rn1233

Try NursesPro 80/20 contract plan. http://www.nursespro.com/html/8020.aspx I've never used it but a few of my fellow travelers have and they seemed happy with it.

I just finished an assignment in SF and had the same issues with finding housing. I ended up commuting from just south of Pacifica to the city, which wasn't a bad commute but by the end of the assignment I was over it! $1675 is really low for a housing stipend, especially if you were planning on trying to pocket a bit of that money. Try this website in addition to the usual classified options, http://www.sfholidayrentals.com. Good Luck!

My advice to new travelers is to not quit your job completely and see if you manager will let you switch your status to PRN. You may not have the benefits but at least you will still have a job. It is harder for new travel nurses with less experience to get call backs in a timely manner and you will more than likely have to wait longer and be more open to when choosing your first assignment. Try going with a more established travel company who has "exclusive" contracts at hospitals (AMN, Intelistaf, etc).

Millenia Medical Staffing offers contracts on reservations http://www.milleniamedical.com

Hi, I'm also interested in updates/suggestions regarding Continental Travel Nurse or other agencies that send US nurses to London. Thanks!!

I was in Vegas for 6 months this year. If you are going to an HCA facility (ie Sunrise), you will probably get better pay going with All About Staffing, as HCA uses them for their traveler/agency staffing (AAS will contract out their needs to other travel companies but there is obviously a cut in pay for the traveler when this happens). HRN has contracts in Vegas too and the girls in that office are sooo sweet! Vegas was great but I would try for a different hospital if I went back (St Rose is a good one to work at).

I worked there several years ago as a traveler and really liked it. I found my own housing (which was a hassle) but several of the season/travelers there said the hospital housing was fine. It was really close to work so most of them just walked (I think it was a block or two from the hospital). Ask for the address and do a street view on google map to see the property...that always helps me when I'm curious about the area.

I've been doing travel nursing on and off for several years and sometimes the whole pay thing is still confusing to me sometimes! My best advice is to make sure you have good recruiter AND build a good relationship with them. I've found that the better the relationship, the more likely they are to do whatever they can to keep you from switching companies; i.e. giving better rates on contracts, etc. SoCal is known for having lower payrates than NoCal, so expect that upfront. Have your recruiter break down the numbers for you so you know your hourly taxable rate and the per diem amount you will take home tax fee each week. Also ask for a weekly take home pay amount. Check out paycheckcity.com too. You can enter your taxable hourly rate and figure out a net income based on your w-4 filing and the state you are working in. The government sets the maximum per diem rates (Per Diem Rates ) but all this means is that you should not go over what the govt sets as the per diem...it doesn't mean that is what your company will offer to you. Check out pantravelers.org they have some good resources that are free and if you want to upgrade your membership (I haven't but other travelers I know have) you get even more resources. PM me if you need more advice. I don't know rates in San Diego right now b/c I haven't looked for positions there but I do have some idea of what the NoCal rates are going for.

Thanks for the response...I'm starting on 4/26...very excited!!

Dee, Do you know the work rotation schedule at Sunrise for the ICU's...Are you required to work every other weekend? Thanks!

Just curious if anyone has any info on typical scheduling for ICU nurses working at The Valley Health System (how many weekends/mo, self scheduling, etc.)? Also, any input on your hourly pay, etc. and which hospital in their system is the best to work at?! Thanks!

I am interested in hearing more about this too. I've called the 800 # online for the VA Travel Corp several times and continue to get a voice recording that doesn't let you leave a message. What kind of benefits do the VA Travel Corp nurses receive?

Cerner was the very 1st system I used as a Travel Nurse. I adjusted to the forms very easily. I actually prefer it to other systems that I used as a travel nurse. Nurses still need to use judgment when it comes to charting on the computer and know that just because there is an open field for charting doesn't mean you have to fill it in (if you've already charted it somewhere else, don't chart it again). Each hospital can set up Cerner to meet their needs and different hospitals have different functionality based on their code level and what programs they purchased from Cerner. The newer versions of Cerner are more sophisticated but may be a little harder to just jump in and learn. The hospital should offer, if not require, that you attend a basic orientation class to learn the charting system.

Hi all! Just curious what other staff nurses work schedules are like. Do you have 72 or 80 hour pay periods? Is 72 hrs/pay period considered full time? What about weekends; every other, every fourth, etc? Thanks :prdnrs:

So far this year, has anyone gotten an award and not received a request to verify their acceptance by signing another contract?

For those who received the email to fax the contracts, just curious...what were you student loan debt to income ratios and what type of hospital/employment?

Vanderbilt University also has a Masters' program for Nursing Informatics. Most of the program is online/distance but you do have to go to the school occasionally for one or two classes (completed in about 2 days) and complete 280 hours of a practicum or internship in your area.

I'm hoping to get some advice...I just graduated with my MSN and I am interviewing for a teaching position for a BSN program instructor (Fundamentals of Nursing). As part of my second interview, I have to teach something to the instructors for about 5-10minutes. I wasn't given a topic and have never formally taught before...any tips would be greatly appreciated. I've been a critical care nurse for 5 years and my MSN is in Nursing Informatics.

Hi all! I'm a student in an informatics program and am trying to gather some opinions of other nurses! Topic is: how would you define "nursing informatics?" Thanks!

This isn't entirely true! Most of the travelers contracts that were canceled were employeed in the ER. None of the travelers on the floors or the critical care areas were canceled. Although the hospital's "season" is ending soon many of these travelers have actual extended their contracts into May. However, these hospitals are notorious for frequent floating of all critical care travelers to the regular and tele floors.

If you want a good pay rate for the hospitals in Charleston, SC I would suggest going with a more local agency. I contacted several agencies and finally found one that paid well and found out they were actually located in Charleston. Guess they had a good rapor the hospitals. Millenia Medical Staffing is a good one that I know of in that area.

Pay rates in Cali depend on location and the unit. The farther south you go, the less the pay rate and vice versa. Although I still think that $23/hr is low, along with a low housing rate. Is the $23/hr including a blended time and half rate? If so, then that's really too low. You should at least be able to get $25/hr and $2000 for housing in critical care, although I would still expect more than that! Call other agencies and compare apples to apples. Be upfront with the recruiters and let them know you are calling other companies! Get exact pay quotes with included benefits and call around for the best offer! Don't settle...the less money you argree to on a contract, the more your recruiter and company make off you! And remember... you are the the nurse, you are the one the working, and you are the one the hospital needs!

With each contract you learn something new! I'm not sure if this was your first contract but I'm sure you won't make the same mistake twice! Always get in writing what you want and expect out of your travel contract. As a critical care nurse, I've been expected to be a "jack of all nurses", meaning float to everywhere, including regular medical floor. It was partly my fault b/c I didn't ask and didn't pay attention to the floating clause in my contract. I won't make that mistake again. Hang in there and at the end of your contract you'll have new experiences and know what not to settle for next time!! Bad assignments happen to all of us every once in a while!

Keep in mind that your recruiter has a lot to do with having a good experience from a travel company. Get references from other travelers! Not only would you be helping your fellow nurse out by giving them a referral bonus but you are more likely to get a recruiter that will treat you well and be fair too!

Do beware that if you don't pass the PBDS, they WILL CANCEL your contract! I was scheduled to start there a few months ago and didn't pass the PBDS at their hospital but took the same PBDS 2 weeks later at another hospital and passed. And if you accept the contract and don't pass the PBDS, you are responsible for any housing costs incurred by your company....they will either make you take another contract somewhere else within 2 weeks or charge you directly for their housing option. And beware of floating and very often!