Updates!
I realized I’ve been mostly writing advice, and for someone who is just starting as a travel nurse that may be a bit presumptuous and arrogant of me. So instead, this entry will focus more on my specific experience thus far!
When I came to Philly, I booked an Airbnb for the entire duration of my contract. Mainly because I didn’t want to have to stress about not having a place to stay between shifts, but I later learned that may have been a mistake… The Airbnb was tolerable (especially considering it was less than 10 minutes from work and a decent price for a secondary home), but far from ideal. So about 4 weeks in I decided to request a shorter stay and found a different Airbnb. Thankfully, not being an outright cancellation, it didn’t result in wasted money. Just three more weeks and then I moved into a different Airbnb. So for the future (if I go the Airbnb route), I’m thinking it may be a better idea to book a shorter stay just in case it isn’t a good fit. Or, like my travel nurse mentor suggests, book a hotel for the first week or two! Then I’d have a better idea of what’s around.
I’ve spent about half my shifts on my unit of hire, and the other half floating, but as I’ve said before, it’s been pretty decent! I remember thinking in my old staff job that travelers so often were sh** on and given the worst assignments. Especially being the charge nurse who was always told to float the agency first and surrounded by the misguided subconscious feeling that for some reason travelers should work harder due to their better pay (we’ll open that can of worms later), I knew how easy it was just to throw travelers to the wolves. Though definitely true sometimes, it’s nice to see that’s not always true. Especially if you make an effort to help staff and make connections. I was surprised how only one shift floated to a different unit, that staff remembered me and mentioned me for future pulls. I’ve been to 6 different Med-Surg/Tele units aside from my unit of hire, but thankfully haven’t had any crazy nights with ratios or inappropriate assignments (knock on wood). Usually having 3-5 patients, and hearing from old coworkers the horror stories of a tele unit with average ratios 7/8 and no PCA… I’m coasting! Hence why I’m still on the fence whether to extend or move on to a different assignment.
One thing I have struggled with is developing close work relationships. Part of the reason is knowing that my role here is only temporary, so building any significant friendships may only lead to future pain for them or myself when I go. I say that knowing how it is to be a staff nurse watching amazing travelers come and go. Sure they remain friends and only a text/call away, but saying goodbye again and again can be emotionally exhausting. Even so, being friendly and cooperative with coworkers is easy to do and doesn’t require years of history.
I also wish I had been more adventurous with sight-seeing around the area sooner. Not like I haven’t been to Philly numerous times in the past, but there is still plenty I haven’t seen or done. Restricting myself to only being here for work has definitely limited my experience. Hopefully with more time and exposure I’ll be more comfortable traveling and doing things solo (aside from hiking/running).
Over 8 weeks into my first assignment, which means it’s time to decide whether to stay here and extend, or find my next assignment elsewhere. As I said before, the work conditions could definitely be much worse, but there are some strong reasons to move onward. Originally I was planning a trip out of the country for the month of December, so was going to extend until then. Now, the trip is on hold unfortunately, so I am free to do whatever. Being close to the Christmas/New Years though, I’m thinking it may be nice to have a few weeks off around that time. So current plan is to extend until late December and find a new assignment for early January. Hopefully by then I’ll have my MD license and be able to travel more places than just PA (which is not yet a compact state). And who knows, maybe I’ll spontaneously decide to take one of those Covid relief positions across the country!
Compact states as of July 2021
