A day or two later, Tonya delivered :) He works for Cross Country TravCorps located in Florida, but he actually lives in one of the Carolinas, or Virginia... I can't remember which one.

I looked up their information and even though it is much the same as others, I was still impressed. They even had a spot on their website to show some example housing arangements which looked really nice.

While working this past weekend, I talked to a couple more coworkes about transport vs. traveling and I think I have come to the conclusion that I need to travel now, and transport later (if I still want to at a later date). Looking at the pros and cons, there are a few that are similar, but the cons of transport right now would last longer than the cons of traveling. Besides, I am young, single, without kids.... If I don't do it now, I may never get the chance. And my two coworkers, both married, but both without kids, said they both thought/talked about going, with or without their spouse, and didn't, and both regret it.

I tried calling my Educator yesterday to let her know the change in plans and so far she hasn't returned my call. Hopefully they aren't too mad about my decision, but I have to do what's best for me. Like my awesome coworker said the other day, this job isn't here for me, so I shouldn't be here for it. I need to do what is best for me.

Today I applied online for the CrossCountry travelers agency and I should hear from a recruiter within 24 hours.

transport

A new curveball has been thrown at me. I've been gearing myself up to dothis travel nursing thing, talked to my managers, etc, have even thought through how I could juggle things (While visiting Tonya & Sophia in Cincinnati, I was really impressed with their hospital and the proximity to home, and figured, it'd be nice to travel so close to home, especially if our census ever recovers here)... Anyway, I was approached, again, to sign up to join the transport team. I've been asked by both managers, ate least two NNPs, and several of my fellow coworkers have said I should. I have definitely thought about it, considered it, but the idea of beign out there, completely responsible for the patient, is overwhelming. Obviously I wouldn't ever be completely alone. Respiratory always goes with the RN, and depending on how sick the kiddo is, a NNP sometimes goes too. If the NNP doesn't go, I'd have a phone and contact with my NNP or Doc at all times; but it's still nerve-racking.

I was suckered in. Speaking with a couple of coworkers that are also signed up to take the transport classes, I decided to just jump in. So, I am signed up to take the three 8-hr classes in June and then I'll go through competencies and then I'll get to take a few runs with an NNP until I am comfortable going out on my own.

The benefits of being a Transport Nurse? I'll get paid time and a half while I'm out on transport, I'll get to perform some new skills, and I'll get the experience that I can't get on a regular basis just being at the bedside. Plus, it looks good on the resume.