Nov. San Fran, ICU/CCU/ER companies?

RemoteRN · Jul 9, 2006

First off, Hi, i'm Andrea, i'm a bit off-beat, very motivated, i like long walks on the beach (or anywhere, and by long i mean several hours), and candlelit dinners (really, waht girl doesn't?). I'm born under Virgo, and live true to my star sign, however unintentionally.
Seriously, my post is a bunch of questions that are very specific....
(I've done my homework)
I am moving to San Fran in November with whatever travel agency i like and with whom i negotiate a contract. My goal is to do at least 3 months there, and continue that assignment for as long as possible, as my intention is to relocate there for 2 years. I am looking at a couple companies, and so far heard great things from Cirrus, and from Emerald for the area. I'm looking for the following information:
Recommendations for good companies that service the bay area of California if anyone is willing to disperse that?
How many people have extended their contracts in a particular area successfully? Any problems?
If i extend the contract or pick up a new one in the same area (but maybe different hospital) would they make me change housing or do you tend to stay in the same housing for however long you extend your contract (or even, is this negotiable?)?
Has anyone cross trained to another specialty for a travel assignment (Cirrus said that i could take extra shifts in the ER if the hospital will have me)? I am a paramedic that has been one for 10 years, teach for the AHA for 7 years, studied pre-med courses, avid learner, only missing skills for giving/monitoring fibrinolytics, who got her BSN 2 years ago and works in a university hospital in a Medical CCU and wants to do ER?
Sorry for the long post, but as you can see, my questions are *complicated*. Just trying to finish my homework and get this show on the road. Already sent out the application for licensure!
Thanks for any help,
Andrea

One of the first "problems" I see is that California will consider you a resident after 9 months. Now the IRS won't consider that California is your new "tax home" until you've been in one general area for a year.

Read pub 463 very closely. If your contract is for say 6 months and is likely to be only 6 months but ends up being 13 months you have changed "tax homes" and no longer enjoy many of the benefits of being a traveling nurse. In other words you would have to pay taxes on the value of your housing and you wouldn't be able to get per diems or claim any reimbursements for meals and incidentals.

If you stay with the same company and your housing is close enough to the new hospital the company probably won't change your housing. But remember to to ask for more money in your next contract and travel pay after all if you left Cali for another assignment they'd have to pay travel pay to you or if another traveler came to Cali they'd have to pay them.

There are alot of "if's" in your dealings with these companies. Remember if it isn't "charted" i.e. written in the contract, it probably won't happen. I have a feeling picking up shifts in the ER as an untrained RN would be difficult. Most ER's have a very detailed training period and I doubt they would want to take you on once or twice a month, or one day a week as an orientee.

You might fare better transferring now where you live presently to the ER and getting your 2 years of experience there before you venture out.

JMHO..

Good luck