Choosing a company...my head is spinning

Specialties Travel

Published

Specializes in ICU, PACU, Cath Lab, PCU/Telemetry.

I have been talking to several different companies over the last few weeks and having a very difficult time about making a decision. I recently made the decision to travel and have now put my home on the market...don't have a clue on how long it will take to sell. I figure the best thing would be to already be signed on with an agency and then be ready to go once the house sells. I just saw this web site yesterday for the first time. It is a wonderful source of information for all of the questions that I have. I value the opinions of others but I know that one bad opinion about a company can really sway my way of thinking. Just when I think I have decided who to sign with, I read something really negative about the company. In a perfect world, there would be a perfect company. I know that is a pipe dream. I just want to be treated fairly and make decent money. Much of my motivation is the desire to see the country. No one wants to get taken advantage of. So, if anyone has anything positive or negative to say about any agencies, I will be all eyes. I am right now very apprehensive and vulnerable.:uhoh21:

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Dear Kathy, First off, You must maintain a home base somewhere!! Otherwise you will be considered an intenerant worker and not a travel nurse!! This will bump up your tax rate if you sell the house and do not maintain a permanent address somewhere. The company will pay for your housing, so you do not have to worry about that.

Second, the companies have a lot of similarities and differences, determine what matters to you before you submit a lot of information to a lot of different companies.

I work for American Mobile which a lot of people refer to as being in the "Evil Empire" but I have been okay with them so far. I think a lot of the time, your recruiter will make the difference in how you perceive that company.

I highly recommend Hitting the Road by Shalon Kearney (EXCELLENT book!!). Another book that is available is Hyghway Hypodermics by Epstein LaRue. I believe both are available from Amazon, and have a lot of good information about being a traveler.

Hope that helps - Good luck!!

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Specializes in ICU, PACU, Cath Lab, PCU/Telemetry.

Thank you diarygirl. I will have a home base and I have the 2 books that you mentioned. I have done a lot of research and am getting a little smarter. I guess I will just know when it is right. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Kathy

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WOW - how did you get the books so fast?? I did find them both really helpful!!

You can PM me if you have any other specific other questions. I am getting ready to get off work and will be going to bed soon, but will check it later on today.

Glad to be of help!!

:)

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