Travelling nurses in STT

My gf works in healthcare at the hospital on st thomas as a permanent worker not as a traveler. However, she deals with travelers on a daily basis. What would you like to know? Would you like to ask your questions here or send them in a private message?

Well, Hi Michiganman. I would love to coverse privately with your gf, if she is willing. But I AM interested in the travellers' experience with the provided housing and how they stretched their wage to cover expenses.
I'm a Michigander myself, relocated to KY 3 years ago.
Thanks for writing!
Deb

And the board would love to read whatever you're willing to post publicly, since travelling nurse questions come up periodically, and there are widely differing views on the subject, particularly about working conditions.

Yes....the board would love to hear. 🙂

----current traveler, hoping for STT or STX in August.

Sorry I am jsut now getting back to you.

She will ask them specifically about living arrangements tommorow.

The unofficial social structure is :

Islander - Permanent worker
Islander - Traveler (there are none)
Continental - Permanent worker
Continental - Traveler

Note: A continental is someone from the mainland US.

Typically a continental traveler is on a 13 or 26 week assignment.
If a traveler doesnt have a car, they get around by safari.

More specifice tommorow

Talked with her some more this morning and she said that she will talk with some travelers today to get more specifics.

One thing that she did way was that rare specialists such as CRNA's and anesthesiologist get a rental car allowance while they are on their rotation. Some of the other specialist dont get this.

Send a message to my PM and I will give you her facebook page. You can ask her more specific questions there. She is on facebook but not a member of this message board.

lovetosail. Just sent her facebook information to you.

Other tidbits of information that I got from her are:
- For travelers, the benifits vary from agency to agency.
-they dont have to pay for housing. they provide an apt or they provide the money to get one. it would be difficult to find temp housing for 13, 26, etc weeks however.
-If the worker is required to be "on call" (which most of them are required to do so), then the agency provides them with transportation
-They typically dont have to share an apt with anyone. the apts come furnished.

Some negative things that i have heard are:
-There are many things to adjust to on any traveler assignment. A lot of continental travelers have trouble adjusting to island pace and attitude. To the virgin islanders defense, there is a traveler here that used to be on assignment in Hawaii and he said the island attitude in Hawaii is 10 times worse than in the Virgin Islands.
-Adjusting to patients showing up late for appts. In detroit, if a patient shows up 20 mins late for an appointment, thats a lick on them. They have to reschedule. In the VI showing up 3 hours late for your appt is acceptable.
-It takes forever to get the surgical rooms turned over. That pushes timelines, etc. Overall , it cost the hospitals money.
-There is resentment from the locals to continentals in general. Varioius reasons for this (again, its been reported that this attitude is 10 times worse in Hawaii)

Will post more as she shares more information with me

My feeling is that the resentment is more as traveler than as Continental. In fact, people will ask new nurses if they are NOPAed or traveling. Travelers get more money and perks than the staff nurses, tend to be in party mode, etc. Locals tend to see a lot of people come and go, so don't invest much in those who are just passing through. But those who come to stay, become involved in the culture, etc. will be rewarded...eventually.;)

What is "NOPA"?

Notice of Personnel Action- it is the paperwork for a gov'mint job.

Thanks all for your input. I'm hoping to get an assignment in midAugust. I will come as a temp, but truly looking at it for potential perm relocation or repeat visits. I won't be in party mode. I am interested in people, culture, giving and receiving what life has to offer. I have enjoyed the posts here. I love to read the relocation stories.
Thanks!
Deb in KY

Do they do this at all with PA's?

Do who do what with PAs?:S

Sorry,
Hire traveling PA's?
Jeff

Y'know...I don't know if there are any travelers who are PAs. I would have to ask about that. Did you check the Schneider website? There is info about job openings. Do you have a specialty?