Demand for travelers/agency staff?

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, M/S.

Curious to know what the demand is currently for travel nurses? Are they being used where you work? Last year at this time the word on the street was demand for them was way down - have things picked back up? I work as a RN in a LTC. We are fully staffed with nurses but are using agency CNA's who come from surrounding states.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Neuro, ICU, travel RN, Psych.

I don't think it has really picked back up. Last I heard, the only things they are using much of is specialites, like ICU and ER. There are some assignments, but they are very competitive. I tried going back to traveling in Sept/Oct and couldn't get a contract. I spoke with one of my recruiters a couple months ago and she said it's still about the same.

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Specializes in OB.

I'm a current traveler. I see the available jobs being slightly improved but still nowhere near the level it was before the economic "meltdown". I've been able to keep employed by having multiple licenses and taking contracts wherever I can get them - especially areas others might not want to go.

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My hospital didn't use them a whole lot before, but has cut way back in the past year. We did have one come in on Memorial Day in the ED, but that's the first one I've seen in a long time.

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Specializes in Education and oncology.

I'm new in tampa, fl, and my travel company has NO work for me. I'm trying to find job on my own. My sense is that hospitals aren't using travelers as the cost is too high. Boy, was I sheltered from the recession in Boston. Think the economy has recovered? Think again....

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Specializes in OB.
I'm new in tampa, fl, and my travel company has NO work for me. I'm trying to find job on my own. My sense is that hospitals aren't using travelers as the cost is too high. Boy, was I sheltered from the recession in Boston. Think the economy has recovered? Think again....

Florida is unfortunately one of those areas that has kind of "fallen off the map" in terms of jobs. My home is in FL and I haven't been able to find a contract back down there either. I'm actually going to have to take time off to come home and take care of family, etc.

I am watching to see what happens with the new hospital being built in New Port Richey (replacing the current HCA hospital there). It looks to be a good bit bigger than the current one so may open up some jobs when it gets completed.

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I have more agency/ per diem work than I can physically work. Travel? Not a thing.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

We can't find experienced OR nurses; we have a bunch of OR travelers current in place.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

I would get down on my knees and beg and pray for real experienced ICU nurse travelers.... no offense ppl... but not those with one year in that can't handle their own or come from a tiny hospital that shipped everything sick out. That is all that is out there these days...

We finally get traveler approval... and get a 6 bed bum frick nowhere nurse that panics over a low BP or intubation, let alone a swan or a pump. WHERE are ya'll experienced nurses that travel????:uhoh3:

So no, I'd rather tripple and take care of my own, then mine and others... So we have a REAL demand... but are focusing on permanent recruitment of quality and that takes time. I'm a touch burnt out of wanna be ICU travelers and would rather pick up the extra shift and triple, tired as I am.

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We finally get traveler approval... and get a 6 bed bum frick nowhere nurse that panics over a low BP or intubation, let alone a swan or a pump. WHERE are ya'll experienced nurses that travel????:uhoh3:

I think it's a combination of a few issues. Travel isn't as lucrative as it once was when it comes to finances. I've recently looked at some travel contracts that my agency has and the total compensation is just not anywhere near competitive with what I make as staff. So why would I leave my staff job that is a secure position? Not happening.

Unfortunately, just like all nurses are not created equal......the same goes for ICUs. I don't care what the name is over the door to the unit. What matters is the acuity of those patients behind those doors. Some folks just don't understand that.

For now, I am sticking with my staff job, local per diem, and local 3-4 week contracts.

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Specializes in Admin.

what do traveling nurses do? i haven't really heard of this before. is that like, in-home assistance or something?

thanks!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Neuro, ICU, travel RN, Psych.
I would get down on my knees and beg and pray for real experienced ICU nurse travelers.... no offense ppl... but not those with one year in that can't handle their own or come from a tiny hospital that shipped everything sick out. That is all that is out there these days...

We finally get traveler approval... and get a 6 bed bum frick nowhere nurse that panics over a low BP or intubation, let alone a swan or a pump. WHERE are ya'll experienced nurses that travel????:uhoh3:

So no, I'd rather tripple and take care of my own, then mine and others... So we have a REAL demand... but are focusing on permanent recruitment of quality and that takes time. I'm a touch burnt out of wanna be ICU travelers and would rather pick up the extra shift and triple, tired as I am.

I travelled for 2 years, but just started working ICU 6 months ago as a staff nurse. I could in no way imagine trying to do a travel assignment with just 1 year ICU experience. I started traveling with 1 year M/S, but I was good at my job. I learned fast. ICU is taking a bit longer to pick up.

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