RNontheroad

My solution to the problem has been to take a staff position to avoid the "instability". I have now been employed full time at a hospital for a little over 6 months and have saved a sizable down payment. My serious house hunt begins again in the spring and I anticipate that any of the previous obstacles will no longer be an issue.

I have continued to research and talk with banks and other travelers since I originally posted. Here is what I have found out since then. First, try getting the mortgage thru a small town bank. Stay away from the big lenders. The smaller places more likely to lend. Second, a large down payment helps alot. I was told to plan on 30%. I am still looking for the right place to settle and will update about the process once I attempt it again. Best of luck and feel a bit better knowing that I am not in the boat alone!

Yes. They are owned by Cross Country and will have access to the same assignments. No need to deal with both.

My husband and I are considering a move to the UP. My husband has family from that area, and we have always loved it when we visited. We are looking in the Marquette, Escanaba, Munising areas. The biggest consideration is, of course, finding a job. I am an experienced ICU nurse who has been working as a traveler for the last 5 years, and I have done a variety of specialties. So, I guess I would consider myself fairly marketable. Are the hospitals hiring? Any recommendations or which to avoid? What can I anticipate for a pay rate?

I have been traveling for the last 4-5 years, and recently have decided to buy a home and stay in one place. My husband and I have wonderful credit scores, a respectable income with a very low debt to income ratio but I am having trouble getting approval for a home mortgage. The reason given is that "travel nursing is not a steady income." I guess technically that is true, since nothing is garenteed after the end of a contract. It doesn't seem to make a difference that I have NEVER been unemployed during my years of travel, except for the time off to travel from place to place. Has anyone else encountered this and how did you convince the mortgage underwriters to give you a home loan?

I have been feeling the same way about JC for some time. It seems they have been the "only fish in the big sea" for so long, that they have become rather demanding and sometimes unreasonable. Hopefully as DNV becomes more mainstream and hospitals start using them as an alternative means of accredidation, it will put JC back in check.

We pull our 5th wheel with a Ford F350 truck. It gets the job done, for sure. Problem is that once you are parked, that is definately overkill for doing your daily errands, getting to work, etc. I have met people who also take a motorcycle or moped along to use for this purpose, which is an option. We chose the large diesel truck because our 5th wheel weighs about 14,000 lbs and we often travel cross country, sometimes over mountains etc,and we would not ever encounter a situation where we would not have enough towing capacity. Fuel mileage is HORRIBLE to say the least but is just the cost of doing business, I guess.

I have been traveling for 2 1/2 yrs now and have been a full-time RVer the entire time. My husband and dog are with me as well. I consider it one of the best decisions we ever made, and it is a really fun lifestyle. I feel like I get paid to be on vacation, or at least most of the time. It does make finding an assignment a bit more challenging because you have to consider if there is an RV park/campground within a reasonable commuting distance of the hospital. And like one of the other posters stated, weather is a consideration. Taking the housing stipend has increased my salary alot and I consider it one of the biggest benefits. Because we use our RV exclusively for work, it is entirely tax deductible as well. The 5th wheel vs. class A motorhome debate is one I still have with myself. I can appreciate the advantages and disadvantages of both so you have to decide which is a better discision for you personally. Anyway, happy travels to all of you. It is nice to hear from others who are out there.

I agree. It would be wise to stay put for now. I know it is disappointing, especially if you have been planning this for awhile. Unfortunately the lack of jobs and the stress of finding a good assignment, is taking alot of the fun out of travel. It would be even harder for someone who is new to travel and just starting out with a new agency. Dont put yourself thru that! The timing will be right eventually. They will always need us, just not as much right now.

HMMM....tough one. (And yes, I know how AM is, I worked for them in the past.) What I would do is to ask your contact person at the hospital to review their contract with the agency. We never get to see them and there may be a "non-compete clause" or something similar, between the agency and the hospital. Whomever you deal with at the hospital will be able to tell you that. Or you could just walk away.

I enjoy San Antonio, but above poster is right. It has parts that arent so nice. I recommend staying on the Fiesta side of the city (NW) or in the area known as Medical Center. (Most of the housing provided thru the agency is in Medical Center). Brush up on your Spanish. I read a statistic that 67% of the city is Spanish speaking. Makes it a bit tough if you dont know the language. The food is fantastic. Lots of really great places to eat. I think I gained 20 lbs during my 3 months here. I now have an insatiable craving for black beans and breakfast tacos! If you are coming in February, you will be in time for the rodeo, which is apparently a HUGE deal here. Hope you like it. I would probably not take another assignment here, because 3 months is enough time to see everything. Time to move on.

Looks like we are all in the same unfortunate boat. Travel nursing is just not what it used to be...I currently work with 4 different agencies and am having the same troubles as everyone else. To add stress to the situation, I only have 1 week left on my contract. The manager said I could extend, but it is against my better judgement. (pay is ok but I am not fond of this assignment.) I guess my real complaint is that I am not looking for anything extrodinary. Just want the same pay rate that I have been getting for the last several years. Seems like that is nearly impossible. Maybe it is time to consider staying in one place for awhile.....this is taking all of the fun out of being a traveler.

A try heart-wrenching story that so many of us have had to witness. Thank you for having the voice to say so eloquently what we would have a hard time putting into words. You are truly a gifted writer and a compassionate and caring nurse.

That would be really helpful. Thanks for the reply.

Has anyone out there had experience with contracting directly with a hospital, and not going thru an agency? Is it even possible? I have been thinking about trying and wondering if anyone has any experience doing this. I dont even know where to start the process.