Job poll

OK, current assignment is in SC.

Experience 10+ in med/surg, neuro, cardic, ICU, ER, Home Care, LTC etc.

Traveled when I lived in CO and now.

You have to realistic, majority of positions are nights with a few days thrown in. Some are d/n rotation.

Some do not specifiy full time hours. Be care of those.

Ask about pay. Every region of the country is different and benefits very from company to company.

Wish you luck

My life is in transition, and I have planned to start travelling in early Jan. However, after doing much research, including reading on this site, it sounds like the worst time ever to try to begin! I have 4 years exp (med surg) but have never travelled. No certs. My only request is day/eve shifts, no nights. I don't even care where I'd go, though I'd prefer warmer clime.

1. Where are you working now (state?)

2. How long have you been travelling?

3. Have you found it to be difficult to get a travel job? Experiences please!

4. D/N?

5. Is Jan a good month to start travelling? New budget year? Though, currently bad ecomony...

1. Now working in NYC

2. Just under a year.

3. The NYC job came easily, and overall the experience has been smooth. The job is rough at this particular hospital, but the overall traveling nurse experience meaning the pay, dealing w/the agency etc has been fine.

4. Nights, but I'm a night person. I'm not sure I'd work days if you doubled my salary. No way I'm arriving anywhere at 7am except perhaps an airport. Seems to be way more night travel positions than day.

5. My contract is up in January and I've started hunting for a new placement. It has sucked. Seems like January is the worst time to look, especially with the economy the way it is now. I think the hospitals OD on travelers to fill their holiday needs then those RNs stick around for another 13 weeks. On top of that everyone wants to head to where its warm, so that's half the U.S. filled up with travel nurses, right there. This is just a theory.

1. In transition. My last contract ended last week in OR, and my new one starts in CA next week

2. Been traveling for 2 years off/on

3. Normally I haven't...but getting this new job took a few hurdles. Most hospitals are cutting back on the staff. I had a contract canceled on me last minute last week...(the census had dropped).

4. I'm a night shifter all the way. I heart nights. Haven't had to do rotations, but I've done 8s, 10s and 12s.

5. Prior to this year, I've never had a problem starting in January...I had a job that called me Xmas day and wanted me to start on the 2nd---however, pickings have been pretty slim with the economy...but there are still jobs out there.

You have a good base of experience, you just have to be flexible and open to areas that you might have not considered previously. Eg, community hospital vs large teaching hospital, positions requiring floating, different areas and cities altogether (up North still needs lots of nurses!)