Im a PICU nurse in Houston, TX and was planning to start travel next March/April 2017 in SoCal (LA area). I recently was contacted by a travel agency saying that I should start some contracts now so I have the experience under my belt before heading to California. She said CA jobs want a candidate with travel experience. Should I start a local contract here, or is she just trying to secure me as a client? She also said that licensing in California is now up to 6 months wait time! I knew it was 3-4, but wow, 6? Lastly, When I make the move to CA next year, my partner will be coming with me. If I do travel assignments in San Antonio or Austin, I can't ask him to uproot in the next couple of weeks! He's prepared for Ca next March, but not SA or ATX this soon! How do y'all make travel work when you have family/relationships/etc? Any advice on which travel company to use, (I've been talking to TravelMaxwhat, PPR, it's like I'm the CA arena, etc, would be much appreciated! I honestly am sad to say goodbye to my current FT position, but I know I will have to come next spring to travel in CA. I just don't want to up and leave only to be doing a travel position so locally. But, if it's going to guarantee me an offer next March, then so be it. I'll do what I must.
I'm back! I shopped through some agencies and really cliqued with two recruiters so far. One recruiter has just really put the time in and seems like she has a lot more available opportunities than the other one does. I've interviewed with a few hospitals and have gotten some offers. One of the offers just feels right. Everyhing feels good about it, even though it's in a region I never planned to look into. I'm in Houston. The offer is in Minneapolis. My thought is to stack shifts so that I can travel between the two cities. It's my first travel assignment. My partner can't come with me. We have been together for 2 years, so it's still new. This is the main reason I want to be able to fly back. Is this a silly idea? Will I be spending too much money to not make it worth it? Also, I had planned to fly into Minneapolis and just use the Light rail system, which seems to be very accessible and extensive, in order to go to and from work while either renting a place off AirBNB, or getting a hotel for 3-6 nights during my stacked shifts. These are small things, but I just want to make sure it's all going to be possible. HELP!
My husband and I drove up to Denver from our assignment in NM to do a livescan submission to the CA BON. That was the second week of January, got our temporary license 2 weeks later, and our full the first week of March. Another traveler friend submitter her paperwork with fingerprint cards in April, and just now got her license in October, while another took almost 2 months with in person delivery. I would advise you to plan of worse case scenario (6 months) if you are not able to do it in person just to be on the safe side.
NedRN
1 Article; 5,785 Posts
For any day(s) you need off you need to discuss it with your recruiter, in the hospital interview, and then bake it into the contract.