Question for Nurses/Health Care Workers in the USA

moniquelessard

Totally unrelated to fitness, but because I'm sure there are a ton of nurses on here I thought I would give it a try....

I'm thinking about travel nursing. I'm an RN in Canada. Because I have a 4 year old, I'm wondering how easy it is to find childcare, particularly on-site childcare at hospitals in the USA. I'm interested in CA, FL, NY.

I've checked online, and I can't seem to find an answer to this question.

Thanks in advance!! xo

PapaverSomniferum

child care is pretty rare anywhere, in any business in the united states. You can find it, but it's not common by any means.

moniquelessard

bump.. more replies please? Thanks for the info PS. xo

angieleighbyrd

I worked with a nurse that was a travel nurse from Canada.

I am not where you are interested working, but there are no hospitals here that have on site daycare.

ChrisStoney

I am an RN and my Aunt does travel nursing in Florida... They give her an assignment and then she can 'vacation' and make money. I don't think it would be impossible to get an assignment for 6 months or a year, then you could find housing daycare etc... would you be doing this all alone? Sounds like it would be a huge challenge!

ChrisStoney

I guess all the other nurses are asleep or working LOL

HMVOL7409

None of the hospitals in my area have onsite daycare or even utilize travel nurses. Then again my area is saturated with nursing schools so at this moment there isn't even a shortage. You'll have to watch with certain states bc there are only a certain number that are apart of a pact that accept licenses from other states, let alone what you'll need to do from Canada.

peachprl

I am not in those locations so I don't know for sure...but I do know a lot of travel RNs and from my own experience at hospitals, I do not know of any with on-site child care. But the above poster is right- I think that finding a qualified childcare facility in the vicinity, especially in the areas you are interested in, should be fairly easy to do. I would just voice your concerns/questions with the travel agencies when you are checking them out and I am sure they can help you figure things out. I know they have helped make arrangements for friends of mine in their travel nursing careers and I am sure would be more than happy to help suit your needs if you are really interested in working for them!

PLUMSGRL

Not sleeping ...yet!

Google "Florida hospitals with on site child care". A bunch came up for me, but if you check the states you're interested in
(ie: Florida Hospital Association) you will find more answers there. It does matter which agency you're with as well (if they service those hospitals that do).

Good luck~

tobnrn

None of the hospitals I have worked offer on-site childcare. They do offer discount rates to providers but I have yet to find onethat is open past 7pm. I use a a sitter who picks my little one up from school. Good luck

blueyednurse06

I work in Tennessee (which I know isn't one of your listed states). However, we have 2 local hospitals who offer day care on site.

livestar

In NYC the childcare will be an offsite corporate contract for emergencies only. Many get nanny's because it's "more bang for the buck." Hospital HR staff can tell you if they have a list of childcare services you can contact to set up care.

comogirl

None that I am aware of in my area. I'm not in your target area though.

cassienp

The veterans center that I work at now used to have onsite childcare but of course that was shut down... budget cuts and all that.

knurse1987

I am from Florida and never seen any hospitals that have childcare...now I am a travel nurse in texas and still havent seen that...I'm not aware of any hospitals that do that...

Jazzyjules71

I am a nurse, and also did travel nursing in California, virginia and Wisconsin. I don't have a child so don't exactly know the childcare options. But I know all but one of the hospitals I worked at as a traveler and a regular staff nurse (when I wasn't a traveler) didn't have child care on site. I would advise you to talk to the recruiter at whatever travel company you go with. They have a lot of experience and would probably know what might be "child friendly" and what wouldn't. I know because I had a big golden retriever and they knew what was more "dog friendly" places than other. So they might be a good resource.

I don't want to be negative, but knowing what the travel life was like.....I think it would be really hard to make life work as a traveler with a 4 year old.......unless you had a friend/partner etc that was helping with childcare at home. The shifts are almost all 12 hour shifts, and mostly night shifts. Or day/nights you'd almost need childcare at night, and during the day! Plus it's usually every other weekend. Another problem with day care. Plus, travelers are usually given the less ideal schedules.....compared to regular staff (as they should).

I really don't want to discourage you, I am just being honest! But you know yourself, your life and child, so you do what's best for you! Anyway, feel free to message me with other questions. Julie

moniquelessard

Wow! Thanks for all of your replies! It's great to have real insight, rather than what I have been reading on the recruiter sites. I think I need to weigh my options and speak to a recruiter. I guess I will need to consider bringing my mother with me, as she is retired and she could probably use a few months away from my dad (grumpy old man syndrome)

Thanks again, it was really nice of you to take the time to answer my query.

xox