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Tylasia
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What does a month look like as a travel nurse?
At school I'm most interested into #science and health classes .
#nursing #travel #healthcare #health #nurse #medicine
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2 answers
Desiree Giler Mann
Attorney
166
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Desiree’s Answer
To be clear, I am not a travel nurse. However, for business and personal travel, I have visited the travel medicine dept of a prestigious NYC hospital several times.
First and foremost, there is a difference between a medical professional who travels (think “Doctors Without Borders” - which includes other professionals aside from just MDs; or to accompany dignitaries/famous people in their travels to provide medical assistance) and a travel medicine professional (who has expertise in ailments/prevention of diseases associated with travel). You might want to research on line whichever interests you.
The travel medicine nurses I worked with took my health history and travel history/plans, consulted with me on CDC/Dept of State recommended vaccinations & medicines for travel to that particular country/region, prep’ed the doctor (I could not hear all that discussion!), assisted the doctor in administering vaccines to me, provided me required paper work (to prove to foreign governments that I was duly vaccinated), provided me the prescriptions for travel medicine (which the doctor had signed), and advised on what to do in certain circumstances when traveling (eg, if I were bitten by a local dog, monkey or other animal; if I needed medicine administered by a syringe; if I were exhibiting flu-like symptoms that could be something else - dengue, Japanese encephalitis- in another country or shortly after return to my home country); etc.
Research on line “travel medicine”
Identify a nearby hospital with a travel medicine practice and email/call to ask if a nurse can speak with you for 15-30 min about his/her career path.
First and foremost, there is a difference between a medical professional who travels (think “Doctors Without Borders” - which includes other professionals aside from just MDs; or to accompany dignitaries/famous people in their travels to provide medical assistance) and a travel medicine professional (who has expertise in ailments/prevention of diseases associated with travel). You might want to research on line whichever interests you.
The travel medicine nurses I worked with took my health history and travel history/plans, consulted with me on CDC/Dept of State recommended vaccinations & medicines for travel to that particular country/region, prep’ed the doctor (I could not hear all that discussion!), assisted the doctor in administering vaccines to me, provided me required paper work (to prove to foreign governments that I was duly vaccinated), provided me the prescriptions for travel medicine (which the doctor had signed), and advised on what to do in certain circumstances when traveling (eg, if I were bitten by a local dog, monkey or other animal; if I needed medicine administered by a syringe; if I were exhibiting flu-like symptoms that could be something else - dengue, Japanese encephalitis- in another country or shortly after return to my home country); etc.
Desiree recommends the following next steps:
Christie Jones
Nurse
1
Answer
Owasso, Oklahoma
Updated
Christie’s Answer
It depends on the environment you choose to contract. For example, I did 3 months at a hospital two hours away. I got a hotel for two nights and worked three 12 hour shifts then went home for the other 4 days. Some facilities allow 7 on 7 off, which is nice for night shift. So you’d basically work 14 days and off 14 days. Another example is my current travel position where I work Monday through Friday 9-6p and just commute each day. It’s very nice!
Go to nursing school
Pass NCLEX (board exam for licensure)
Work in an entry level position for 1-2 years
Apply for travel nurse position of your choice
Christie recommends the following next steps: