Just starting out, questions.

You should know the shift, hours and unit before you leave for your assignment. I worked with the manager and was able to schedule my 3- 12 hour days whenever I wanted to work. Of course this will depend on the unit and the manager.

Most nurses take the offered housing on their first assignement, in order to feel out the area and real estate market.

My first assignment in Phoenix, (2009)... my stipend would have been $1400/ month, the apartment 800 + rental furniture, etc... but who wants to rent to you for 13 weeks? All of my accomodations were very nice and in safe areas.

Make sure you sign with a company that pays your way back home. Some companies want you to touch base with the recruiter on a weekly basis.Negotiate your hourly rate.. it varies widely from agency to agency. Are you driving or do you need to rent a car?

Learning the EMR in a flash was the biggest challenge for me.

Bon Voyage!

$1400/mth?! That is amazing! I say that because I have a friend who lives in Phoenix, so hopefully one of these days when I actually start traveling, I can take advantage of that stipend. What area do you work in Been there, done that? I'm just curious because I have this internal struggle about traveling and finding work in my specialty. I recently made a switch to the ICU in January, but I'm not entirely sure I like it, but I feel obligated to stay a year, and then I'd like to travel, but I doubt one year in the ICU is enough. Otherwise, I could travel now and try to find a job in my previous specialty, med/surg/tele. It just seems that the companies I'm talking with have NO positions in my specialty. It's very frustrating.

I'm just starting out travel nursing (hopefully first assignment in September) and I'm a bit nervous. Did anyone else feel this way at the beginning or is it just me?

I get nervous at the start of every contract, and I've been doing this since 2000! It's natural, but you'll get "used" to it.

How does scheduling work when you travel? Are you able to basically sign up for what you want or what the unit has available?

Scheduling works differently with every place you go. If you have specific time off you want (ex a vacation or an extended weekend) make sure you have that written into your contract. You can also discuss with the people who do the schedule as to what you are working, or like/dislike in scheduling, but it's never gaurenteed that you will get what you want, just like everyone else. (at the contract I'm in now, I really have no choice in what I'm working, but they have been very nice with me requesting days off. And I also had written into my contract 2 weeks off so I could have my vacation time..but you don't get paid...and my contract is really 15 weeks, instead of 13..)

How much traveling around and sight seeing are you able to do? Are you able to arrange your schedule so that you have time off to visit the locations you travel to?

If you work 12 hour shifts, you have 4 days a week off.. so you most definitely can sight see. have fun! You have the right to request off!!

While looking around on craiglist and such at housing, can someone give me a ballpark of how much of a housing stipend you get a month? So I can decide if I would like to get my own or go with the companys.

It totally depends on the area you are in. At one contract, I stayed in an extended stay since I didn't want to take the housing offered. Now I have an apartment they've put me up in on this contract. And on the next, I hope to either have a roommate, or stay with a friend. So that all depends.. It's really tough to get a 3 month lease at some places. And the housing money depends on the area you are working in. For example, my stipend in Dallas was only 1300/mo, where here in Annapolis it's 1900/mo. You have to ask your recruiter.

The company I'm going with has health care coverage up to 2 weeks after your assignment finishes. I would like more flexibility so I'm going to get my own health insurance. Is this a common thing for travelers to do?

I've never had my own insurance since the company usually pays for such a large chunk of the cost. That saying, most travel companies don't have the greatest coverage. Again, ask your company just how much you will have in your check if you don't get insurance through them, compared to how much you will pay for it yourself.

Also, how much time are you taking off between contracts? That's awesome if you can afford not to work!

Good luck!