L&D traveller panic-stricken about the economy

[IndigoCarmine]

Jeez...what do I do? Where do I go? My nails are bitten down to the quick. I have sweaty anxiety dreams. My NYC contract ends in early January and I REALLY do not want to renew. I want to head towards someplace warm (like everyone else) and I'm thinking that I may just have to go wherever I find a job first no latter where it is! I'm getting less picky every day.

My current recruiter says she has nothing for L&D in January (NOTHING!) and I should stay where I am. I have second agency (AM) supposedly working on looking but she's come up empty. I dread filling out all the paperwork for yet another agency and starting the whole faxing/copying/collection jazz all over, but I'll do it if I have to.

Any L&D travelers out there with any cities/placements/ideas? As a non-driver I'm utterly restricted to mid-to large sized cities with decent public transportation (or warm enough and FLAT enough to get around by bike!!). Teaching hospitals are more my speed but at this point I may have to waiver on that one.

Hey L&D travelers! Where are y'all working? Do you like it? How's the pay? Man, I need a new placement!!

Any and all suggestions are appreciated!

[bagladyrn, RN]

Warm and big city - have you looked at Phoenix? I'm currently on a contract in L&D in Las Vegas, but I don't think this hospital will be bringing in more travelers as they are putting someone on call for low census about every night. I do think there are positions at Sunrise in Vegas though I don't know much about them. Orlando is another possibility or Miami - I've seen positions listed in both cities with CCTC, though I haven't looked in the last few weeks. In certain areas some of the larger compnies seem to have an exclusive contract with the hospitals - they will fill the positions with their own travelers first before subcontracting any remaining positions to other agencies, so you may need to go the route of filling out more applications.

[IndigoCarmine]

Yeah, I think the "large companies" thing is going to become a problem for me. I work for a smaller company and really, really like working with them. They don't wait for me to call -- the contact me weekly to make sure all is well! They are speedy about fixing glitches andI trust them about as much as one can trust a company that makes money off you.

But man, they seem so much more limited than the Big Guys in terms of jobbies. Pheonix wasn't on my short list. It totally should be!!

[GrammaKay]

There are still assignments out there for L&D, my phone hasn't stopped ringing. I've taken a job close to home and have put traveling on the back burner for now but if I were you I would check with out company's. I just left Martha's Vineyard in MA. I did not take a car, used my bike, bus and feet and did just fine. It was a great assignment and the staff made me feel right at home. Check out other options I know they are still out there.

[PreggersRN, BSN, RN]

I have been having a hard time finding travel positions for January as well. Signed up with 4 companies (Nurses Rx, CCTC, American Mobile and Access Nurses) I do LDRP, antepartum, post partum and women's health and have had no luck with Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area.

I want to go there because my friend is a PICU nurse and already has a travel assignment.

It is my first time traveling, after 3 years of working OB. I am starting to get discouraged. I hope something comes up soon.

[IndigoCarmine]

I have been having a hard time finding travel positions for January as well. Signed up with 4 companies (Nurses Rx, CCTC, American Mobile and Access Nurses) I do LDRP, antepartum, post partum and women's health and have had no luck with Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area.

My recruiter (of one of those four companies you mentioned) has zero in the Miami area. Zero. It's killing me. She found a job in SF but I don't think I can cram ACLS and Advanced Fetal Monitoring in before the end of Jan.

I think I'm just stuck. I'll likely just stay where I am for lack of a better plan.

I'm pretty miserable about it. I feel like I should have planned better.

[OBRN1994]

The recruiter from cctc emailed me (this a.m.) that they still have an L&D position in Coral Springs (which is in the Miami area) with a Dec. 29 start date. It's too soon for me... did you check into that position?

[PreggersRN, BSN, RN]

I saw the position in Coral Springs. I was really looking for antepartum or postpartum positions. I also absolutely have to leave in Jan. I do not want to burn bridges with my home hospital by leaving before the holidays are up. You never know when you may have to come back to a place.

[OBRN1994]

I understand that! It's why I didn't look any further into that position.

[Precious_P]

Assignments are out there. This is one of those times when you can't be picky about location. I am finishing up an assignment in Texas and they were begging me to extend, I was told about another one elsewhere in Texas. But a friend and I just signed on for one in San Francisco. My recruiter told me that because we were flexible about location we were reasy to place. (We were submitted as a team of 2 L&D nurses). It's the slow season and the economy makes it difficult so this is when the compromise comes in. Good luck to you!!

[travelinjones]

Hawaii? Check into Kapiolani Womens and Childrens. Warm, and an awesome bus system. Tons and tons of listings on Craig's list if you want to find your own housing.

[FLAlleycat]

I'm really hoping the economy will have a positive effect on positions for L&D. People staying at home more, devising their own home entertainment, maybe even some make-up sex after tempers explode from too much togetherness, and always, always unplanned pregnancies.

Allie