NURSING ABROAD | TRAVEL NURSING

NURSING ABROAD

TRAVEL NURSING -- An Editorial -- Personally, I love nursing abroad. It gives you the opportunity to travel the country at someone else’s expense. It’s not just a quick visit – you really get to experience the culture while living as a tourist.

Before applying as a nurse abroad you should have a minimum of 1, preferably 2 years experience in your specialty. The orientations you will receive as a travel nurse are minimal. Usually never more than 1 week. You will be expected to know how to care for the patients without much guidance. Bring along a good pair of headphones!

Orientation generally consists of 1 shift of hospital regulations and paperwork + OSHA required films and curriculum (blood-borne pathogens, fire safety). The remaining shifts of the week will round out your orientation. Basically, a patient is a patient no matter where they’re located – it’s just knowing what that hospital’s protocol is for treating that patient and where to find the equipment you need. For example, a post-op belly is the same in NJ as it is in Utah –NPO, IV fluids, NG Tube, etc. It’s just knowing how that hospital documents and where you will find all the equipment you need that’s the challenge.

The salary will range depending on where you are traveling, your experience, and whether or not housing is provided. If you travel locally, or provide your own housing (like live in an RV), you will make a bit more than if you are provided housing.

Generally, you choose a few travel companies to register with. There is an extensive amount of paperwork you will need to do to get started – copy of your license(s), certifications, and lots and lots of skills checklists. Once you start to talk to recruiters, you will want to ask them several questions: Housing -- Is private housing provided -- Private housing should be provided for you. -- YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR HOUSING. -- If the company says you will have to pay for housing or find your own housing, look elsewhere.

It’s a competitive market. Most places have coordinators that make all the arrangements for you. -- What kind of housing is provided? -- Some companies put you up in a hotel the entire time you’re there, other companies provide you with a furnished apartment -- If it’s an apartment: -- Find out what the furnishings are - nowadays, most companies provide almost everything – furniture, dishes, appliances, etc. Make sure you specifically ask what is provided. -- Ask if utilities and/or cable is included – sometimes everything is included -- Can I bring my pet? I always traveled with my cats. I told them up front, and they always found me a pet-friendly apartment Hours • How many hours will I be expected to work per week?

Some places contract you to a large # of hours per week – 48-60. Ask ahead of time. If you don’t routinely want to work more than 36 or 40 hours per week, be up front and let them know ahead of time.

• Is overtime available?
• How many weeks is the contract?

Some hospitals/travel companies offer 4 or 6 week contracts, others have a minimum 13 week contract. Often for Alaska/Hawaii, the minimum is 6 months.

 • Is there an option to extend the contract?

When in doubt, take a short contract that can be renewed. That way, if the hospital or position isn’t a good fit, you’re not stuck there.
Position

• Will I have to float to other units? • What is the patient population? ***If you are working in an ER or ICU, you may want to ask if you will be given a regular assignment (like staff employees) or if you will be given a holding unit or chronic assignment.

 • The recruiter may not know the answer to this question. You may have to ask during the telephone interview with the hospital rep or nurse manager of the unit. Pay • How often will I be paid? Some companies pay daily. Others weekly or bi-weekly.

• How will I be paid? Some companies will pay via a debit card, others direct deposit. • Do you provide health benefits? o When do they start? Some companies now offer 1st day benefits. Others after you complete a 13 week assignment. • Do you provide paid vacation? Some companies offer contract bonuses in lieu of paid time off • Does your company pay for my nursing licenses? If not, it’s tax deductible. • Does your company pay mileage? Some companies give you a per-mile rate to get to your assignment. • Do you include a per-diem allowance?

****THIS IS BIG**** -- if you work > 75 miles from your primary home (and you have a permanent home address), you are generally eligible for a non-taxable per-diem allowance from the state that you will work in. This greatly increases your take home pay • You will want to ask if the company provides this for you in your paycheck. Some companies do, others will tell you to have an accountant do it for you. • Is there a completion bonus?

Some contracts will have a completion bonus at the end of the contract. Telephone Interview As I alluded to before, you will have a telephone interview with a rep from the hospital, usually the manager of the unit you’ll be working in. You will want to ask them any questions (about the work assignment) that the recruiter is unfamiliar with. • Are their other travelers at the hospital? In their department? How does their staff feel about travelers?

Some hospitals have had great experiences with travelers or you will be their 1st traveler. This is a great situation. Generally, the staff is curious about why you want to travel, specifically to their hospital, and will be excited that you’re there.

Some hospitals have had really bad experiences with travelers. Unfortunately, this will likely make for a rough few weeks until you get to know people and show them that you’re competent and there to do the job. • Some staff are nasty because they think you are making much more than they are. This may or may not be the case.

I highly recommend not disclosing your salary. Once you agree to work at a hospital, you will be sent a contract. Check the start/stop dates, the minimum/guaranteed hours, the hourly rate. Anything else that you have negotiated should be in the contract – if you have an agreement that you don’t have to float, and it’s not written in the contract, you may end up floating. Getting ready to apply – you will need: • A copy of your current nursing license(s) o If you do not have one already, you may want to consider getting a license in a state that honors the nursing compact. A license from any one of the states is valid in any other of the states.

If you do not have a license for the state that you want to travel in, you will need to pursue that license.

Some states are walk-in states – you show up with your documents and your $$ and you walk out with a license  Other states you have to mail everything away and wait for the license. This can take up to 2 months. • A recent physical stating that you’re in good health o You may have to have your physician sign off on company specific forms, which they are generally willing to do if you’ve had a physical within a year • Copies of your immunizations and/or titers • A PPD done within 6 months • Copies of your current certifications Other things to know • As a travel nurse, almost everything is tax deductible. Save receipts for everything. • Different companies offer different additional perks. Some are pretty cool.

PROS • Traveling on someone else’s dime • Seeing the country • Meeting new people • Learning different ways of doing things • Experiencing new cultures • Getting to work and enjoy the patients without being in the department politics CONS • Away from friends and family (unless you “travel” exclusively locally) • Having to pack/unpack several times per year • Sometimes the hospital staff isn’t friendly

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Topics: travel nursing, nursing, cross country travel corps, travel nursing jobs, travel nursing salaries... :)