OK, I can travel...but where??

NedRN · Oct 1, 2015

It is good that you are thinking!

Despite your local assignments, you really do need to get a real travel assignment on your work history. You will likely find travel assignments more "frantic' than local. It is best not to worry too much about location and pay and focus on a good fit. Then you will be more competitive and get better locations and money.

I attended a panel discussion by travelers two weeks ago at the travel conference aimed at recruiters, I was the only non-recruiter in the audience. Not one of the traveler's number one, two, or three most important things was money. Number one was the relationship with their recruiters, each having a personal favorite.

The lesson here that I have been repeating for years is to talk to many recruiters and pick a few to work further with.

Money is often the subject of thread starters, especially the new or never traveled posters. You will soon enough find out if travel works for you, location, money, and many other factors. I think you will discover that the money will be sufficient.

Ah, California! For the last 15 years, there have been more travel assignment here than any other state. The staffing ratio law means there is no end in sight. The state is huge with extremely varied geography, from beaches and mountains, to deserts and sun to drizzly NW weather. You can spend a whole travel career there without ever hitting all the cool places and some travelers do just that.

And yes, it does pay better than average and the working conditions are better than average. Yes, you do have to watch the pay/cost ratio carefully, but it still generally pays off.

I'm currently working a short assignment in Northern California. I'm a bad example for a number of reasons, and unless you are an L&D nurse, I'm grossing about three times what you are likely to make. I'm very happy with my housing at $800 a month. More than I would pay at this location for a normal length assignment but yes, I'm doing well when I work in California.

So yes, you should indeed get a California licence as a career asset. It takes months to get so don't wait for it to begin traveling. It is a big country out there and you need that first assignment.

If you are convinced that you only want to chase top dollar, west coast states (including Alaska) and the NE states are the place to focus. Not coincidentally, these are all heavily unionized states. So is Illinois I believe so I can understand that travel compensation doesn't look as good to you as the more common traveler coming from the South. It is very rare to meet a traveler from high paying states such as California. It just doesn't seem to pencil out. And it might not work for you in reality.

perfexion, ASN, RN · Oct 1, 2015

I did an assignment in central valley California earlier this year. The housing there was dirt cheap. In fact I completely relocated to that area after my assignment ended and now I rent a huge 5 bedroom house out there for the same price as my three bedroom townhouse in NJ. Not all California is bad. But right now I'm also doing an assignment in NorCal and housing up here is ridiculous! I'm paying $900 a week for a 1 bedroom that's literally a little bigger than my walk in closet at home. But if you're not claustrophobic and don't mind being cooped up for 3 months California is where the money is! Housing is pricey but youll definitely get some change back from your paycheck. Im probably just going to travel within this state from now on. Between the gorgeous weather, the automatic OT and the low staffing ratios this place is traveler heaven. Give California a chance!

guest769224 · Oct 1, 2015

I'm a bad example for a number of reasons, and unless you are an L&D nurse, I'm grossing about three times what you are likely to make.

How do you and other travelers find high pay assignments like these on such a consistent basis? Must one be an OR or L/D nurse?

NedRN · Oct 1, 2015

Experienced travelers almost always consistently get more for a number of reasons. Crisis pay assignments can hit any specialty as an independent variable, but obviously if one is in a currently high demand specialty, it will be more frequent and even "base" bill rates for currently hot specialties go up with demand. It's the law of supply and demand.

Concerto_in_C, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2015

Give California a chance!

Hmmm....takes like 6 months to get their license though...no? It may be worth it, it doesn't matter in the long run. I have the time. I can do something else while working on the California license.

59classic · Dec 4, 2015

You can always take an assignment in a compact state to see if you like the travel thing.