to travel or not to travel

Trauma Columnist · Feb 11, 2017

Moved to travel nursing

NedRN · Feb 11, 2017

What travel agency is the best to work for? Or is it really beneficial to travel or just stick with per diem/registry jobs?

If there was a best travel company for all 30,000 travelers, there would be only one. As it is, there close to 400 and everyone of them is the best one for some of their travelers.

Beneficial to travel? Travel is a preference, most nurses outside of the South and Midwest shouldn't consider it primarily as a financial choice. Even if it does pay better than registry (not a certainty given additional housing costs), will you travel if you hate travel?

VetladyRN · Feb 11, 2017

I need to find another job and was considering travel, but I'm trying to figure out if will be beneficial for me or more of a problem

NedRN · Feb 11, 2017

Totally personal decision.

MIRN923 · Feb 12, 2017

You need to provide some more information about yourself if you want help determining if travel nursing might be "detrimental" to you. Travel nursing is great for certain people in certain situations, but for others it would be a nightmare. The worst-regarded agency out there is American Mobile (AMN). Stay away from them at all costs. I would be happy to help answer further questions about traveling but they need to be explicitly asked with some context.

NedRN · Feb 12, 2017

The larger the agency, the more complaints you read about on social media. Since American Mobile is the largest agency by a good bit, you hear more complaints about them than others. They didn't get to be the largest agency by being bad to their employees, and they do not have a churn and burn business model. I've met travel nurses who have been with them for over 30 years!

VetladyRN · Feb 22, 2017

what are the better companies to work for? LRS? TNAA? 365? my biggest problem that I am finding in getting affordable medical insurance for me and my husband. I heard traveling would be good experience for me and thinking of it, but need to find out which company would be the best to work for. suggestions?

NedRN · Feb 22, 2017

What about the other 400 agencies out there? They are all good for some travelers, call them to find out if they are a good fit for you.

Agencies tend to have horrible insurance policies. Get your own. Yes, there will be sticker shock, but effectively that is what you are paying right now. You can also COBRA your existing insurance for 18 months after you leave employment, but you will get a similar sticker shock. At least you know the pluses and minuses of your existing policy.

RNBSN1000 · Feb 24, 2017

I'm with Aya and so far I'm impressed. They do provide health/vision/dental insurance with no premiums. I can't vouch for how good it is, because I haven't used it yet.