Is travel nursing in chicago a good idea?

[kv2000]

I have been an ER nurse in Louisiana for 2 years and now want to travel. I am considering traveling to chicago, but i am very nervous. I have never traveled before. Does anyone know anything about hosp. in chicago? Are they travel friendly? Which hospitals and travel companies do you recommend? O and by the way, our hosp seperates peds and adults in the ed. i work in the adult only er. Are there any that do the same in Chicago?

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

I so love Chicago, except during the winter. It makes my old bones ache

[oMerMero]

I worked at two hospitals in Chicago as a travel nurse. When I stopped working as a traveler (a little over six months ago), I had a hard time getting a contract in the city or close suburbs. There was one hospital I was at that relied very heavily on travelers (there were times when it was all agency nurses working, no permanent staff). They offerred me another contract, but ther was no way I was going back to that hospital. It was the lowest budget hospital, and the administration had no respect for travelers. But, there was one hospital I was at that I liked and I did re-signed my contract there a few a times. I am not sure what the traveler situation is like these days. Give a few agencies a call and see what they have available.

[ernurse16]

I just finished a contract in Chicago. I actually extended it three times. I loved it but it was an extremely high acuity ER. That particular hospital has for the moment, stopped using travelers. I know of another facility in need of an ER nurse but it's on the south side and it's my understanding it's a pretty rough neighborhood. I loved Chicago and can't wait to get back there. I had to come home to be with my daughter that just had my first grandchild :) Time to hit the road again!!!

Also... there really aren't a lot of travel positions in chicaog... tho they hire agency nurses a lot but then there's no housing. But the agency nurse pay is great!