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I have worked for Valley Healthcare Systems for over two years and totally love them! Highly recommended. Talk to at least two other companies and compare and you will see the difference right away.

I agree with you totally. As long as nurses put up with staffing and poor conditions like this, the hospitals will keep on getting away with it. Don't make excuses like it will leave my co-workers "short staffed" or just new nurses on the floor. Leave and tell HR exactly why. If those nurses you leave behind put up with it then it is on them to also stand up to the poor conditions. Crap like what was mentioned is why I left Missouri and moved to California where the working conditions are a LOT better.

I agree, never let your liscense lapse. Just place it to inactive.

I do this sort of. I find my apartment that I want to live in, usually on rent.com, and then I tell my travel recruiter and they set it all up in their name. I would never go with a company that I had to only pick from one place to live - "Theirs" Jeremy

That is an excellent post, I think you touched everthing. I can not think of anythng you left out. All travel nurse companies are not the same though. Some are ALOT better than others. That is why you go with 2-3 and ask other travelers who are they with. Jeremy p.s. I have been a traveler for 18 months on 4 soon to be 5 different assignments:D

What companies are everyone going with to get the travel assignments. I have been with valley healthcare who have been excellent, but unfortunatly they do not have many contracts in San Diego

I interviewed with them 6 months ago, not recently. I declined to work for them because my wife got a position at another hospital and we like to work at the same place. Also because I have not heard good things about them.

You heard correct, the Kaiser interview is from 45 min to and hour fifteen and they are detailed. It has been a while since I interview but there are four parts and they drill you on 1. Medications specific to where you will be working. 2. Protocols such as CHF, Tele, procedures ect 3. Case scenario's (what would you do in situations) 4. General questions about you. It's pretty intense! Good luck.

In order to get the tax free money, you need to show the IRS that you have a "Tax Home". The stipends you get from the IRS assume you are being burdoned with having to travel and will have some double expenses. Unless you can show that you have a permanent address in the state you are from and that you intend to go back, be wary of the IRS. For me my burdon is that I own my home and have to pay a morgage and utilities. I still have a checking account and all my CC's Bills ect show my address. My cars plates are still registered and my drivers liscence is from my home state. Long story short, you could possibly get around all of this by claiming your parents address as your own by having your mail forwarded there and making that address your official address. I believe you would also need to write your parents a check for some money as well to show you are paying rent/utilities. Always talk to a tax proffesional that has experience with travelers. I go to HR Block Premium and request a person with experience. It costs about $150 extra to do it, but the peice of mind is worth it.(Not to mention all the money I save tax free:smokin:

Pretty much all hospitals require you to float first as a traveler. One day a week is not bad at all, depends on the facility. Good thing you are local, would you rather be called off your shifts? I will take the float anyday. I don't know why people don't like to float, I mean as a traveler you are already "floating" to a different hospital each contract:D When you do have to float, always remember you can refuse if it is something you are not comfortable with. I had to refuse assignments before too when a hospital tried to float me to ER with no experience:banghead:

You can get what is called a meals and Incidentals tax break which is what that $500 is. The goverment allows various amounts depending on the city/state. $500 is very high as it is only around $300/week out here in California. And this is a set amount. You do not have to show receipts. You should also look to see what the average wage is for a nurse in Chicago and your hourly should reflect that. Anything you get above that can be tax free to not alert the IRS. Hope that helps, Jeremy

It knows how many are in the drawer. If the count is off then it knows the name of the nurse before you that accessed that medication. So only two people are involved instead of everyone.

The one time a narc was missing at the last hospital I worked at, everbody had to stay over and was questioned. The MAR's were gone over and the med was never found. Everyone then had to submit for a urine test. A nurse happened to test positive for benzo's and did not have a prescription. She was let go. Jeremy

Hopefully you live in a large area with at least a couple different hospitals. I would look at different intership programs that accept new grads. They give classroom training and peer mentorship. Hopefully something should be available to you like this. Jeremy

As far as I know, all travel companies put this in the contracts to prevent you from jumping ship.(Even the good ones). This only applies if you are doing a travel position. If you switch over and become a regular staff member then that is ok. I don't know of any travel companies that do taxes. I have mine done by HR Block premium services. It costs about a $125 extra but with all the deductions and things I claim i need someone who knows what they are doing. Ask specifically for someone who is familiar with travel nursing laws. Jeremy