I was a travel RN in the early 1980s in a Class C for 3 years. Back then we did 13 week assignments and got a living expense which was for an apartment but I used for RV campground fees. I really planned my assignments, prepared the rig with a good mechanic, had a savings, additional travel time in case of emergencies, etc. I spend the winters in Florida with the massive retirees and Snowbirds and summers in New England. I pretty much followed the retirees as they chased good weather. I had no problems at all in my 3 years except for getting the WORST patient assignments and snippy full time nurses complaining about my wages. As a traveler back then I did not get overtime pay for overtime work and in some states if there was a staff shortage by law they could work us up to 36 hours with no sleep. Three years was enough, I did save every dollar I could and bought a house as soon as I settle down.
Wow! Thanks for sharing. I will say that things are the same in many ways but improved. We still get stipends for housing and food, which I will just pocket. Travelers still often get the worst patient assignments (but not always!) and we are often first to float to other units. As for staffing shortages, I don’t know if they can still make us work 36 hours without sleep… I don’t think so? That’s rough though. Sounds like you did it right. Saved up and then moved on to something better.
Dear...I too am an RN of 22 years....it's YOU who is under contract...not the hospital. They can cancel your contract any old time they feel like it...for any or no reason...and frequently it could be as simple as the charge nurse thinks your butt is cuter than hers....welcome to it.....
@@beautifuldreamer3991 I don't know how traveling nurses are contracted now. I did it nearly 40 years ago before the internet, cell phones or computers and it was simple then. I did get hired by an agency and they arranged my 13 week assignments. The hospital paid the agency and the agency paid me. I guess I COULD cancel my contract any time as you said but why burn that bridge with my employer? It's 13 weeks, not forever. Buckle up and go for the ride, I agreed to do it. Yes, I often did get the worst assignments, but it's only 3 months..big deal. I always worked so the hospital would miss me when I left, not have a party that I'm gone.
Thank you for your service during these trying times. I truly appreciate the bravery of healthcare workers and first responders in all situations.. Blessings from Richmond VA!!
There's a saying, 'The truth is stranger than fiction.' ! I found this entire story incredible. The utter rotten luck contrasted by sheer monumental moments of grace and good fortune. 👍 What a ride! I can tell you're young too. Your unfaltering faith in an almost 20 yr old van! Geesh! Had you had it checked out by a mechanic from the beginning you wouldn't have bought it! You're going to make a great nurse. Actually, now I think it's the special souls such as yourself that sets them apart.
I would've ran for the hills if I'd had it checked out by a mechanic first 😂 An idea for my next video might have to be a compilation of all the times my van has broken down on me.... Sadly, it didn't end with this video... lol. It has made for some great stories that I can look back on and laugh about though. Thanks for your kind words 🙂
Thanks for sharing as I’m trying to learn all I can before I buy my van. I too am a travel nurse & stayed in all Hilton hotels during my contracts on east coast New Jersey,& now getting tired of paying 400-600+ a week for hotels. I won’t work local pay is horrible in Ohio & just got licensed in Cali so once I get my van & having learned from your experience I appreciate you for sharing this lol.
Haha, I hope your experience goes far smoother than mine 🤣 van life is the BEST way to save cash and live freely! Keep me updated how it all goes for you! 💕
My granddaughter and her fiancée start nursing school in the Fall…they plan to be travel RNs too. I’m going to share this video with them. Thank you for stepping up ❤️
You are amazing! I am fairly certain you had some tough times getting through all this, yet you shared it all with grace! Wishing you well and good fortune!🚐
I worked at a state mental hospital in Texas (retired last August), and there was a nurse who lived in her van on campus. She was a contract nurse, and went around to work where ever she was needed. It was perfect for both the nurse and the hospital/patients.
Hi. Just saw your video. I, too, have 92 Ford Econoline custom conversion van that was also equipped with a hydraulic lift and hand controls for my late husband. After he passed away, someone needed the lift and controls and I wanted to keep our van. We were married 24 years and I was only away at night less than six days during our marriage. I had a home and two grown children and a grandson and I wanted to travel and camp. With any vehicle there is needed maintenance and I have had similar experiences as you with my Waystation. Flat tire at night in the rain on I-95, stuck cruise control when trying to exit I-26, starter issues, replaced brakes, refill ac occasionally, and other routine maintenance is expected and I absolutely love my van. My husband drove the van from his wheelchair, but he installed wheels on one of the middle captain seats and when I needed to drive, I wheeled up, locked and belted and drove without the use of hand controls. After he passed, I had another captain's seat permanently installed for driving. The other seats were stored and the center of the van was a blank canvas for building out a "no build" build. The sofa bed was kept and after many configurations over the last 7 years, I believe it's now perfect for my needs. A few months ago I built a shelving unit with the table top 24 x 48. The shelves were cut to conform to the more narrow lower side of van. I wish you happy trails and thank you for your skilled care. I will try to send a picture.
Wow, thank you for sharing your story! Sounds like we have had very similar repairs. All worth it imo… i truly do love this van. I would love to see the inside of yours 😊
Front seal transmission don.t need a transmission change .it just needs a seal .of course it has to take apart the engine and transmission. Transmission seal is about 20 or 30 bucks
@@Kelly_Explores if it was real bad yes .but usually when there is a leak. if replce when is starting to leak .you just replace the seal .i.m a auto mechanic
4 I just found your channel tonight and I liked it you're a very good Storyteller and I do love your van it's pretty cool I look forward to your next post❤😎👍🤙
👍💡To anyone reading this - if you’re in a similar situation thinking the van isn’t worth much because of the transmission issue or if you don’t have the money to repair the transmission….💡you can scrap out the vehicle for parts and literally make more money selling the parts (doors, engine, bumpers, seats dashboard etc etc) for more than the van would be worth with a working transmission.💡🙏💝
Hi Kelly! I'm sorry Issaquah didn't work out for you. Washington is such a great place to live!! I am so proud of you for making the best of the situation and hanging in there. I must say I'm so curious. What happened to the van after the last repair? Did it at least get you back to Oregon? It sounds like you didn't get much farther along if it did that! I hope all is well with you location, transportation, and employment wise. Wish you all the best!!🤗
I may gave missed it, but is that your dog or one who is adopting you? I am going to do more searching for/onyou, but I was interested in the bed layout and the apparent removal of the access lift? Maybe you have descriptions/film of those? At any rate, I adore your personality and positive attitude - go for it!!!
I had a transporter lift 800 lbs. In my ford van. It had to have the really tall doors.. I Had to no use for it & needed the space. I was told to call the local places like VFW. , any mitary vet organizations to see if they wanted it. Unfortunately it was way too big for have an individual. To put in a van. So I was forced to pay to have it removed. I was quoted 150 an hour & it would probably be 425 0r $ 450. As it turned out it was a quick removal & was $315. With every penny . Now that it is gone I can use my side doors which I could not previously do
Hi I can’t believe these people mechanic’s would fall over there selves to help you fix your van when your a nurse that’s helping save lives etc 😢 you deserve better
😳😳😮😮😯😯😯🙀🙀omg the inside is crazy , you bought it like that , they didn't fix it at the dealers or the owner or who ? The outside is beautiful , i was like oooh when i saw the inside bcoz i was ready for a beautiful treat inside . Jeeeesus 🇿🇦🇿🇦
My first travelnurse assignment was also in WA. Where did you go? I bought an Astro 4x4 to camp in on my days off and rented a room from one of the maintenance guys at work, but getting ready to go with a fullsize van fulltime
While the van was broken down, I kept it parked in the hospital parking lot and lived out of it there 😂 I updated hospital security about the situation and they were totally ok with it, and the hospital had all the amenities I needed. Now that my van is repaired, though, I just stay at my current hospital between shifts otherwise I go on adventures on my days off 😊 you absolutely should do it- it’s ultimate freedom (and a great way to save cash) 😉💜
It’s definitely tough! But during this rotation, we combined all of our breaks and took an hour long lunch. My dog stayed in my van during my night shifts and I would come let him out during my break 🙂 it was during the spring, so it never got too cold or too hot for him. When I had to work 3 nights in a row, though, I’d have a dog sitter watch him all or part of the time just so he didn’t get too bored and lonely. So, owning a dog as a nurse is definitely doable if it’s something you want! Hope that helps 💜
Hi I just saw your Channel for this 1st time. I'm I'm 74 And have a Van like yours but my Just Broke down I had a stroke 5 years ago And need one And need one That works. My wife was a nurse for 46 years I sold motor homes Before my stroke so I know a lot about them. We're in California too Sounds like we could both Sounds like we could both Help each other out
Totally! I believe they knew EXACTLY what was wrong with the transmission and purposely sold me a lemon to make the money. They probably filled it with enough transmission fluid to keep it running long enough. Makes me think of the movie Matilda lol. Also… it had 9 different owners 🙈
I don't like to be negative but it does look like an abused wreck.... just hope you didn't pay too much for it..... okay so deeper into the video you should have just paid in the very beginning to fix the transmission it's not like every man is taking advantage of your wallet but that is the suspicions of women because they're busy trying to take everybody else's wallet
😂 it totally looked like an abused wreck. I like to think it had/has character 😅 and yeah, the problem with paying to have it fixed right away was that I needed it to live in as I was working. I didn’t have a lot of cash when I first started my travel contract and didn’t want to pay for a hotel, and taxi to and from work each day. Living in it for 6 weeks while it was broken down enabled me to save money for 6 weeks to pay for the transmission while living for free. Then I got it fixed when my contract ended so I had plenty of time and didn’t need to stress about work. 😜
![[4K] Watch SpaceX Catch A Starship Rocket From Space!!! #IFT5](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/pIKI7y3DTXk/mqdefault.jpg)
I was a travel RN in the early 1980s in a Class C for 3 years. Back then we did 13 week assignments and got a living expense which was for an apartment but I used for RV campground fees. I really planned my assignments, prepared the rig with a good mechanic, had a savings, additional travel time in case of emergencies, etc. I spend the winters in Florida with the massive retirees and Snowbirds and summers in New England. I pretty much followed the retirees as they chased good weather. I had no problems at all in my 3 years except for getting the WORST patient assignments and snippy full time nurses complaining about my wages. As a traveler back then I did not get overtime pay for overtime work and in some states if there was a staff shortage by law they could work us up to 36 hours with no sleep. Three years was enough, I did save every dollar I could and bought a house as soon as I settle down.
Wow! Thanks for sharing. I will say that things are the same in many ways but improved. We still get stipends for housing and food, which I will just pocket. Travelers still often get the worst patient assignments (but not always!) and we are often first to float to other units. As for staffing shortages, I don’t know if they can still make us work 36 hours without sleep… I don’t think so? That’s rough though. Sounds like you did it right. Saved up and then moved on to something better.
Dear...I too am an RN of 22 years....it's YOU who is under contract...not the hospital. They can cancel your contract any old time they feel like it...for any or no reason...and frequently it could be as simple as the charge nurse thinks your butt is cuter than hers....welcome to it.....
@@beautifuldreamer3991 I don't know how traveling nurses are contracted now. I did it nearly 40 years ago before the internet, cell phones or computers and it was simple then. I did get hired by an agency and they arranged my 13 week assignments. The hospital paid the agency and the agency paid me. I guess I COULD cancel my contract any time as you said but why burn that bridge with my employer? It's 13 weeks, not forever. Buckle up and go for the ride, I agreed to do it. Yes, I often did get the worst assignments, but it's only 3 months..big deal. I always worked so the hospital would miss me when I left, not have a party that I'm gone.
👍I’m glad you decided to repair the transmission because all in all, it’s cheaper than rent & hotels.💝
That was my thinking too… cheaper than moving back into an apartment or buying a new van as well! At the end of the day, I’m glad I did it. 😉
Bless you for staying so positive through it all!! 💛💛
You are braver than I to take off in an old van like that at night! So thankful this turned out good for you.
Awesome! I’m also a nurse helping out in New York at the moment living out of my truck camper. Hope to see ya on the road :)
Thank you for your service during these trying times. I truly appreciate the bravery of healthcare workers and first responders in all situations.. Blessings from Richmond VA!!
@@reneebarnes1957 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp]]
There's a saying, 'The truth is stranger than fiction.' ! I found this entire story incredible. The utter rotten luck contrasted by sheer monumental moments of grace and good fortune. 👍 What a ride! I can tell you're young too. Your unfaltering faith in an almost 20 yr old van! Geesh! Had you had it checked out by a mechanic from the beginning you wouldn't have bought it! You're going to make a great nurse. Actually, now I think it's the special souls such as yourself that sets them apart.
I would've ran for the hills if I'd had it checked out by a mechanic first 😂 An idea for my next video might have to be a compilation of all the times my van has broken down on me.... Sadly, it didn't end with this video... lol. It has made for some great stories that I can look back on and laugh about though. Thanks for your kind words 🙂
Thanks for sharing as I’m trying to learn all I can before I buy my van. I too am a travel nurse & stayed in all Hilton hotels during my contracts on east coast New Jersey,& now getting tired of paying 400-600+ a week for hotels. I won’t work local pay is horrible in Ohio & just got licensed in Cali so once I get my van & having learned from your experience I appreciate you for sharing this lol.
Haha, I hope your experience goes far smoother than mine 🤣 van life is the BEST way to save cash and live freely! Keep me updated how it all goes for you! 💕
Wow!!! You did a beautiful job making it cozy…just gorgeous!!!👠🚌👠
Aww thanks! 😁
My granddaughter and her fiancée start nursing school in the Fall…they plan to be travel RNs too. I’m going to share this video with them. Thank you for stepping up ❤️
I wish your granddaughter and her fiancee the best of luck in nursing school ☺
Wow! You really kept a positive attitude through it all. I'm impressed.
You had a great attitude even though you were having a hard time. Hopefully you got the van taking care of, will follow you.
Love the failure story... just real life... thanks for the lesson learned.
You are amazing! I am fairly certain you had some tough times getting through all this, yet you shared it all with grace! Wishing you well and good fortune!🚐
Thank you so much and wishing you the same 💖
I want to thank you for your service in the part where you had to tow your Van I've experienced that in the middle of Arizona it's not fun
Omg…that’s a nightmare. I’m thinking about buying a van to travel. I’m just so glad you’re able to get to work.
You are a joy to watch❤ prayers for you.
Thank you so much! To you as well. 🩵
I worked at a state mental hospital in Texas (retired last August), and there was a nurse who lived in her van on campus. She was a contract nurse, and went around to work where ever she was needed. It was perfect for both the nurse and the hospital/patients.
This is so inspiring!! Thank you so much for sharing!
Wow! I'm glad u made it through. This video was like a movie with a lot of suspense and drama. Good luck on your adventures.
Haha thank you!!! It was a rough go but it definitely made for a good story 😅
Hi. Just saw your video. I, too, have 92 Ford Econoline custom conversion van that was also equipped with a hydraulic lift and hand controls for my late husband. After he passed away, someone needed the lift and controls and I wanted to keep our van. We were married 24 years and I was only away at night less than six days during our marriage. I had a home and two grown children and a grandson and I wanted to travel and camp. With any vehicle there is needed maintenance and I have had similar experiences as you with my Waystation. Flat tire at night in the rain on I-95, stuck cruise control when trying to exit I-26, starter issues, replaced brakes, refill ac occasionally, and other routine maintenance is expected and I absolutely love my van. My husband drove the van from his wheelchair, but he installed wheels on one of the middle captain seats and when I needed to drive, I wheeled up, locked and belted and drove without the use of hand controls. After he passed, I had another captain's seat permanently installed for driving. The other seats were stored and the center of the van was a blank canvas for building out a "no build" build. The sofa bed was kept and after many configurations over the last 7 years, I believe it's now perfect for my needs. A few months ago I built a shelving unit with the table top 24 x 48. The shelves were cut to conform to the more narrow lower side of van. I wish you happy trails and thank you for your skilled care. I will try to send a picture.
Wow, thank you for sharing your story! Sounds like we have had very similar repairs. All worth it imo… i truly do love this van. I would love to see the inside of yours 😊
You’re amazing!! Thanks so much for sharing!
At least she stayed positive. A happy ending!
Can’t wait to do this!!! Much luck and health ♥️♥️
Same to you! ☺️🧡
Great video 👍 The Van has lots of potential also put the wheel chair ramp on EBay or Craigslist should get hits.
sorry about the bad experience 😕... i am a travel nurse too....new to it since May and CoVId. Hilton was the bomb!
Front seal transmission don.t need a transmission change .it just needs a seal .of course it has to take apart the engine and transmission. Transmission seal is about 20 or 30 bucks
Hmmm… they told me the front seal repair requires a transmission rebuild. 🤔
@@Kelly_Explores if it was real bad yes .but usually when there is a leak. if replce when is starting to leak .you just replace the seal .i.m a auto mechanic
4 I just found your channel tonight and I liked it you're a very good Storyteller and I do love your van it's pretty cool I look forward to your next post❤😎👍🤙
Hey thanks ☺️☺️
👍💡To anyone reading this - if you’re in a similar situation thinking the van isn’t worth much because of the transmission issue or if you don’t have the money to repair the transmission….💡you can scrap out the vehicle for parts and literally make more money selling the parts (doors, engine, bumpers, seats dashboard etc etc) for more than the van would be worth with a working transmission.💡🙏💝
Hi Kelly! I'm sorry Issaquah didn't work out for you. Washington is such a great place to live!! I am so proud of you for making the best of the situation and hanging in there. I must say I'm so curious. What happened to the van after the last repair? Did it at least get you back to Oregon? It sounds like you didn't get much farther along if it did that! I hope all is well with you location, transportation, and employment wise. Wish you all the best!!🤗
Thank you! There will be a new video on my van adventure & updates coming soooon 🙂
The transmission in my van needed to be replaced within the first two months. I paid for the repair and am now ready to hit the road.
Sounds like we have similar stories! Glad you’re back on the road ☺️
I may gave missed it, but is that your dog or one who is adopting you?
I am going to do more searching for/onyou, but I was interested in the bed layout and the apparent removal of the access lift?
Maybe you have descriptions/film of those? At any rate, I adore your personality and positive attitude - go for it!!!
I had a transporter lift 800 lbs. In my ford van. It had to have the really tall doors.. I Had to no use for it & needed the space. I was told to call the local places like VFW. , any mitary vet organizations to see if they wanted it. Unfortunately it was way too big for have an individual. To put in a van. So I was forced to pay to have it removed. I was quoted 150 an hour & it would probably be 425 0r $ 450. As it turned out it was a quick removal & was
$315. With every penny . Now that it is gone I can use my side doors which I could not previously do
Hi I can’t believe these people mechanic’s would fall over there selves to help you fix your van when your a nurse that’s helping save lives etc 😢 you deserve better
put a can of transX in the transmission /it has a chance to seal the leak/take care/thanks much
Subscribed!!! You're so beautiful inside & out... a goddess!!! Cant wait for more vids😍
Omg thank you so much! 💕 Another video is in the works ☺️
Kool video
I am looking at a 93 Ford van for 2500 dollars and I just drove by it again when your video came up and thank you for the warning (
Kick him to the curb! 🤣 wish you both the best on your journey.
wish you the best ,, take care
😳😳😮😮😯😯😯🙀🙀omg the inside is crazy , you bought it like that , they didn't fix it at the dealers or the owner or who ? The outside is beautiful , i was like oooh when i saw the inside bcoz i was ready for a beautiful treat inside . Jeeeesus 🇿🇦🇿🇦
update please, hope you’re ok
Replace the front seal. Chances are you clutches are OK until you can afford to rebuild it
My first travelnurse assignment was also in WA. Where did you go?
I bought an Astro 4x4 to camp in on my days off and rented a room from one of the maintenance guys at work, but getting ready to go with a fullsize van fulltime
Any update? Did you move full time into a van? 🙂
Adorable!
I'm sorry I haven't been able to share my interior with you. I don't know how.
You should try the libraries for Wifi.
Hi Kelly, how’s the van been holding up?
how did you manage to go to work? did you just take the van to the hospital? i really want to do this!
While the van was broken down, I kept it parked in the hospital parking lot and lived out of it there 😂 I updated hospital security about the situation and they were totally ok with it, and the hospital had all the amenities I needed. Now that my van is repaired, though, I just stay at my current hospital between shifts otherwise I go on adventures on my days off 😊 you absolutely should do it- it’s ultimate freedom (and a great way to save cash) 😉💜
What did you do with your pup while working? I want a dog so much, but am not sure how to keep them happy during 12 hour days, esp in a van! Thanks!
It’s definitely tough! But during this rotation, we combined all of our breaks and took an hour long lunch. My dog stayed in my van during my night shifts and I would come let him out during my break 🙂 it was during the spring, so it never got too cold or too hot for him. When I had to work 3 nights in a row, though, I’d have a dog sitter watch him all or part of the time just so he didn’t get too bored and lonely. So, owning a dog as a nurse is definitely doable if it’s something you want! Hope that helps 💜
@@Kelly_Explores thanks so much for the response! Best wishes on your nursing and van life journey!
Hi I just saw your Channel for this 1st time. I'm I'm 74 And have a Van like yours but my Just Broke down I had a stroke 5 years ago And need one And need one That works. My wife was a nurse for 46 years I sold motor homes Before my stroke so I know a lot about them. We're in California too Sounds like we could both Sounds like we could both Help each other out
That's supposed to say my lift just broke.
You should check out Des the hobo traveling nurse. She is awesome.
Are you going to keep the van and fix it now that you know whats wrong with it?
Yep! It’s been all fixed up and I plan on keeping it for a very long time 🙂 (so as long as nothing else major breaks, haha)
Where did you put your dog while you were at work?
I’ll answer that one in my next video 👍🏼
Can someone tell me what a traveling nurse makes?
Get a mobile hotspot.....shower at the hospital you're working at.
where are you ??
Sell the lift and the buyer can remove it.
Why didn't your bf drive with you to your destination 🤔? I think it's in the bf/husband contract
It was obvious that the owner ran that van down to the ground. It was ready for the junk yard. Nobody would buy it.
Totally! I believe they knew EXACTLY what was wrong with the transmission and purposely sold me a lemon to make the money. They probably filled it with enough transmission fluid to keep it running long enough. Makes me think of the movie Matilda lol. Also… it had 9 different owners 🙈
So stupid buying old vehicles. I buy everything brand new.
Lol
I can't go with you bye because I know your activities
?
I don't like to be negative but it does look like an abused wreck.... just hope you didn't pay too much for it..... okay so deeper into the video you should have just paid in the very beginning to fix the transmission it's not like every man is taking advantage of your wallet but that is the suspicions of women because they're busy trying to take everybody else's wallet
😂 it totally looked like an abused wreck. I like to think it had/has character 😅 and yeah, the problem with paying to have it fixed right away was that I needed it to live in as I was working. I didn’t have a lot of cash when I first started my travel contract and didn’t want to pay for a hotel, and taxi to and from work each day. Living in it for 6 weeks while it was broken down enabled me to save money for 6 weeks to pay for the transmission while living for free. Then I got it fixed when my contract ended so I had plenty of time and didn’t need to stress about work. 😜
@@Kelly_Explores yep I should have taken the bigger picture into account having been there myself and done that LOL