Nursing from an RV – Traveling Nurses

Some words from some full time traveling nurses on RV travel, and what its like to be full time on the road.

“My husband & I have been traveling for 7 years now. We are full timers. We love our life style. We live full time in a 36 foot 5th wheel. We no longer have a home, but do rent a duplex to store what little we have left and that also gives us a legal home base for tax free subsidy. We pay anywhere from 340 a month to 994 a month for rv space. Some parks include elec and some you pay elec on top of the rent. We paid 81,000 for our 5th wheel and just bought a new truck to pull it with, which was another 35,000. We enjoy visiting the sights around the area where I am working. My husband is retired and he stays busy taking care of the 5th wheel, truck and our 2 dogs. let me know if you have further questions. Good luck and happy traveling if youi decide to hit the road.” – Nurse Dian

“I have been RVing to new assignments for two years now and love it. It allows me to take my own dishes (ok, china) and all of my own personal belongings without the hassel of constantly packing and unpacking and choosing what to leave behind. I own a 5th wheel with 4 pulls outs with a fireplace and everything. I use my relocation monies to have someone else pull it, set it up and I am ready to go. My dish is in the basement and it is set up in no time by the dish folks. I have an office, living room/dining room combo, great kitchen and a fab bedroom with cedar lined closets. My dogs and I coulldn’t ask for more. And when hubby comes to visit, it’s our own romantic getaway. ” – Nurse Beth

Advice for traveling nurses

The best advice I can give to nurses coming into a new city on assignment is to join a league or some type of activities club in the area. I joined a basketball league when I went assignment up in Portland, and now that I am in San Diego I participate in Vavi Sports-which is a local social sports club. You make local friends easily, plus get some exercise and invitations to social events.

For me, when I want to make some money (fast) I always get an assignment with a state that either has a compact license with a state I already have a license in, or I go on assignment in a state where I can do a walk through to get a license.

States with walk throughs that I know of include: California, Maryland, Arizona, Washington D.C., South Carolina, Missouri and Hawaii.

Use yelp.com to get tips on restaurants, salons, entertainment venues, bars, outdoor activities, etc…..

I really recommend it. Better than most city guides out there.

The cost of an RV is quite significant ($100,000), but right now is the time to buy because of the recent fluctuation in gas prices and the economy a lot of people are selling them. Your camping cost per night is about $30. Also, insurance is about 2% of the cost of the RV per year. Depending on the state you purchase your RV in you will have to pay sales tax and the RV depreciates rapidly, hence, it is just like most new cars. In summary we figured it would cost us about $2,500 per month to live in an RV (this price includes everything we mentioned above plus fuel).

Many new nurses have choosen to purchase used RVs for their travel nursing gigs, and have had a lot of success with it.

Preparing for the NCLEX – NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN Examinations

A lot of nurse students and people who currently have nursing degrees but face them selves coming up on the NCLEX-RN and/or NCLEX-PN Examinations should avoid costly review sites and programs and stick to just studying the available practice material as much as possible. Many of those who have recently completed the NCLEX-RN and/or NCLEX-PN Examinations have found that the best practice, has come from self study rather than the reviews of NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN Examinations.

If you are about to relocate it is important to study where you are, and test there first, this will reduce any information being lost and help focus on your current studies. There is a great amount of stress associated with the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN Examinations but the most important thing to know is that you have prepared for this throughout your career and/or studies.

NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN Examinations Procedure:The application for licensure by examination includes a question about need for
accommodation.
More specific information is sent to individuals on request or when an applicant responds
“yes” to special accommodations on the application.
A written request for accommodation is made by the applicant and includes the reason for
accommodation, what accommodations are requested, the preferred time period for testing,
and the preferred test center.
The applicant arranges for two supporting documents to be sent to the Board – 1) a letter
from an appropriate medical professional confirming the disability and diagnosis, and
identifying the special accommodations that are needed; and 2) a letter from the applicants
nursing program indicating what accommodations, if any, were granted by the program.
Board staff reviews the documentation and determines whether the requested
accommodation is sufficiently supported, e.g. the diagnosis is appropriate to ADA, and the
accommodation is appropriate to the diagnosis.
Board staff who are responsible for review and approval or processing the application for
accommodation are thoroughly familiar with and follow any specific instructions in the
NCLEX™ Manual, Tab 5.
When approved, the intention to request special accommodation is entered into the
individual’s record in MBOS. This entry triggers MBOS to print an NCLEX Modification
Request Form. Staff completes this form and faxes it to NCSBN for review and approval (for
test security and psychometric soundness).
NCSBN notifies the testing service of the approved accommodation.
The applicant receives an authorization packet with instructions for scheduling the day and
time of the test.
References: NCLEX Manual, Tab 5, pages 1-14
Authority for approval: OAR 851-31-0010
Policy History: Adopted August 1997, reviewed and modified January 2002
Review by: August, 2002

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