vcurrent2

First and formost, DON'T BE AFRAID THAT YOU DON'T KNOW IT ALL!! You don't, and you won't for a long time. Find peers on the unit and ask them to teach you, ask them if they will be willing to answer your questions, but be careful and very selective in who you choose. Use your CN. He/she is an excellent asset. Good luck

Hey wanderlust, I have recently stopped working for a hospital who is union, and I have to say I am very thankful for them. Though I have to admit, the same things happen on my tele floor on NOC even though we are union. At least we have the ability to take it to mngmt and they are under contract to make it right. I am in AZ now and I see there are no unions here either. I am a travel nurse and will be starting my job on tele next monday. I am hopeful there is no need for unionization here. My old hospital had an excellent working relationship w/the union. It just provided the nurses 'one voice' if something was going wrong. I very much support nurses supporting one another, and if that means union, so be it. And you're right, don't bring it up to mngmt, though I don't know what they fear.

I'm a travel RN our of Oregon and have been contacted by 3 agencies to work. They are offering $3,000-$6,000 for 3-7 days working, NOT including travel and housing! Why don't they take that money and apply it towards what the nurses are asking for!!!??? I obviously refused the jobs. There is more to life than money. TRAVEL NURSES, DON'T CROSS THOSE LINES! STAND WITH YOUR PEERS AND MAKE A STATEMENT! Good luck guys. We're here for you.

Thanks for the input! I am employed right now and have my employer insurance. I have looked at Cobra w/them and wow is it expensive. Are there companies you might be able to suggest that have insurance less than say, $300/mo? We will start our travel in October and will be supplying our own residence. Is there a base pay stipend for housing/meals/incidentals? I have looked at gsa.com. That was helpful, but I don't think I will get full reimbursement as listed. I would love to talk w/any of you w/experience to try to get things more settled. Please PM me, and we can connect. I am so excited about getting going, but uncertain also. Thanks for you guy's support. No eating our young/inexperienced here...

Hi All, This is my first post but have been reading all the threads available on this site for more than 5 years. My husband and I are getting ready to travel and I will be working as an RN. What do you all suggest for insurance in between assignments? I don't want to have to work continually just to keep insurance. Thanks for the input and support. I will take all of the suggestions you all have. There is nothing like experience, which I don't have in travel right now. Thanks to all.

zipporah, I've been talking with a lot of agencies and travel nurses at work, they have given me some names of specific agencies to check in to. Thanks for taking the time to respond. I appreciate it greatly. This whole thing is kind of un-nerving. There is so much to learn, and then do. Thanks again... Maybe we will talk again...

Holy smokes, I am so glad I found this thread!!!! My husband and I are looking into travel. My question (or one of them) is the same as many; how do you choose an agency? Can you all give me specific names of agencies I can look in to? I am an RN and my husband has been retired for several years, though we are not 'old', just fortunate. Thank you in advance for you knowledge and experience.

I have been on this site for the last 5 years, and this is the first time I am making a post. I need to hear from you all who have exerience and knowledge in travel nursing. My husband and I are wanting to take this up, I just don't know where to start. Thank you in advance for you valued knowledge and experience. I look forward to hearing from everyone.