[Diary/Dairy]

I am very glad that this forum was helpful to you!

[taylorj1]

I've taken a look at this thread and have not seen specific companies that you guys are traveling with, which ones are good, which ones are bad and since I am a father of three small children that complicates my situation a bit, I plan on local traveling to stay close to home for now but I dont have the slightest idea which company to go with, any suggestions?????

[jellybeanmead]

This was a very very very helpful thread!! Thanks so much for the info! I am a RN at a Neuro ICU for 18 months now. I plan to take a travel assignment in May in California. Wish me luck! Thanks for all your help!!

[kathy88]

Hello all....great thread. Do any of you have experience traveling with your spouse? What housing is offered? If the the housing stipend is chosen over free housing what does one typically find for housing with a 4-6 week assignment?...How hard is it to get an assignment in the UK or Australia? thanks. Kathy

[ERRNTraveler]

Originally Posted by kathy88

Hello all....great thread. Do any of you have experience traveling with your spouse? What housing is offered? If the the housing stipend is chosen over free housing what does one typically find for housing with a 4-6 week assignment?...How hard is it to get an assignment in the UK or Australia? thanks. Kathy

I travel with my husband- I don't take the housing stipend, I take the free housing. I am always in a private one-bedroom apartment, and my company knows that I need a queen-size bed because my husband is with me. I would think housing for a 4-6 week assignment would have to be an extended-stay hotel type place, as most apartment complexes won't sign such a short-term lease. I have never worked internationally, so I'm not sure about assignments in the UK or Australia.

[jenhasredhair]

Thank you so much for all that have contributed to this thread! I've been a med/onc nurse for 2 years and hope to start traveling in about 6 months. My plan is to do this with my hubby and 2 young kids. It doesn't sound like anyone really does this with children, so any thoughts would be well appreciated! We're hoping to travel long enough to decide where we want to settle down on the eastern side of the states and figured traveling around would give us a good idea!

[jlynn325]

For your interview:
Always sound upbeat and positve (almost cheezy) on the phone, because remember this is your interview and its via phone, not face to face so the employer cant see how excited you are to go there, but dont sound fake, just interested.
Some key phrases to use: "flexable, goal oriented, ready to hit the floor running, willing to learn, and is there any overtime-(even if you dont want it!)".
Questions:
in addition to the great ones posted, i like to ask
1."does your staff work as a team, are they traveler friendly?
2. are there other travelers on the floor?
3. have you had to "cancel" anyones contracts, if so ask why, how do they deal with dicipline issues...(sometimes they wont tell you that you made an error, they will just cancel you..why? because managers look for people they dont have to invest alot of time and teaching into because you are there to help in a staffing crisis if you cant do it right, someone else can)
When you get there:
So what shouldnt you expect? dont always expect there are going to be good staff ratios, because if there were, you wouldnt have a job. Be open minded and above all flexable. Treat the hospital and staff as if you really did work there and want to be part of there team. Treat others how you want to be treated, and if you meet someone who doesnt like you and give you attitude...just try and move past it because you are only there for a short while, dont let one person spoil your experience. Traveling is life changing....that you can expect!

[jlynn325]

Traveling can be fun but trying at times too. Alot of places will do what they call "block scheduling" meaning you work 3-12hrs and then go home for the week, that might be helpful if you have little ones. So where do you stay for 3 days? If you can take the housing allowance, and pay for a hotel for 3 days or ask the hospital if they have any type of overnight accomodations for staff. The last 2 places i have been did. The one im at right now, Frederick Memorial Hospital, in Frederick, Maryland, does have free overnight stays for staff, where you have youre own private bedroom and tv. A great place to try, and very family/traveler friendly. I never seen a hospital or an employeer so happy to help with the needs families and accommodations for employees with children.

[jellybeanmead]

Does anyone know the names of any good travel agencies??

[ERRNTraveler]

I am traveling with RN Network- have been for over a year, and they have been excellent. PM me if you'd like my recruiter's contact info.....