Is Anyone having trouble finding an assignment?

bagladyrn, RN · Sep 30, 2008

I am in South Florida right now and I am having trouble finding an assignment in North or South Florida. It's like there is a "hiring freeze" or something. Is anyone else having this problem?

Yes, Florida is tight right now. I "gave up" on getting home for this next contract after finding little to nothing there. My thought is that the hospitals are waiting to see whether or not the "snowbirds" can afford to come down this year. I have a feeling a lot of them probably can't afford to make the trip with the economy and gas prices, so the census may be lower than usual at the hospitals.

travelinjones · Sep 30, 2008

It's a bit of a tight squeeze out in Cali right now, too. I'm looking and do have a few irons in the fire, but what I really really want is getting harder to find. I've taken a per diem position at a San Francisco hospital I have traveled to, and hoping their census stays high enough to feed me! I have travel RN friends in Oakland and Sacramento who are having shifts cancelled on them.

So, it is a little discouraging at the moment, however, looking ahead to January, I think budgets will be opening back up, and more facilities will be offering up positions. As for right now, I think the hospitals are keeping a tight reign on their staffing budgets.

angel4gramma · Oct 1, 2008

In California and took me 2 months and many submits to hospitals to get 2 interviews and one offer. I hope it gets better.

MissAnthrope · Oct 5, 2008

Thank God it's not just me...I say that because I've been technically "unemployed" for almost a month now, waiting for a company to bite! I'm hoping that this is just a product of it being the end of the fiscal year (budget time) and also the fact that a ton of new grads are coming off their orientations. I'm a new traveler so maybe you seasoned vets can tell me if this happens every year. And may we all find work! :)

chickpea49 · Oct 25, 2008

Since August, I have had Intelistaff (who I really don't want to work for, based on reviews from this and other forums, plus the distinct impression that my recruiter was really not looking out for what I wanted - but I work local agency for MSN and thought it would be easier) and Travelmax trying to find me a position somewhere between Tampa and Sarasota for Jan 09 start and haven't even had an interview.

My recruiter from Travelmax said that I shouldn't get an ulcer yet, she just read that Florida was 'tight' right now but that positions would probably open up in November/December.

I traveled in 96/97, have been an ED RN since 1995 and have almost every certification possible (I teach most of the ED RN classes - TNCC, PALS, ACLS, etc). So I am very glad to hear that others are having problems! I was starting to get paranoid and think that something on my profile was raising a red flag for a reason that I could not fathom.

My plan B is to take anything they've got from a compact state (I paid for the Florida license but am primarily licensed in WI - thank goodness, if Fl falls through I've got other warm-state options!).

Best of luck to everyone out there!

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Oct 25, 2008

Well I know the ED I was a traveler at and now work as staff does not need anyone as we are fully staffed. That had been the problem for a few years. Even a recent as last fall/winter we had 5 travel nurses, as it stands now we have NO need. I however cant speak for the floors or units.

I might add if we do have a need there are 4 or 5 that management will be trying to call first as they have request to return if they can. I dont know about other area hospitals, but I imagine it might be the same. SOme nurses have told me they contract a year ahead now too.

RJ

loricatus · Oct 25, 2008

I stopped traveling and went staff at my last assignment to ride out this recession. I suspect others are doing what I have done, which could lead to the decreased travel assignments available.

What is frightening to think about is that if the job is good enough to go staff, what does that say about the places that still have a high need for travelers???

MistyDawnRN06, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2008

I receive emails from Nightingale travel nursing for Florida positions almost daily. I've never traveled with them, but maybe you could check them out?

I'm looking for a job in NY, NY and am not having much luck thus far - not much open out there. This sucks!

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Oct 27, 2008

I receive emails from Nightingale travel nursing for Florida positions almost daily. I've never traveled with them, but maybe you could check them out?
I'm looking for a job in NY, NY and am not having much luck thus far - not much open out there. This sucks!

There are jobs out there one company may not have anything the next has lots. I was talking to a nurse tonight who is looking for some PRN work and a facility told her today they dont have much as they have their travelers lined up already. So I think the issue not that there are not NO travel positions but that there are just filled slots for the winter early.

Rj

RNCCU4U · Oct 27, 2008

I am traveling with my S.O. and it compounds the problem for us. We were hoping for Florida and/or South Carolina as we have our children living in those areas. We have expanded our searching to West Coast and the Mid-West just to be sure we will be employed for the Holidays. The idea of "retreating" to a staff position, though does not sound appealing, may be a smart move. At least until the Administrators of the nation's hospitals ride out this "bump in the road" aka recession. We plan on trying to keep applying and have been offered to stay here, but not something we are wanting so we will be elsewhere come Christmas.

Anyone have any advice about travel nursing in California? Good luck to all of you too. :typing

emtneel · Oct 27, 2008

I am a FNP that recently quit my 1st NP job and was previously a Pediatric nurse for 3 years. I have been looking at travel jobs in AZ and CA and have had no problems. My only thing is I am waiting to see if I can get a travel job as a NP within the next few weeks if not, i will take a RN job. I have my paperwork on file with a few different companies and get calls almost everyday for positions.

I don't really think there is a recession in nursing at all. The healthcare industry will only continue to grow, and esp. for primary care as a NP our jobs are pretty secure as less MDs choose primary care.

The companies i have been working with are: HRN, cross country, supplemental, and Aureus.