What's your speciality?

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Jan 5, 2015

I had just over 2 years of med/surg/tele experience when I started my first travel assignment last October. I'm still there and just extended for another contract. It's a cardiac tele unit and it's quite an interesting change. I currently work in NYC and it was fairly easy to get my current assignment. Only had 3 interviews with 3 hospitals before I decided. NYC has been my only assignment so far so I have nothing to compare it to besides my last staff job, and I would have to say I am much happier.

smallnurse10 · Jan 8, 2015

I have four years of experience and work as a L&D nurse. I just started my first travel assignment and submitted my information to three hospitals and had three job offers. I was actually quite shocked about how easy it was to find a job within commuting distance to my home (this was important to me).

NedRN · Jan 8, 2015

Hey smallnurse, just a word of advice. If you are commuting from home, don't take any tax free money from your agency. If you are getting a housing stipend and/or per diem, make sure they are withholding taxes.

smallnurse10 · Jan 8, 2015

Thanks Ned. To me it is commuting distance, but it's not feasible for me to travel home after each shift. The assignment is 3.5 hours from my home and I will be staying there in my RV unless I have several days off together in a row, but if I need to get home it will be easier than say being 1000 miles from home.

NedRN · Jan 8, 2015

Yup, that is legit! Commuting always raises red flags when I read it.

V-Neck T-Shirt · Jan 22, 2015

I had just over 2 years of med/surg/tele experience when I started my first travel assignment last October. I'm still there and just extended for another contract. It's a cardiac tele unit and it's quite an interesting change. I currently work in NYC and it was fairly easy to get my current assignment. Only had 3 interviews with 3 hospitals before I decided. NYC has been my only assignment so far so I have nothing to compare it to besides my last staff job, and I would have to say I am much happier.

Out of curiosity, what are your patient ratios? Are you working days or nights? I'm not traveling currently, but I dream of taking a travel job in NYC.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Jan 22, 2015

Out of curiosity, what are your patient ratios? Are you working days or nights? I'm not traveling currently, but I dream of taking a travel job in NYC.

I'm working nights, although day assignments are possible too, I just prefer nights. My usual patient ratio is 5:1 if we are a full census. If we are short a nurse, we can be 6:1 but fortunately that has so far not been common.

Sent from my iPad using allnurses

imanedrn · Jan 23, 2015

I've worked in other units, but I stick with ER now. My first travel assignment was last summer. I have 5 years of ER and 7 years of nursing total.

It took me 6 months to get my first assignment. I'd taken 2 years to finally commit to traveling, and the waiting was so discouraging. But then my first assignment was a gift! Super busy regional ER/trauma level II. (They see 300-350/day). When I interviewed, the interviewer asked how much travel experience I'd had. I told her none. She said the manager wanted people with at least 6 months. I emphasized that I'd worked on many different units and even in different hospitals/cities, and that must have sold me.

My first location was Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett WA. It's fantastic! Their ratios are dependent upon acuity (3, 4, or 5:1), they'll work with you if you have a tanking patient, they have float nurses, you get breaks and lunches, and the staff are amazing. I fully intend to go back.

I'm currently in Houston. Just started last week. Got FIVE days of orientation! Makes me feel like a staff nurse again! So far, decent place.