Help! Is travel nursing right for me?

[Wildflower63]

I am very interested in travel nursing opportunities and need all the advice I can get. I am wondering if this is a reasonable choice to make and what it's really like. Who do you recommend working for or can you work for more than one agency?

I am 41 with a 14 year old daughter. I have a nightmare of a divorce going nowhere. My house is huge, which I get to pay for. I hate living here, but I have to pay for this place whether I like it or not. I'm getting no help here. My husband shows no interest in the kids, unless it is to put on a show on a holiday. I have serious doubts that he would even notice us gone for a three month assignment.

I want to travel and take my 14 year old daughter with me. I also own a Boxer, which I would definitely want to take also, but accept the fact that I may not always be able to do this. It may be difficult to hide the breed with dog friendly housing.

I have an 18 year old son, who is a high school drop out, that opted for freedom shortly after turning 18 and lives on his own, supporting himself. He is learning what it's like to be a grown up. He actually thanked me for 'helping him out'. All I did was provide food, a place to sleep, and let him use my car to pick up his girlfriend, nothing more. I never thought I would see the day I wasn't taken for granted.

My son is very agreeable to stay here taking care of the dog, the yard, and his sister. He is much more strict on her than I am, being big brother. My parents live seven houses down the street and will come over here and see what is going on. I think that I have it covered to do what I want, travel nursing. My daughter is 14, going on 24. She avoids me. My son lives on his own. All that I really have is a dog. How pathetic is my life?!

My daughter has been refusing to go with me. She has been complaining since we moved back into our house, wanting to move. We did live like vagrants for five years until my son got me evicted and would no matter where I rented. She thinks living like a vagrant is a very good option in lifestyle telling me to just move, when I have a mortgage to pay.

I want to take my daughter with me to a private apartment. I would love to take my dog, but realize this isn't always going to be an option. She changed her mind when she saw that I was going to leave, like it or not. Someone has to pay the bills. She doesn't have to go. Her brother will stay here and my parents will check on them.

I applied with Access Nurses. I'm sure most nurses have an arsenal of state license, but I don't. I have an entire five days to get a CA nursing license and the air fare is much higher than the $450 they are willing to pay. They say that they offer private housing at a reasonable cost, but told me no since the position is four weeks.

I am told that I have to pay all expense up front, but I don't have a grand sitting around, but do if I sell stock. I got rid of credit cards after paying off my husband's debt. Is this the norm, paying all expense up front to be reimbursed later? I don't have the money!

Actually I do, but have to sell stock and wait for the check before I can pay for anything up front. I honestly don't think I have the time, by July 11, to get a CA nursing license, pay for air fare, and rental car, to be reimbursed later. I got rid of all credit cards and pay cash for everything.

That's my situation. I hate living here. A full time local nursing job doesn't cover the massive bills for this oversized house that my husband will not sign off to sell, sticking me with all the bills because he doesn't live here. My daughter thinks vagrancy is a way of life and will go with me, once she figures out I am serious and will leave to work and make enough money to cover bills while she stays here, with her brother and my parents looking in on them.

Is this reasonable to opt for traveling nursing, in my circumstance? Please, be bluntly honest to the point of painful. I need advice from other nurses.

[sbnursing]

Flower, there are many other travel companies, check out AMS, Steve Lawrence is very nice and I'm sure he would be willing to help you if he could. Also, check out On Assignment, Michelle White. She was my recruiter while I worked for them and is also very nice. Good luck with everything. Its a shame that you have to have an a**hole for an ex. And when you leave your kids and they see how wonderful it is for you to travel, they'll change their minds.GOOD LUCK GIRL!!!

[Paul Strickland]

I'm sorry for what you are going through. I can give you all the info you need to make the best decision for YOU regarding travel nursing. I really think it will take 10 years off your life. I am a recruiter and I will answer all your questions or find the answers for you. Travel nursing will be like therapy! Good Luck! Call Me!

Thanks

Paul

Summit Medical Staffing
1-800-330-3867 Ext 812