I will be starting my first contract at a hospital in a few weeks. It's 3 days/week hospital OP and 2 days/week acute care. I'm surprised they hired me, given that I did not do an acute care rotation in school, and I have only been working in private OP ortho since I graduated about a year ago. What should I expect? I know there will be some training, but I'm mostly expecting to get thrown into the deep end 😬
Looking to get some opinions on the travel agencies some of you are going through. I will be beginning travel as a new grad and looking for some insight.
Do you use more than one?
What are some of the pros and cons to the one you look for contracts through?
Have you noticed better placement opportunities through certain agencies?
I appreciate your time and responses as this realm will be new to me.
I just signed my first contract, and I am planning to start in 1 month. I'm still working for a private OP clinic for the next two weeks. I have SO MANY things to do before I start. Holy hell, this is like clinical rotations in school again: I have to get titers, a physical, yet another fucking background check (how much trouble could I have possibly gotten myself into in the past year since I got my license and have been working full time?), and I have to take four online exams?! Wtf?? Do I have to do this EVERY TIME I sign a new contract? What a nightmare. It doesn't help that I'm moving right now, trying to sell a bunch of shit, and training for an ultra. If anyone cares, this is with Lucid. I hope it wasn't a poor decision. I guess I'll find out either way. God help me.
Hi everyone,
I'm currently a permanent staff PT but have thought about doing travel PT since graduating PT school 3 years ago. I've started the process and have 2 contracts I'm interviewing with this week. I will likely need to make a decision fairly quickly about which contract I'd like to take after interviewing if I'm offered the job. I'm very torn on what to do and would love to get others thoughts, especially if anyone is or has been a travel PT. I currently work a peds/adult split in OP in the Midwest. Here are the options, starting around mid to late September.
Job 1: Minot, ND
Population: Primarily Pediatric OP but will supplement to get full 40 hr with coverage in their Adult OP clinic as well in the same building (ideal population for me)
Pay: $1200 per month more than Job 2 after taxes and lower COL
1-1 45 minute evaluations and treatments with 30 minute doc time at the end of day
Option to work 5x8 or 4x10
Less ideal location especially for winter, though other larger Midwest cities (Minneapolis) within a days trip (~7-8 hr) by Amtrak or car, Canadian border < 2 hours away, and Winnipeg ~5 hr away
Job 2: Bainbridge Island, WA
Population: OP Ortho
Pay: $1200 per month less than Job 1 after taxes and HCOL area
1-1 40 min treatments (haven't interviewed yet so unsure on evaluation time allotted or if they have dedicated doc time in the schedule)
4x10s with 12-14 patients per day
More ideal location with access to Seattle nearby (~45 min by ferry) as well as nature with Olympic National Park ~2 hr away and Victoria and Vancouver BC and North Cascades all only ~3.5-4 hr away
I'm from the Midwest, so I'm used to crazy weather including bitter cold and snow in the winter but probably not as consistently cold as what ND would get in the winter. I've always wanted to explore the Pacific NW and have loved the mountains in CO and UT when I've visited in the past. I also love exploring the national parks and both places would have this option within driving distance with WA obviously have more parks nearby vs ND.