Posted on 06/28/2010 12:38:32 AM PDT by 60Gunner
Wow. It's been over a year since I've last posted anything related to ER nursing. It's been a busy time for me, loaded with change. To spare the gory details, I will cut to the chase.
I have changed jobs.
After eight years with the same organization, I found that a combination of leadership changes (for the worse) and "hitting the ceiling" as far as my position and pay are concerned have led me to cast my gaze towards the horizon regarding my profession.
At the same time, I had been courted rather aggressively by a number of travel nurse organizations for the past year. Coincidence? Maybe. But the offers became more lucrative as time (and experience) passed. And I have to admit, I love road trips.
So, I finally took an offer.
I have to admit, it's a little daunting. After being in one place for so long, one gets a little set in one's ways. But I have always had a little wanderlust in me- a sense of adventure and desire to see as much as I can while I'm in this world. I guess it's time to shake the tree a little.
So I am a Travel Nurse now; a "hired gun," in a manner of speaking. I'll be able to lend my expertise to other ERs around the country, and at the same time, I'll learn from those places as well. This is a good thing.
My first assignment is down in Fort Defiance, Arizona. I am looking forward to learning about the Navajo culture, seeing some awesome sights, doing some hiking, generating some new stories, and perhaps meeting some FReepers in the area.
If any of my readers happen to live in the vicinity, give me a ping. I am looking forward to expanding my world a bit.
More ER Nursing Stories to come!
More ER Nursing Stories to come!
If you have a ping list, please put me on it? Thank you.
How exciting. I hope it works out well for you, and that you manage to enjoy your trips.
I bet you’re heard this one a 1,00 times ...
“I always get 4 mg of Demerol IV for my pain”
Friends of mine who have traveled loved it. Enjoy it. This RN is too married and the kids are too young for me to Travel.
-RN - Pittsburgh - UPMC
You’re on, Judith Anne. Thanks for your interest!
You’re a good writer. I’d love to see your stories collected in a book and published. We all have a million stories; you have a gift for the telling.
I'm a medical transcriptionist, so I never get hands-on experience, but some of the stories I transcribe are interesting.
We are hoping to end up in northern Arizona next year (tentative destination is Kingman).
Well, all the best to you!
If that’s all they want - let ‘em have it.
4mg is a puny dose.
...wait, that didn't come out right.
Cheers!
God Bless you in your travels. I have known single nurses that really took advantage and traveled the world. It makes it tough if you have a family.
Thanks for the update.
Best wishes and good luck with the new job.
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
Looking forward to it. Best of luck.
There is so much to do in Arizona it’s amazing. You are going to love it here - welcome!
One, they are paid way more than the local nurses. Two, the hospital will actually bump local nurses off a shift (losing a day's pay) in deference to a travel nurse. Three, the travel nurses are generally (although not in your case) either from a foreign country or just out of nursing school. Four, the travel nurses have a sense of arrogance based on their pay and the hype the the nurses receive from the recruiters.
Just some thoughts on what I hear from my wife. She has come across some travel nurses that she felt were a needed and welcome addition and they were very nice. But it seems about half fall into the above categories.
welcome to AZ from Bill in Tempe
Thank God!
Best of luck on your job change.
Looking forward to some more war stories.
Just last week I referred a conservative friend who was thinking about buying a Prius (yes, a Prius) to your Hybrid cars: Death in a Bunny Suit story.
Would you kindly put me on your ping list? I can’t wait to read of your future exploits.
Best of luck to ya Gunner!
Just the other day, I was wondering where you’d been, and was hoping you were ok. Good to hear from you!
Hope you held out for a new Mustang! ;)
Best wishes to you in your new assignment.Sounds like a perfect fit.
Nice to see you’re back. I wondered what happened to you and your stories...
May I be added to your ping list also please. Thank you.
I was a “Gypsy Nurse” as my wife referred to our Travel Nurse title, She and I traveled together for ten years. As a Charge nurse for 15 years in the Military hospital system, it was refreshing to start traveling. The best benefit of being a Traveler was the fact that you did not have to spend a lot of time figuring out the political factors on the various wards. You will be expected to hit the ground running and as far as “Higher Pay” , “To those whom much is given, Much is Expected” I enjoyed my travel career and only quit the business to take care of my wife when she became ill, I took care of her for three years until she finally died of her illness. I worked in 37 of the 50 states and enjoyed working in 36 of them.
missed your stories.
Welcome back! I missed you.
Congrats on your new job; it sounds super.
Congratulations on your new career path! Sounds very interesting. I hope it’s all you hope for it to be. Are you sticking to a region of the country, or available to all the US? international, even?
I’ve missed your writing.
Congrats on the new position! I worked with a travel nurse when I worked NICU and she had her little circuit-3 months in Hawaii, 3 months in Denver, 3 months in Indianapolis and I forget where else she went. She spoke very highly of travel nursing. I’ve missed your stories and look forward to reading about your new adventures as an ER Travel Nurse!
Ditto! I think the writing is exemplary and the stories are riveting and speak to the humanity in us all.
Good luck with the new endeavor.
How wierd. I was just wondering what happened to you...
Good to see you back, and a BTT.
Glad to see you back. I’d wondered what happened to you. Please write a new story soon!
Indeed. I'd sort of hoped tht 60Gunner's prolonged absence was due to his have traded in writing on FR for writing a book.
Well, it looks like there is a consensus.... we all missed you and can’t wait for another story. I’m glad you’re back.
I’ve missed your nursing stories! I hope you enjoy the travel...and I’m so happy that you actually have a job!
Best wishes to you, and your future endeavors! May they bring the stories I’ve come to love and admire! ;o)
I just read this.....I’m excited for you and your new career path/adventure! You know how to do your job, it’s just the computer stuff/supplies/new people to figure out challenges!
I’m off to work in but I look forward to hearing about your new job!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.