How exactly does traveling nursing work?

suzanne4, RN · Apr 26, 2008

There are usually 13 week contracts that are involved and you work at one facility for that length of time.

You do need to have some experience under your belt, preferably about two years before you start to travel. Travel is not a specialty per se, you need to have experience in a specific area of nursing, travel nursing is just how you work in that area.

Take the time to do some reading here, much written on the subject already.

btraveler · May 7, 2008

Hello-

I started traveling a little over a year ago and honestly had a hard time finding a traveling company that I truely liked. Finally I found one...some of the companies I have not been happy with are American Mobile and Aureus. I am finally with Medical Solutions and love my recruiter. I have learned that you really need to find a great recruiter! And that is exactly what I found!

So how it works: first you need to find a company to work for. Then you send all the wonderful paperwork in to and basically you tell them where you would like to go...some companies ask you what your preference is money or location. Then they send you info to several hospitals and then you interview with them over the phone, the hospital can say if they want to hire you or not....usually done through your recrutier/company. And then you have the decscion of weather you want to take the job or not.

Most assignments are for 13 weeks and you sign a contract. There are other companies that have assignments as short as 4 weeks, but for the most part they are all 13 weeks.

All companies are different, most pay for your fully furnished apartment (be careful, have them define what "furnished" means to them), pay for all your utilities, and "x" amount of your travel expense-usually a total of $500-$250 for your trip there and $250 for your trip back (find out details about this too, some companies require you to save all your receipts and turn them in and sometimes you don't break even--but the good news if you have an accountant do your taxes, whatever wasn't covered is a tax deduction), and most companies pay for your monthly insurance dues (keep in mind that it might not be the best insurance, and it doen't include short-term disability, vacation, sick time, or funeral leaves).

Sometimes I think that traveling is not all its cracked up to be...some companies state that you can be cancled and then you don't get payed, other companies say that if you get fired or an emergency happens that you have to stay their because of the contract and if you don't....I have heard that nurses get screwed and have to pay the company back what money they would have made. Also keep in mind some of the regular staff members are upset that you are getting payed more than they are...therefore, you always get a crummy assignment or a heavy load. ICU is nice because usually you only have 2-3 pt's...but be careful because what it all boils down to is its your license! Also, some places are so short staff it's scary or some of the nurses are not the brightest and you really need to read each hospital's P & P's. And some nurses do this job for the money....one hospital I was at.....the regular staffed nurses didn't do basic cares, ie oral care, turning Q 2hrs, signing off orders and implementing them..........it was a huge shell shock and very hard for me to deal with. Some people say that (especially in CA) people go to school for nursing for the money and don't care about the pt's. I come from the Midwest and some of the hospitals are way behind on technology.

I am not trying to scare you, but being honest about the traveling world.

I wish you the best of luck!

Later! :lol2:

caringbear8 · May 7, 2008

Btraveler summed it up pretty much....

I will add that during phone interviews...make sure you have a pre-made list of important questions you would like to ask the nurse manager that is interviewing you. ex "Does the hospital have computerized charting or paper" "Whats the average nurse-patient ratio" "Are there nurse assistants for the shift"

Travel nursing can be a fun experience but it also has its drawbacks. You are always the first person to float to another unit,,,,sometimes multiple times in a shift. You will be the first to be canceled.......without pay and at an hours notice!

I took a 13 week assignment that canceled me 11 times without pay !

Talk to some people who have traveled before and be as prepared as you can.... Good luck !

bagladyrn, RN · May 7, 2008

Btraveler summed it up pretty much....
I will add that during phone interviews...make sure you have a pre-made list of important questions you would like to ask the nurse manager that is interviewing you. ex "Does the hospital have computerized charting or paper" "Whats the average nurse-patient ratio" "Are there nurse assistants for the shift"
Travel nursing can be a fun experience but it also has its drawbacks. You are always the first person to float to another unit,,,,sometimes multiple times in a shift. You will be the first to be canceled.......without pay and at an hours notice!
I took a 13 week assignment that canceled me 11 times without pay !
Talk to some people who have traveled before and be as prepared as you can.... Good luck !

You should know that you do not "always have to be the first person floated" or "first to be cancelled". You can have it in your contract (and always make clear in your interview) any limitations on floating - I will float only in rotation with regular staff and to "task only"- not take a patient assignment. I have guaranteed hours in my contract - if the facility sends me home I get paid anyway, so they seldom do. These should be discussed in the interview so that if this doesn't fit the needs of that hospital we can both go on to the next interview.

Diary/Dairy, RN · May 7, 2008

I have never been canceled as a traveler. The hospital has to pay the company if they cancel you - at least for the companies I have worked for.

ERRNTraveler, RN · May 7, 2008

I get my hours guaranteed in my contract as well, so I will always get paid for at least 36 hours/week, even if I get canceled. I also have it stated in my contract that I will not float to other units (although ER's don't usually float nurses out anyways).

Also, some travel companies do offer good health insurance & paid time off (sick/vacation pay). I get free health/dental/vision/life/malpractice insurance, I have very low co-pays, and do not have to pay a deductible. I also get 1 week of paid time off each year (not as much vacation pay as if I took a permanent job, but most travel companies don't offer ANY paid time off....).

spankssnowbunny · May 8, 2008

I'm very pleased with my company. Most of my contracts have been guaranteed hours or only permitted 3 cancellations per contract and I was never cancelled. Most of my assignments I floated as in rotation with staff, my last contract all I did was float since travelers ALWAYS floated first. My company pays for my medical/dental/life, I pay for vision and it is minimal, no deductible, co-pay is reasonable. Vacation pay after so many hours but they paid that upfront and I didn't really like that, thought I'd bank it until I wanted the week off but that's okay, I did put it away, it was also based on my "average" hourly rate which was nice too as I made more on my last assignment. Your recruiter has alot to do with getting the "extras" and going to bat for you when necessary.