Travel Nursing..........

one of my friends was here working at the hospital...pm me and I will give you her number....

maybe i can help, i am not a travel nurse, but rather hospital contract for one year, i started in sept and have made it so far, i work with many travel nurses, some are happy some not so happy. i work on the maternal child health unit and am pleased with the unit. the hospital is understaffed, and slightly behind the states (i came from university of pennsylvania hospital). I was used to having everything at my finger tips and good staffing. they treat travel nurses well and would love to have more permanent nurses. most of the nurses i know have contracts with True-Staff and cross-counrty. Nobody really seems to have problem with their housing and this agencies. most of the time they are mostly discouraged by the sometime chaotic atmosphere at the hospital. I hope this helps a little, I would take the opporunity to come here for three months on assignment, the island and people are great and the hospital overall is nice.

good luck,
annelies

Which island are you located?

I am coming over on a contract Nov 19th, with Professional Nursing. Anyone with any tips or hints I would truly appreciate. I have wanted to move to the islands for years and have migrated from Cali to Florida and looks like I finally will live out my dream. I am excited and nervous, I have been a nurse for 20+ years and will be in the ER. Just would love to hear other travel RN's experiences'...

Just starting in the ER tomorrow on a nursing assignment. If you want just email me and I'll let you know how it goes. Ive also been in ER's for a long time, 22 years as a nurse.
Fascianotime@hotmail.com

Hi, If you do not mind answering, what is your hourly pay, is all housing and utilities paid, and travel expenses? I am currently w/Nova Pro with a great contract in Ca. and would love to be in the islands after this stint is over.

Thanks,

Andrea

To parrothead,
I assume you are a jimmy buffet fan so you should definately hook up with Kim at aqua action divers. She can tell you about the local clubl, meeting, etc.
Also, If you'll PM me I'll be glad to pass on words of wisdom as a nurse who has worked on st. thomas and st. croix.
sidnie

Thanks Sidnie, right about JB....big fan for 25 years. I would love to hear your words of wisdom for the hospital scene as I know this experience will be different than most of the hospitals I've been at. Although I have done some rural nursing....4 years in a 3 bed ER in a town of 3000, so that experience should prove worthwhile. I will for sure hook up with Kim, I would love to meet other Parrotheads...
With Regards.....
Lisa...

I am so frustrated tonight - to all of the travel nurses on the islands. I have 8 years RN experience with 4 being in acute Labor and Delivery and the St. Thomas Hospital turned me down becasue I had not worked in that field for 11 months. My friends and home are there; travel there a few times a year. I intend on doing anything I can to make it down there to live. Can anyone give advice on other RN opportunities there may be on St. John or St. Thomas?

That so doesn't suprise me. LOL. Any chance you would work on st. croix? The hospital is nice and the head nurse of L&D may not be so difficult. I know RN network has the care facility in charlotte amalie downtown although you may not want to work there. What have you done the other four years besides L&D? maybe the hospital would take you in a different position.
Good luck, I understand your missing it.
Sidnie

If you want to PM, feel free. Is there more than one hospital on St. Thomas? If so, I will apply to that one. I am doing so much research and am thinking of calling private practices. I know the islands well but how far is St. Croix from St. John by ferry? I would be open to it. Got a connection for me? Thanks if so.

There is a "commuter" ferry to St Thomas from St John, but no ferry to St Croix at present. Commuting daily to St Croix is not a realistic option as the airfare is prohibitive in my humble opinion. My husband is Nurse Practitioner here on St Croix in private practice hough so no info on the Hospital here. I would look more on StThomas. Good Luck

STX is 40 miles across the water from STT. It wouldn't work to commute back and forth... but living on STX is nice and you'd still be close to visit family even if you didn't see them everyday. And you'd be back in the islands. 🙂

I am not looking to live on St. John. I am willing to live on St. Croix if there is a position open for a qualified experienced RN. Everyone I know has a boat so travel is not a deal. If anyone knows of a contact at the hospital on St. Croix, please forward it to me. Got to get back home, with some money in my pocket.

Hannifer Britton is the name of the nurse recruiter on st. croix.She is an awsome, friendly, helpful person. I would call her and see what she recommends. I'm sure they have openings.
good luck, sidnie

Juan Luis Hospital on STX is ALWAYS seeking nurses. They hire a lot of traveling nurses through contracting companies, but are thrilled to get long-term, full-time nursing staff additions. With the kind of experience you outlined in your post, they should be eager to bring you on staff.

Islandnurse,

Did you apply to RLS hospital as a permanent nurse? They need travel nurses because they don't have the funds to pay another permanent. Talk to a travel nurse company and try to get back to back tours.

Hello,
I am currently in the DC Metro Area and looking to get the VI. I am an RN, BSN, and looking if anyone can help me find a position there? My husband and I are looking to come to the islands to get out of the rat race of DC. Thank you.

Kristin

Kristen: You can look at the hospital web sites: www.rlshospital.org for St Thomas and (help!) for St Croix. You would probably do better coming down and making personal contacts. Nurses are needed, however, the pay will not be what you are getting in Washington.

Which island are you wanting to go to? It actually makes a difference regarding which company is better. I've done both so I can help steer you.
sidnie

I am looking to go to St. Thomas.

My best advice would be to call abetta care and talk to todd. He has the best to offer travel nurses for pay and benefits.
good luck and feel free to PM me if you have specific questions.
sidnie

Islandnurse: I believe Sidnie is giving you information on traveling positions (with the hospital). If you are serious about living here, there are a lot more opportunities, but you will have to search them out. You will be limited in the length of a contract for the hospital, then will be asked to make a decision to be permanent. In the long run, you will not be able to sustain the pay and benefits that the travelers get.

I realize all of this. I have done so much research that my head is spinning. I figure that I need to get there first and then I can find something more permanent. I appreciate all of your advice. If I know I am coming down, we'll have a toast.