Just a few questions...

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Specializes in SDU, Tele, Hospice, Radiology, Education.

Hello everyone! So I am thinking about travelling however I am a little nervous about it right now because I keep hearing about contracts being cancelled, not being able to find contracts, etc. I have signed up with RN Network (and USNN but they were just kind of crappy) because I have only heard good things about them. I am single again after breaking up with my BF last year, I have a dog (pug) and 2 cats, and I rent an apartment(lease is up 8/1). I was thinking about storing my belongings in a storage facility and just taking off to New England for the summer if I can find a position. Since I do not own a home, I figured if I didn't have a permanent address, it wouldn't be a big deal with taxes. I kind of feel like I am in a rut here and just need to get out! Since I do have 3 animals, does anyone now how hard it is to get the travel company to provide housing? I, of course, don't mind paying the deposit but I know sometimes it is hard to find housing with that many critters. I really don't want to leave any of them behind because they are all kind of neurotic and don't seem to like when I leave them behind. The cats kind of like moving at this point since I do it so often, lol. I have almost 2 years tele/stepdown experience (this summer will be 2 years) and hopefully will be ACLS certified within the next month or 2. I left my current job 4/08 and worked in a hospital outside of Cincy on a tele unit until the end of July 08. I then restarted my current tele/stepdown job 8/08. Confusing, yes, i should have just travelled last summer! Anyway, anyone have any advice for me?

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My suggestion would be to place your application with multiple companies. That will give you a better chance of getting where you want to go. Currently I am with 3 but have spent the afternoon researching others to increase my companies. Things are slim right now but if you are not too picky you should be able to find something. The more departments that you are able to work in will also help. The more you limit things the harder it will be to find something. Best of luck!

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Specializes in SDU, Tele, Hospice, Radiology, Education.

Thank you! Sounds like I might be slightly screwed at this point since I only have done MS (we get a lot of MS stepdown) and tele. I am all for being open to anywhere I just don't want to be stuck anywhere! I will def look into more companies!

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Some places have ms/tele together and others have them seperate. You might be able to go for step down/tele/ms. Don't get discouraged. I found lots of things out there when I was looking today...more than I thought. I looked at about 25-30 companies today. Some will let you look at available jobs and others won't. I have picked 6 more companies to apply to. It will probably take me forever to get it done, but I think it will help in the long run.

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Specializes in SDU, Tele, Hospice, Radiology, Education.

Good luck! If you don't mind me asking, what companies did you look at?

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Specializes in CVICU-ICU.

This might be a tip to help you with applying to companies. When I traveled I applied online at Healthcaretraveler.com and then multiple companies picked up my application thru that website. It was alot easier than applying at each company individually and the companies literally came to me. They called me and this was over a year ago and to this day I still get phone calls at least 2-3 times/month from different agencies.

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One problem is going to be housing with three animals. It has nothing to do with the agency, but with the apts that are going to be available. And things are always tighter when there is just a three month contract involved and not a full year.

Assignments are down all over the country and do not let anyone tell you differently, and with each and every agency that is out there. It is also going to be harder to get a contract as a first-time travel nurse as well. Facilities have become more picky and selective over the past few years and with fewer contracts available, but more nurses, they have become much more specific as to what their needs are as well as the experience that they want the nurse to have.

Best of luck to you. You may have an easier time if you get the contract to look for housing on your own that will accomodate the three animals. There are places that will take dogs and no cats, there are others that will do the reverse and then others that will permit no more than two, period.

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Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.

My contract got cancelled. Was supposed to end in mid April, hospital decided to make them end early March. Wife and I are going back to PA for permanent jobs. We wont go back to travel nursing after, even if the economy picks up. We wanted to see a lot of different places and stuff, it didnt work that way. We got placed in WA, which we did want to see and I love, but there was just never the variety of options we wanted.

Dealing with the company is a PIA too. American Mobile is not good in any way other than they are big. They will have to cut back with the economy the way it is and people are opting for smaller, more personable compainies. I would do that same, avoid AM.

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