kerrielynRN

My company is paying me $49/day as a untaxed stipend as part of my contract. That's on top of my hourly wages.

No, I wasn't overwhelmed....nervous, yes! My first assignment was on a very busy post op/m/s floor in Charleston, SC. All the charting was on computer, all the meds were done by scanning....it was alot, but I see everything as a challenge. Before traveling, I worked in a small rural hospital on the M/s floor and it was very busy there because we got anything that didn't fit into L/D, ICU, psych, and peds, even though we got the overflow from peds sometime. So, I dug in and by my third week, the floor manager was asking me to renew my contract. Flexibility is key!

Hang in there, I started traveling with only 10 months M/S experience as an RN. There should no problem if you are able to adjust quickly to new experiences. I am on my second contract now and still enjoying traveling.

Hello, everyone. Let me start this by saying I am currently on my first assignment (very close to the end) and while it has been a great working experience, it has also been a learning experience. Learning to deal with the agency, that is. I guess I got a bit ahead of myself when I signed my first contract, but I just told myself "If I get this first assignment under my belt......". I agreed to 35/hr and when I got my contract I was a bit shocked to see I was being placed on the tax advantage program. Ok, I told myself, that does cut into the pay, but the money was still pretty good. Now, I am in my 12th week of a 13 week contract and Axis has progressively increased the weekly deduction to where it is above the amounts specified in my contract. My contract states the deductions will be between 325 and 350. The last 2 weeks deduction was 379. They don't seem to hear me when I ask for copies of where the deductions go. My husband (travels with me) and I have seriously thought about packing it in on this contract because we feel like they have breached by increasing the deductions. My Axis recruiter (a new one because the old is "no longer with the company") has called several times to talk about my next assignment and continues to do so even though I have told her I would not be pursuing another contract through Axis. Looking back, I chalk this up to a learning experience. The knowledge I have gained from dealing with this contract and from other travelers where I work (there were none around at home) is invaluable. I guess the best advice I can give someone is to slow down, don't be in a rush. There is always another company or contract.

I am on my first assignment. 4 weeks in on a 13 week. Tuesday I was sent home after 8 hours on a 12 hour shift and today I was called off. I informed them both times that my hours are guaranteed and I would be paid regardless, to give them a chance to allow me work, but no go. Should I be worried about my contract? It is in my contract that if I get cancelled for any reason, I am responsible for the cost to the company. In truth, I am very worried. Would really appreciate some words of wisdom from an experienced traveler. Thanks, Kerrie

I have been trying to get into travel nursing for the past couple of weeks now and am having absolutely no luck. I was an LPN for 7 years before becoming an RN in May of 2007. I know most require at least 1 year experience, but does no one give credit for years as an LPN? Does anyone know of a company that will submit a nurse with less than 1 year of experience? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.