Heading down south for the winter

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So I'm going to end my assignment up here in CT in a few weeks and looking to line up my next assignment. I want to be near home and family (Georgia/Alabama/Tennessee) for the Holidays and desire the warmer weather. My recruiter(s) are suggesting the ICU's at Grady Memorial in Atlanta, GA and Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, TN. The pay is mediocre for a travel nurse but I'm from the South so I was expecting that.

I already have my GA license but would need to obtain the TN one, is that a long and difficult process in the state of TN?

So does anybody have experience with either of these places or tips for successful travel in the South?

Thanks

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

I dont have travel experience in GA but I do know someone who was a patient @ Grady and could not say enough good things about the nurses and the facility. HTH! :)

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TN license should be 4 to 6 weeks.

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Yeah from what I've heard Grady has really improved it's reputation. I also heard the TN license was 4 to 6 weeks with no temp option. That puts me a little longer than I'd like so I'll probably go with GA.

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I worked at Grady on a med/surg/tele floor for 7 months and absolutely hated it. We never had enough supplies (IV tubing, alcohol pads, flushes...). The staff was very mean and rude to each other and patients. It was normal for me to have 6 patients and sometime 7. On a good day I had 5 patients. There were 42 beds on my floor and only two techs so the nurses pretty much did everything: vitals, accuchecks, baths, ambulate patients, clean them up. Maybe the ICU will be different but if at all possible, I would not recommend Grady. It is also in a sketchy area of town.

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Wow, why did you stay for 7 months on that contract if it was so awful? Yeah I know the area of town it's in, not the best.

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That was when I was a new grad desperate for med/surg experience. If you have any questions about Atlanta hospitals, PM me. I am at Emory University Hospital and it is wonderful! I really want to travel and will be extremely sad to leave my job behind. I am currently looking for my first travel assignment. If you have any knowledge/advice on what I should be expecting in terms of housing stipend and pay in the DC area, it will be much appreciated!

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I've been through DC but never worked there. Good luck!

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