Healthcare Traveler - September 2008 - (Page 17)

How local factors inﬂuence healthcare travel assignments Anne Baye Ericksen ant to treat a wide breadth of medical conditions, diseases, and injuries? Do you thrive in a fast-paced, energy-charged environment? Do you feel compelled to constantly try something new or immerse yourself in unfamiliar surroundings? If you answered in the affirmative to any of the above questions, then chances are you selected the emergency department (ED) as your practice setting. What is also likely is that you are currently a nurse traveler—or at least considering making the leap to a mobile lifestyle. The emergency department is one of the few practice environments where you encounter the common complaints, such as the flu or children’s earaches, and some of the most serious medical situations, like traumas and myocardial infarctions. The patient population is equally diverse, covering a spectrum of socioeconomic classifications and age groups. Additionally, the ED demographics reflect a town’s ethnic makeup. In fact, you might say that the ED is truly a microcosm of the community at large. Although you come across many similarities from one ED to another in your travels, the fact is that certain regions display unique characteristics. A large urban center in the Northeast might exude one type of corporate culture and a suburban hospital in the Mid- or Southwest may possess an entirely different “personality.” Of course, facility size affects how an ED functions, but geography and the local population also dictate cultural influences. Read on to learn how three emergency nurse travelers view opportunities in the Northeast, Midwest, and West/Southwest. Northeast: Busy and varied With 2 years on the road so far, Patrick Kelly, ASN, RN, is a relative newcomer to the mobile lifestyle. He boasts, “I love the fact that I can go just about anywhere, meet new people, and for the most part, earn as much if not more than regular staff members.” When Patrick was discharged from the U.S. Air Force, he used the funding available through the G.I. Bill to attend nursing school. During this time, he also worked as an EMT, so it was a natural transition for him to continue his healthcare career in the emergency department. “The ED is fast-paced and I like the varied levels of acuity and different patient populations I can experience while traveling.” After practicing as a core staff member for a year, Patrick aligned himself with MedStaff Healthcare Solutions, a staffing agency located in Newton Square, Pennsylvania, and began his travel career. He had just purchased his first home, which was in need of repairs. Consequentially, Patrick initially sought local assignments in his native Philadelphia. “Because I did not travel far, I could stay in my own home and get necessary work completed. I did, however, receive a housing stipend. So, basically, my travel company helped pay my mortgage during this time.” » September 2008 Healthcare Traveler 17

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Healthcare Traveler - September 2008

Healthcare Traveler - September 2008 Editor's Desk Contents In a Flash Paws for Thought Field Notes Regional Differences in the ED Joining Together Drug Update Clinical Tips Cityscape Advertiser's Index Name It Travel Tips Big Deals Tax Facts Dot.com Contest Rules Allied Corner Going the Distance Classifieds Tales from the Road

Healthcare Traveler - September 2008

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