Permanent job after travel

[Wolf at the Door, BSN]

If you are currently thinking of leaving your permanent job, consider what I have to say. You may have a very hard time convincing the next full-time employer you intend to stay and not travel again.

At first I was looking for jobs outside my speciality of ICU in Oct 2016 because I wanted a change. Then I started focusing on ICU in February of this year. I am still without a perm job as of today. I have had 6 in person interviews, 1 phone interview, 3 HR phone screenings and an interview scheduled next week since Feb. I have talked to employers in multiple states. With each interview I am losing my drive to do nursing because how my resume is now viewed. I am a solid interviewee.

Reality is employers think I am unstable even though I tell them how I detest travel nursing.

[NedRN]

Consider taking a staff job at an assignment hospital. They know you and like you, and that goes a long way. Otherwise, you have to spin a good story about sowing wild oats before settling down, why you chose them, and settling down and starting a family (even better if that is true). Saying you detest travel is a negative no one will take kindly. Better to say you miss being staff. Only suggest positives of traveling in passing, personal and professional growth, and the opportunity to treat diverse populations.

[Wolf at the Door, BSN]

I don't say detest, I was typing loosely. I do explain why I got in and want out. I have experienced a wealth of hardship since I started traveling which I will explain once I am officially away from this industry. Where I get an assignment at is not necessarily where I would like to be long term because the market stinks for ICU right now.

[guest769224]

the market stinks for ICU right now.

I've noticed that, too.

[saskrn]

We both do ICU, and we've been presented with many different ICU travel locations within the last week. It depends on where you want to go.

As for transitioning from travel to perm, I've always told perm employers how much I dislike traveling. That has never hurt me in an interview. If anything, it's helped.

[Wolf at the Door, BSN]

I've noticed that, too.

Plenty of jobs well below max stipend and 15-20 an hourly rate in California. It's a joke.

[NedRN]

CVICU in CA for $70.

[Wolf at the Door, BSN]

CVICU in CA for $70.

Thanks but, I don't do open hearts.

A perm job in Nor Cal is like catching a unicorn. I am going to take my chances and relocate to PA in the next few weeks. If anyone knows any PRN agencies in that area PM me.

[Wolf at the Door, BSN]

I totally get why nurses are hostile towards travel nurses in Nor Cal. It is really hard to get a job in Nor Cal and then you have a travel nurse taking up a spot for a local RN you may know needing a job. Cost of living is nutty in Nor Cal. Local RN's can't get a job because places like Kaiser fail to invest in local nurses because they don't want to pay benefits. The more travel nurses means less nurses on the clock are part of the union. Non union nurses gives the hospital and management more control over firing them for anything. These hospitals are screwing people because they refuse to hire or cross train nurses into specialities like cath lab, OR & L&D. Hospital are paying high rates for those specialities then they turn around and cut ties when census drops. I had Sutter tell me they won't train you for anything you have to come in with that exact experience.

[NedRN]

A large part of the difficulty in getting a staff nurse job in California is that travel nurses come in less expensive than a mid/senior staff nurse. Yet even after housing, it is still appealing pay to most travel nurses, plus the ratio law usually means less abusive working conditions than much of the country.

Hospitals still recognize the efficiency/safety advantage of having staff nurses, but you have to prove your worth on a travel assignment. Why should they spend money recruiting an unknown nurse when there are daily opportunities to check in-house?

[Wolf at the Door, BSN]

My interview two weeks ago resulted in a we choose a stronger candidate. Its funny because that teaching hospital said no more travel nurses but, yet they have some ICU jobs open as of Wednesday paying 17.50 taxable, hypocrites.

[NedRN]

Total pay will be over $50 an hour, right? In any case, using contingent labor not only costs less per hour than staff in California, it is a good strategy nationwide to be able to readily adjust to changes in pt population and not have to lay off or hire new staff nurses (which takes several months on average versus 2 to 4 weeks for a traveler). Yes, it makes it harder to get a staff job in a state like California, but it is a rational business strategy, not personal.

I'm certainly not suggesting business can do no wrong. The current trend to using subcontractors in say the construction business to shift liability downstream for not paying overtime or minimum wage or being responsible for immigration status is reprehensible. So is the US government deleting good jobs for outsourcing to non-union lower paid contractors with poor benefits and working conditions. Sad if I may quote our glorious leader.

If you want a staff job, you may have to play the game. Get a travel assignment, work your butt off and become well liked, and a job will be offered.