[Nomadic Travel Nurse]

I am looking for a contract in the South Pacific. The Republic of Kiribati? Samoa? Guam? Any idea where I should start? I have 19 years of experience with the most recent being in E.D./Trauma.

[ruthiebaby88]

the closest thing I know of is the Virgin Islands - though it's atlantic! Cross country can get you there. In places where the economy isn't so good - they don't tend to need travel nurses - local people want to be a nurse since there aren't lots of other jobs to be had. On islands where there are us military bases I have heard you can work for them as a civilian.

[chickpea49]

There might be a remote possibility of a government civilian RN position in Guam - otherwise have not heard anything about south pacific travel. I'm curious about how you became interested in Kiribati - and hope you have read J. Maarten Troost's book about living there. He's not in health care but his depiction of life in the south pacific is fabulous.

I honeymooned in Fiji and ended up taking a ride to the hospital with a villager who was performing at our resort, had a seizure, and stopped breathing. Doing CPR in the back of a van careening down unpaved roads on a dark rainy night was certainly an experience. No ambulances. I was barefoot in a tshirt and shorts and the hospital staff didn't question any of my suggestions - basically let me run the code. No sharps containers. They did have a defib. Granted this was in 1998, but I'm guessing not much has changed. The cultural response to the woman's death was also fascinating - seemed much healther than what I've experienced here.

That and my experience as a travel RN in the USVI prompt me to always get travel/air ambulance insurance and really appreciate the health care we have in the states!

I do have to say the Fijiians as a group were the most genuinely friendly people I have ever encountered in my travels (Kiwis are a close 2nd).

Best of luck - let me know what you find out!

[cougarnurse]

Chickpea, sounds like you did have quite an experience!