Helpful Tips for the Nurse Traveler - Page 8

this has been very helpful.
I am just getting ready to sign my first traveling contract and it is a little scary. thanx for all of you comments...................

Such interesting commentary. I am thinking of traveling too.This thread is great...thanks...yours and others points give me a lot to ponder.

The amount of housing allowance is differnent from city to city and state to state. Most companies calculate this by the current market rate in that area. Insurance is available through most companies too you just need to shop around to get the best rates................Let's see what I say after my first assingment........................................ ...................................

I am considering traveling because of the money. I am married and have a 22 & 19 yr old and could not even consider this in the past. I am a little scared and not sure, is this normal? I want to try it before giving up my full time job where I am right now. We need it for financial reasons. Any advice??

That sounds like good advice! I got another reply that wasn't very encouraging as far as what travel pays for and how much you would make.. That is what I like about this site...you get the truth!

Am currently in the Bay Area & absolutely ADORE it. Have been here before & have been back for the last 9 months. When it comes to San Francisco, my advice is to take the provided housing. The cost of living in the Bay Area is INSANE (we all did cartwheels when cheap gas went down from $4.60/gal to $4.14/gal)!!!! Trying to find your own apartment, furnish it, and pay for all of your utilities in San Francisco would eat up all of your pay. Per my recruiter, the average stipend for the Bay Area is about $2000. Keep in mind, that my current apartment (in a quiet San Francisco suburb) rents for $1900 and is only approx 650sq ft. When it comes to San Francisco, definitely come. It is not to be missed! However, take the provided housing, not the housing allowance.

Oh yeah, San Francisco recently enacted a standard which states that ALL employees, including travelers, now qualify for PTO. Therefore, it has been quite difficult to get assignments there because travelers who are already there do not want to leave an assignment which provides a benefit we hardly ever get. Don't be discouraged if there is nothing actually inside the city of San Francisco. So, if you want to be in the San Francisco area, consider some of the other cities such as San Mateo, Redwood City, Palo Alto, Daly City, South San Francisco, even Oakland or Berkely. That way, you are close to the City (i.e. San Francisco), but still have a job. From most of these other areas, you are at the most, a 30 minute car ride away, or you can take BART (amazing public transporation which connects most of the Bay Area to San Francisco) anywhere you want to go. Just don't limit yourself to the city of San Francisco itself. Look at the smaller cities around the Bay, and you will enjoy your travel just as much as being in the City.

Well, have you started traveling yet?

Yes, have been travelling for two years. I love it. Have been in the Bay Area for most of it.

When you say the Bay area, what do you mean. Can you recomend an agency?