The upfront cost

Some people travel for the chance to see new places, some people do it for the chance to learn new things in new hospitals and some do it for the money. Most of us probably do it for all three.

While the end result of travelling should be financial gain, the start up costs are freaking me out. Most people keep a permanent residence while they travel, but we are moving entirely. Anyone who isn't living under a rock knows moving is expensive. So the cost of buying moving materials starts adding up. Also, the costs of getting the license from another state can be anywhere from $37 (Colorado) to over $200 (most states). Setting up my own residence allows me to recieve a generous housing stipend, but I still need to pay a security deposit and be prepared to pay the first month's rent when I get there. Not to mention the cost of driving 3000 miles. I will recieve reimbursements for some of the trave and the licensure. And the housing will be paid for as mentioned above. It will end up paying out in the end and each subsequent travel assignment will cost less and less upfront. The first one is a bear!

Be prepared for such costs. I was ALMOST prepared. Thank goodness I have my wonderful mother who helped me out when I realized I didn't have the zillion dollars right away to get this going and thank goodness I have friends and family that happen to be on the way to Washington. Seeing them is priceless, so I guess I will also be reimbursed in ways that are way more amazing than money.

Getting Started

I've been playing around with the travel nursing idea since I got into nursing. I did a single stint in 2008. This was a complete disaster but in all actuality a blessing in disguise. My soon to be ex husband informed me he had cheated on me and wanted a divorce. After straightening out a few things, I headed off to Florida to see what was out there. What I did not expect to find was the most amazing man I've ever known. Fast forward two years.
With a bad economy, a boatload of debt (including $20,000 of debt from aformentioned ex) and no lease/mortage or children to worry about, Mark and I decided to try out the travel biz.
Getting started is easy although tedious. It means filling out tons of application type forms which also include the dreaded Skills Checklist. The Skills Checklists are forms which have you rate how skilled you are at a task, your knowledge of equipment, medications and the like. Most of these forms were created in the 1980's and have been only scantily updated since. I had to fill out one that listed at least 10 different types of ventilators. I had to look up a few of them. I'm suprised there wasn't an iron lung on the list. And nobody knows the names of the vents they are working with. Also a lot of the meds listed on these forms are generally not used in practice today. Unless you're heading to an underdeveloped nation, you'll never use them. I hate rating myself and the numbers are so arbitrary.
After hundred forms and only a few less phone calls, I had an interview. In Pampa, TX. Lord have mercy. I hope I never end up there.

I Googled it and this was the second image that popped up. The first was of a dirt field with no crops in it. Maybe they got blown away by the tornado. Anyway, I declined the offer. And luckily the next day, a nurse manager from Wenatchee, WA called. We had a nice interview and a few hours later I was extended an offer. I have always been drawn to the Pacific Northwest and soon we'll be on our way. We leave in one week and sometimes I feel like I'm on track to be ready to move and sometimes I think I'll never get it all done! Sleep is apparently beyond me as I have not slept more than a few hours at a time since we realized we were moving. So in the interest of time crunching, I decided to sit down and write a blog (because that will get things done).
Cheers!