After your travel contract is done

[RN0213]

So I am interested in starting travel nursing at the beginning of 2012. I will soon be looking for travel agencies; In the mean time I was curious about one specific question...when your contract/assignment is done, do you already have something else lined up (hopefully)? Do they kick you out into the street in whatever city you're in? What is the transition inbetween assignments?

~Angela~

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

As to whether you have something lined up depends mostly on you, your agency/recruiter and what is available.

As a traveler, you are a "free agent". You decide during your current assignment whether you will re-sign, if that is an option, or whether to take time off, or not. You will call your recruiter and let her/him know what your preference is. They then checkto see whether you can re-sign if applicable, or what else is available in your speciality. There may be plenty available or little available. You may interview well or poorly, may or may not have what the employer is looking for.

Those are the chances that you take as a traveler.

Most companies give you either 24-48 hrs after last shift to vacate your housing, or in some cases, 24-48 hrs after completion date. Sometimes, you can make arrangements to stay longer but often get charged for it.

The vast majority of travelers have a home/residence, for tax issues, for time off, etc. That is always an issue, as people assume as we get "free housing" and forget that it is only good for the assignment..... And we have to live somewhere when we are off.

As a traveler, it is my responsibility to care for myself in the time off, much like a regular employee. If one gets "kicked to the street", it is because they did not plan well, not because the agency did it to them.