lmessajumper

I have had a company get me out of a bad situation and place me somewhere else to finish out the contract obligations. The above responses are correct in that you have to be careful of what you owe to them re: housing, expenses, etc. I say be up front and ask your recruiter (or their boss) what would happen if you did not finish the contract. If you have a contract stating certain days and hours then by gosh I say they better honor it or I am out of there. There are way too many other jobs waiting for you.

Scripp's does have a good reputation but I have to say that when I worked registry at Scripp's La Jolla, they were in the process of changing their patient care procedures which involved getting rid of nursing asst's (PCTs). The PCTs would do EKGs, give baths to the post open heart patient's and some other duties. I worked 3 shifts where I had no one to help assist my patient's while I was busy, no one answering call lights, and one instance where I overheard the charge nurse tell a family member complaining about no one answering her mother's call light that their nurse "must be lying" about not getting the message that they needed help. I complained to the nursing supervisor and told them that I would not return. I was told once by a PCT when asking her to watch a patient transfer to the BSC for me (I was starting an IV) that she "no longer did patient care". I know I am going on and on but I was really disappointed in the patient care there. I guess everyone's experiences vary - you have to decide for yourself. I recommend doing some registry work at the different hospitals if possible before making a long term committment.

I wasn't going to comment anymore but I guess my pride is getting the best of me. No, we do not have an emergency fund right now. We lost everything in Hurricane Katrina, replaced everything that my husband and I needed for our house and replaced all my stepdaughters needed and took full-time care of them for a full year and just started traveling again last summer. This past winter, my husband was in the hospital for 2 weeks and I had to take some time off and then our car was broken into and all our phones and money was stolen. I know it sounds like a soap opera but I believe that nurses especially should not assume about someone's character as there could be extenuating circumstances. All I asked from them is a little support so that I could honor the contract. I have been traveling for 7 years and worked for them 48 hours per week for 3 months last summer. I took combinations of 2-3 buses plus trains to get to orientation classes every day that week along with paying for rides. That day I had NO way to get where I needed to be on time and when I said that I might be late I was "gently" reminded that I REALLY needed to be on time and that the recruiter could not stay in her office 10 extra minutes (after I would be spending 3 hours on public transportation to get there and 3 hrs back) so that I could pick up a very small advance to get my car key. So, I would appreciate no one else commenting on my character and giving obvious advice on emergency funds but if anyone has any info on the question I asked that would be appreciated. Thank you

My references come from my coworkers - charge nurses or lead nurses - usually. I already have two other agencies looking for contracts and I work for two local nursing registries that keep me real busy at the local hospitals. I am embarassed and feel bad about leaving them short and I call the unit and explained that I am truly sorry but I cannot work for this company anymore. Anyway, thanks for the reply, and travel nursing is great BUT - I do not recommend anyone to work for the "big" company that we all know about or any of it's subsidiaries. Send me a personal message and I will hook you up with the best recruiter and company I have worked for in 8 years. Lisa

I won't go into details, but I accepted a 6wk contract with a company that I know I shouldn't have because they are cold, greedy, and uncaring for their nurses. I had car troubles my first week and made it to all of orientation using many different buses, trains, begging rides and lots of walking. The company would not help in any way (such as giving me some financial assist-I needed $200 to get my car out and had already worked 25 hrs that week) by not staying in their office 10 extra minutes to help me and by not sending a promised advance of the above amount. Not only did they hinder me but also made sure to "remind" me that I needed to be on time every day - which I was even though it was VERY difficult. I have already decided that I do not want to work for any company like this. The $1800 a week they were offering (for 48hrs/wk) blinded me and I went against my gut and integrity and I cannot do it any more. I know it looks bad, I know I signed the contract but I will not continue. What I am asking is, even though they have not invested any money in me as far as travel, licensing, housing, etc. and the $200 advance can be taken from the 30 hrs I have already worked, can they sue me for anything? Knowing this company like I do, I will most likely not see any of the money I have already made-they will find something to charge me for but I don't know of any other legal consequences. The manager of the unit understands that it is not a issue with the unit but with my employer and althought she is disappointed, she says that she would welcome me back as staff or as a registry nurse. Do I need to fear any consequences that I may not know about? I already have work in the area and my conscience will not let me give any more of my time to this company.

I am a stickler for pain management in my patients. I try to always remember that they are my priority. The important issue in the above situations is that the patient's pain/anxiety is not being resolved. I assess the patient and medicate accordingly. To me, if you don't feel comfortable giving a pain med an hour early, call the MD and get an OK-but please don't just let the patient suffer because "it's too soon" or "the doctor didn't order it like that". Do what you have to, but get that patient some relief!!!

Trustaff offers large non-taxed portion of your hourly wage. They pay for your expenses out of your check then send you the rest as pay. I find my own housing them have them call and set up everything-rent, furniture rental, computer rental, utilities - any bill that I have while on assignment. The rest of the untaxed portion can be used for insurance, travel expenses and reimbursements for licenses and any job related expenses. This usually covers the untaxed portion. I like it because I call my housing guy and can have him pay for an unexpected expense like a hotel or doctor visit and take it out of my next check. They are casual and though they don't offer insurance or reimbursements separately they do give you enough tax free income to do it yourself. I would recommend using other agencies until you are a seasoned traveler and also to get tax info first. Check out Kobaly.com for a good resource.

I have been traveling for 7 years and I have had some units give me going away parties, employees often say "You're a traveler? I thought you were staff?" I have had good experiences most of the time. This is what I do: I act like staff - I try to attend staff meetings, I introduce myself right away and talk to my coworkers like I have been there awhile and plan to be around for awhile, I contribute to potlucks and birthdays, etc. I don't bring up other assignments, my home area, or how much better it may be anywhere else unless asked, then keep it short- I ask coworkers about the area, where to go, what to do, etc. I don't complain about their unit or coworkers or their manager. I often say that every place has it's plus and minuses. I wouldn't be traveling if didn't want the experience of being in a new place and feeling like a "local". People resent their choices being insulted. I offer to help and ask for help often - I ask coworkers their nursing opinion about situations, I ask the unit secretary how to get things and how they want things organized or done. I ask others if I can do anything for them if they look busy, I ask the CNAs what their routine is and to let me know if I can do anything to help them, I jump in when something needs to be done. I joke and laugh and am interested in my coworkers and their lives - I try to be someone people want to work with and be around. I have worked on units when a new traveler starts and they are so distant or quiet or self-sufficient that you wouldn't know they were working with you. Maybe they are shy but that can come across as unfriendly or haughty so that is something to work on. Basically: be nice, be helpful, be someone that you would want to work with. Also, you may think they dumped the tough patients on you but we don't usually know what is going on with their patients and sometimes it is just our turn that day to have the crappy assignment. Live with it, jokingly fuss about with with others and try to have fun.

Check out this site that has the tax implications re: permanent tax home vs. having none - Kobaly.com. I have been traveling for 7 years and we sometimes take assignments within one day's drive from my home (my childhood home where my parents still live and my "tax home"). We also take assignments in the large city near my home town and live in my town and commute (needs to be about 50 miles away to still be "on assignment") and then we also go cross country. I have also stopped traveling for a while and I worked local agency per diem. There are so many choices. I love it. You will have to figure out what you like to do and what is easier for you.

I have done this before. I am currently working for two companies - one does short term contracts and the other does the regular 13 wk ones. I suggest you be honest and upfront with all the agencies. Tell ME that you are taking a contract with whomever and would like for your recruiter to contact you towards the end of that assignment to discuss your next one. Remember, they work for you! Just keep everyone informed and don't let two companies put your name in at the same hospital by accident - bad news. Good luck.

I was a waitress and sometimes bartender for over 10 years, a travel agent for 6 months, and a reservations agent/front desk clerk for Holiday Inn for 3 years. I returned to school for nursing at 28 and have been a traveling nurse now for 7 years. My plan for later life is to retire with a small art gallery, maybe some studio rentals for artists. My varied background has certainly helped in my practice as I have worked and dealt with all types of people and find that I seem to be more open-minded than some of my coworkers who have only been in nursing.

I currently travel with 2 companies. One company (Nurse Choice) does only minimum 48 hr weeks and commits usually to 4 wks at a time (last assignment I renewed and stayed there for 12 wks at 48 hrs/wk). They have great pay but the assignment choices are narrow and I can't keep up those long weeks! The other company (Trustaff) does 13 wk/36 hr per wk contracts and have many more assignment choices. I have been alternating between the two. Here are the important notes: 1. Keep each company informed for what you are discussing with the other company. 2. Do not let both companies submit you for the same position! 3. Keep notes on who you are talking to about which assignment. The important thing is to be honest with both - they don't seem to mind. Good Luck - we love travelling and always remember - BE FLEXIBLE!

My company provides cable and usually phone service. I am new to computers and want to know if I have any other options for connecting to the internet without a cable or phone line. I would like to use a desktop computer in my home. I don't want to have to go somewhere to connect. Please help asap as I am moving again soon.

I am considering a travel assignment to Sharp Grossmont Hospital in San Diego on their Tele/Stroke unit. Any info on conditions? Things I should check out (off the beaten track) if I do accept?

Here is the "Chest Pain Protocol" from the hospital I am on assignment on. These are automatically done on our MS/Tele unit on every patient - unless otherwise ordered. 1. O2 @ 2-4l NC 2. Record O2 saturation 3. Obtain STAT 12 lead EKG prior to NTG. 4. Give NTG 0.4mg SL every 3-5 min x 2 for SBP >90 or _______ mm Hg. If SBP 5. If no relief with NTG, give Morphine 2-5mg IVP and notify physician immediately. 6. Mount EKG strips with chest pain onset. These are good for nurses that do not always work tele. This is a small 10 bed unit.