End of First Assignment

Hi Hollykate,

I am new to Allnurses website and I don't even know how to post a message unless I reply!!!! How do I post a message on the message board without having to reply first? Anyway, I am glad you liked your first assignment. I am a nurse for only 15 months and I am going to travel also. What company did you use? I am thinking about using American Traveler, but I am still looking. I am scared to death to travel!!!!! I am nervous about what could go wrong. I am very friendly and flexible, but I am still nervous about making friends and not being lonley...you know what I mean. Please PM me and tell me about your experience on your first assignment and if you don't mind the ballpark of the salary they offered you. Hopefully I wlll learn to use this website the right way. Nice to meet you!!!:wink2:

To post a new post, there is a button at the top left hand side that says "Start a new thread" click and it it leads you through it.

I was a little scared to travel. I actually switched companies because the first one I went with had very low pay. They were good in all other ways, but I felt like they were making money off me..so I switched, and gave myself about a 10.00 pay raise.

You know, a lot can go wrong, even when someone does the research. One way to reduce lonliness is to travel with a friend. or a pet. But I think volunteering usually makes more friends. I'm already signed up for a volunteer orientation at my next assignment (Get to lead tours at a museum...)

As far as salary, you have to consider everything- the other benefits, such as insurance, decent housing, a rental car, or whatever. Some places will offer 40 an hour, but then stick it to you in many ways. Not just the dollar amount. And I consider the location more than anything else, since I'm traveling. I mean, basically I find that the Emergency Dept is the same all over, so I might as well find a nice location to be in.

Thanks for the advice!!!!! What company are you with...PM me if you don't want to say on this board. I never thought of volunteer work to make friends. All of my nursing friends are married and settled and I don't have a pet, so the volunteer thing sounds like fun on the off days. What company did you switch from? Just curious. Companies I have never even heard of are calling my cell phone about travel nursing and I never even gave them my number!!! I just don't want to get shafted...you know?

Hello,

If you dont mind, what agency are you currently traveling with? I am about to take an assignment with cross country and I really like my recruiter...but I want to make sure I am making the right decision...If you get some time I would love to hear any advice via email....pros and cons....Thanks so much, Katie

I'm not with CCTC, so I can't offer any advice on that matter. When I was choosing a company, I was very confused. A more experienced traveler told me to go with my gut, and to read carefully. He explained that most companies are essentially the same, and usually they aren't out to cheat the traveler. But a lot of times, we get to trusting the recruiter and overlook stuff like a clause in the contract saying "Will float to all units of the hospital" or Must be on call 2 nights per week, or the housing states "Extended stay housing". Then its easy to get angry and disappointed. And some hospitals are not so great to travelers...

For the most part, I think recruiters try to make a traveler happy. One thing that is hard is that most recruiters are not nurses so they don't have a clue about experience levels- say sending someone from a low activity/low acuity L and D suddenly to the high riskL and D unit. SOmetimes that works, and other times the person is overwhelmed. SO it's best to judge your own ability, as they see you as interchangable at times.

hollykate could you pm me with the company you are traveling with. i am going to travel in April and am just trying to find the right company. thanks