Ragan

I'm glad you posted that about IMU. With two people saying it's bad conditions, I don't think it's the place I want to be. I'm glad I'm learning this now and not when I get out there. I'll be searching elsewhere.

I took the PBDS with about 14 other travelers in Columbus a few months ago and passed it. There was one person who did not pass, but she got to retake it a couple of days later and did well. She was not knowledgeable in telemetry or cardiac at all, and I found that a couple of scenarios were cardiac-based. TIP: When you answer the questions, put EVERYTHING down you think of including getting VS, auscultating lung sounds, assessing pain, calling the doctor with all assessment findings, and anticipating orders. Don't forget to put O2 on the patient as well since it's usually an obvious one to forget (also putting them on a monitor to check their rhythm). It's a little stressful, but you'll do fine.

I was just interviewed for 5 IMU at UCSD. I thought the manager seemed really nice. They want me to come for 6 months. After reading the post above about the unit, I'm rethinking....

Who drives? Who gets a rental car? How much does your company give you for this? Who flies and takes city transit? I'm from Ohio and thinking about California.

University Hospital is next to a bad area in Clifton (urban suburb)..which is where the college is located. I went there, I did clinical rotations there. As long as you park in the parking garage, you'll be ok, but do NOT park on the streets across from the hospital. I'm not sure about the pay rates. Go here: www.healthall.com

I currently live in West Chester, which I really like. I would also recommend Liberty Township, and Fairfield. These places would take about a 25 minute drive to get to a downtown hospital (Christ, Deaconess, University, Childrens, etc).

Does anyone choose the housing subsidy? If so, what is your experience with this? I'm planning on moving about 2 hours away and I want to stay in that city (Columbus) for at least 9 months. I want to pick my own housing and bring my own things. Should I sign a 9 month lease with an apartment even though I'm really not guaranteed 9 months in Columbus? And if my company absolutely can't get me another job there after my 13 weeks (although they probably could), I could switch companies I guess to stay in the city. Anyone with advice?

I just wanted to make a thread dedicated to the companies. Which one do you use? How long have you used them? What do you like about them?

Since AMH works with other companies, such as Nurses RX and O'Gredy Payton, is their pay going to be the same all around? Or is it just AMH that is paying less?

I would consider agency, but I really like the fact that travelling companies pay for your housing, which is probably not true of agencies, right?

I talked to AMerican Mobile Healthcare today and (I'm from around Cincinnati, OH) they told me I could not work in Dayton because I am within a 60 mile radius from the city. Anyone else heard of this?