Lunalitsa

Hello everyone, I am also interested in travel buddies as well! Looking to go to Southern Cal late next month sometime, but also keeping my options open to other hot cities as well, Im 26, ICU nurse, love to travel, have a good time and would love to meet other travelers with the same interests, Oh and Im also planning on going to the travelers conference in October in Vegas!..Also feel free to PM me!

Hey when are you planning on starting? I am planning on end of next month, looking at Southern Cal..Would love a roomate..Feel free to PM me!

I would love to go to Hawaii, how did you guys manage to get a gig there?! Heard its super competitive and also not many positions there..I am also planning on NY as well at some point..

Would love to and that would be ideal, but he's job will not allow him to do that nor will he ever consider quitting his job and yes he is my best friend.

Sweetgurly thanks for the response! Yes I agree with you, I mean worse case scenario you do one assignment then go back home you know? I am almost 100% sure that I would regret it too if I did not do it..And like you said Im so bored and over my hometown! Im just ready to experience life in a new city..When are starting traveling? Are you doing it solo as well?

So I have finally reached this long coming dream called travel nursing, but now Im 26 years old and in a 8 year serious committed relationship..Just finished my BSN, got my 2 and half years nursing experience and ready to travel oh and no kids, no house, still renting..Whats holding me back? The longterm boyfriend who wants a family soon and is thinking this long distance thing might not work and isnt crazy about the idea of me going..So what do I do? Do I stay in my home town get married, buy house and have kids (the idea frightens me) or do I still do me, have fun and embark on my dream of travel nursing? What a risky dillema huh? Well I have been wanting to do travel nursing since I was in high school and always said I would never let a man stop me from this..I just want to experience it for a little while, get this out of my system and not have any regrets in the future for not doing this, its not like Im planning on doing this forever, but I could also very well lose my future husband in this process..I definitely think Im still going to do it (like in about 3 months) but I feel so crazy about it now that its getting closer! Its really scary and nervewracking but bittersweet feeling at the same time..You know? Oh and doesnt help that I will be traveling alone, leaving everyone and everything I know behind and going to a strange new city..My best friend was suppose to do this with me for years, up until recently when she decided to get back together with her ex-bf and wants to settle and play house..so there goes my travel buddy! Anyone else been in this type of situation? Or anyone travel nursing and still in relationship/marriage at the same time? How do you make it work? Please share your story I would love to hear from others who may have have faced this same predicament.. Luna

Sweetgurly, to answer your question I havn't actually started any negotiations yet, but someone that I know that just took an assignment with them (Faststaff) in San Fran, and was offered an hourly rate of 42/hr.

Thanks everyone for your input, right now RN Network, Medical Solutions and Fastaff are the ones Im considering..Im thinking it'l prolly end up being Fastaff though..

California..Preferably LA, San Diego, and San Fran areas, but from what I gathered those are scarce and go quick..I work in ICU..Did your friend do all her assignmnets with them?

Thanks so much everyone for the advice so far keep it coming! Yes, after all the horror stories I heard about AMN I will stay far away from them..I am currently looking into RN Network, Medical Solutions and Cross Country still shopping around..will look into Aureuas too

Hey, so after much research I think I might go with RN Network..This would be my first contract..Negotiations havnt been started yet..The recruiter spoke to me for over an hr on the phone, took the time to get to know me and answered all my questions! He was so nice! I did not feel rushed and felt like Ive known him for years..Having a good feeling about this one..I also read older posts on here and this company has gotten really good reviews compared to all the rest, but I would like to get more recent and updated feedback on travelers who have used this company...I would really appreciate any input! Thanks!

Alaskaman, thank your response. I did check that website out and saw the list for top travel agencies, but would still like input from nurses that have actually used them. I have heard horror stories about AM, but they seem to be some of the few that will offer a new traveler a contract. I spoke to a recruiter recently and she told me Kaiser hires a lot of new travelers in California (which is where I wanna go)...Anyone know anything about that?...Also, say Im planning on going in August, how far in advance do you start the process? I already have my Cali license..Thanks all!

Hello all, I will be traveling soon as a first time traveler and would like to get your input on any recommendations for travel agencies that are particularly "newbie friendly" or in general any agencies you would suggest or to stay away from..I know people ask this all the time on this forum, but needed some updated info..Ive looked all through this website and google and there are a million agencies to choose from! I have no idea where to begin! I have heard that new travelers generally have a hard time getting their fist time assignment, so I didnt know if there were any agencies that particularly like to hire new travelers...Thanks so much in advace!

Hey I just posted about travel buddies also! I am planning on going to Cali in August..Pm if interested

Hello everyone, I have finally come to the point in my life where I can fulfill my long awaited dream of travel nursing! I am planning on doing an assignment in Cali sometime in August (I know its a while away but thought it would be good to start meeting potential contacts and anyone interested in going around that time now). I am a 26 y.o. ICU nurse, and theres nothing in this world that I love more than to TRAVEL the world! I hope I can meet some like-minded people that share my passion, that I can go on this adventure with! I am open minded, love meeting new people, seeing new places and doing new things, I have no kids, but 2 cats (not sure if their coming along yet) and live life to the fullest. I am planning on doing my first assignemnt in California (already have my Cali license), then I wanna go to Hawaii, NY and who knows next.. I definitely plan on doing some leisure travel in between assignments also.I wouldnt mind having someone or more than one person to go with and do stuff with, or if your already there doing an assignment we could meet up, which is always more fun than going by yourself..Woudlnt mind having a roomate either, so if this sounds like you feel free to PM me! Lunalitsa

LLg, great reply makes much sense thanks so much for the advice!

What about the new grads that go straight into the ICU with no experience?

Thanks so much for the advice! That was very helpful!

No, my school never offered a service like that but thx anywaY!

Hello Im quiet in a dillema here..Ok heres the story..I am a new grad 1st year RN, I got my first job in an acute care hospital on a med/surg floor and so far I have 6 months experience working there. I have wanted to be an ICU nurse from the beginning but I took the med/surg job because that was the only job job i was offered at that time, so i took it.I tried to get an icu job from the beginning, but of course no one hardly ever hires any new grads into the icu. Its not bad, its good experience, but its not what I want to do. Im currently in school for my BSN at the same time. I have kinda of a strict timeline to follow, I want to go travel nursing as soon as I can but with Icu experience, not med/surg. And then later i plan on going back to school to become a CRNA. So my dillema is, would it be wrong to leave my current job at six months? Or should I try to stick it out for at least a year? Was thinking of transfering at my hospital or getting a new job altogether. Would it make me look bad and unstable to other prospective employers that I only worked there for 6 months? Honestly, I dont even know if I can get a job in the icu with the little expericience i got, and plus it being med/surg. What the best way to go about this? Dont know what to really do..any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, in advace!

Hello Im quiet in a dillema here..Ok heres the story..I am a new grad 1st year RN, I got my first job in an acute care hospital on a med/surg floor and so far I have 6 months experience working there. I have wanted to be an ICU nurse from the beginning but I took the med/surg job because that was the only job job i was offered at that time, so i took it.I tried to get an icu job from the beginning, but of course no one hardly ever hires any new grads into the icu. Its not bad, its good experience, but its not what I want to do. Im currently in school for my BSN at the same time. I have kinda of a strict timeline to follow, I want to go travel nursing as soon as I can but with Icu experience, not med/surg. And then later i plan on going back to school to become a CRNA. So my dillema is, would it be wrong to leave my current job at six months? Or should I try to stick it out for at least a year? Was thinking of transfering at my hospital or getting a new job altogether. Would it make me look bad and unstable to other prospective employers that I only worked there for 6 months? Honestly, I dont even know if I can get a job in the icu with the little expericience i got, and plus it being med/surg. What the best way to go about this? Dont know what to really do..any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, in advace!

Hello Im quiet in a dillema here..Ok heres the story..I am a new grad 1st year RN, I got my first job in an acute care hospital on a med/surg floor and so far I have 6 months experience working there. I have wanted to be an ICU nurse from the beginning but I took the med/surg job because that was the only job job i was offered at that time, so i took it.I tried to get an icu job from the beginning, but of course no one hardly ever hires any new grads into the icu. Its not bad, its good experience, but its not what I want to do. Im currently in school for my BSN at the same time. I have kinda of a strict timeline to follow, I want to go travel nursing as soon as I can but with Icu experience, not med/surg. And then later i plan on going back to school to become a CRNA. So my dillema is, would it be wrong to leave my current job at six months? Or should I try to stick it out for at least a year? Was thinking of transfering at my hospital or getting a new job altogether. Would it make me look bad and unstable to other prospective employers that I only worked there for 6 months? Honestly, I dont even know if I can get a job in the icu with the little expericience i got, and plus it being med/surg. What the best way to go about this? Dont know what to really do..any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, in advace!

Hello, everyone! I am in the process of updating my resume..just dont know where to start. My current resume is my new grad resume, since I am still a new grad. I have 6 months med/surg experience and looking for an icu job..My last resume I had a friend that kinda put it together for me, but this time i need a professional to do it, because I need a cover letter and all that good stuff.. Just the thought of doing it myself stresses me out, and I am horrible at writing, so if I wanna get the dream job then Id rather let the proffessional do it. I have done some google reaserches and have found many online resume writing services, just dont know which ones are any good and which ones are a scam, also I have found local writers that charge between 200-300. Is that a normal price? Any advice on resume writing services and price range, or suggestions would be helpful. Thanks, in advance!

Hello, everyone! I am in the process of updating my resume..just dont know where to start. My current resume is my new grad resume, since I am still a new grad. I have 6 months med/surg experience and looking for an icu job..My last resume I had a friend that kinda put it together for me, but this time i need a professional to do it, because I need a cover letter and all that good stuff.. Just the thought of doing it myself stresses me out, and I am horrible at writing, so if I wanna get the dream job then Id rather let the proffessional do it. I have done some google reaserches and have found many online resume writing services, just dont know which ones are any good and which ones are a scam, also I have found local writers that charge between 200-300. Is that a normal price? Any advice on resume writing services and price range, or suggestions would be helpful. Thanks, in advance!

Hello, everyone! I am in the process of updating my resume..just dont know where to start. My current resume is my new grad resume, since I am still a new grad. I have 6 months med/surg experience and looking for an icu job..My last resume I had a friend that kinda put it together for me, but this time i need a professional to do it, because I need a cover letter and all that good stuff.. Just the thought of doing it myself stresses me out, and I am horrible at writing, so if I wanna get the dream job then Id rather let the proffessional do it. I have done some google reaserches and have found many online resume writing services, just dont know which ones are any good and which ones are a scam, also I have found local writers that charge between 200-300. Is that a normal price? Any advice on resume writing services and price range, or suggestions would be helpful. Thanks, in advance!