danisweetcheeks

how are you liking LA? i literally had the exact same experience as you! went to houston for my first assignment too! Ive worked in california for one assignment last year but I'm going back, starting may 4!

california is notoriously long and take their time for everything. that is exactly what i did... went to texas and got my SSN there. My license took at least 6 months to get once i applied in person to the CA BON. Their educational requirements are also VERY strcict and they often will refuse your license based on insufficient hours. they will not tell you if you have enough hours until you go through the whole process and pay all the fee's. california is very difficulty... but EVERYONE wants to work there, so why wouldnt they be? its the mecca of travel nursing!! lol

i am from british columbia and had the same issue. you have to go to a state that does not require a SSN first. there are about 12-15 states that dont. I went to texas. new york is close by you and they dont require one. once you apply to that state and take a job there, you will get a job offer letter and can then take that to the social security office. other than that, if you can find someone in california to offer you a job without a SSN and license, give you a job offer letter, then you can apply for a SSN. california is very strict and can actually fine you for applying without a ssn. they are also extremely strict on their educational requirements to be accepted for your license. they also take their sweet time with everything and obtaining a license from them will take months.

i just finished 2 contracts in NY with american mobile at NYU. amazing hospital. LOVED living in new york although, its just not for me forever, so i came home. i will definitely miss the hospital and the staff. i work in emergency though, no L&D experience.

i worked in indio and lived in palm desert. the hospital in indio was... interesting! :) i will be travelling to southern california as well in april!

hey! I will be travelling to california at the end of april as well, to souther california. where will you be going? ive also been working for 4 years, in emergency!

hey! did either of you take assignments in NYC? im working here now at NYU!

I did my first travel assignment at Ben taub. A little of my background- I had 2 years ER experience in a level II ER. Ben taub was another world! VERY busy. VERY fast paced. Most times, understaffed. You wear every hat - nurse, tech, housekeeping, porter.... Everything. I hated my first 2 months... By the end, it wasn't quite so bad. I considered extending but couldn't due to commitments at home. Expect 12.5 hour work days with 30 mins break, no break coverage. Great staff, very nice and helpful when they aren't swamped too. Houston was a fun city, so many fun bars/ restaurants/ lounges/ places to go.

Also... how do you feel about these pay rates I am talking to a few different companies about a couple jobs in the bay area.. oakland kaiser er $34 an hour, blended rate, EV shift cal pacific $33 an hour blended rate, 12 hr D/N cal pacific $23 an hour, blended, days all 36 hour work week

Thanks for your response Ned. I actually declined the position at Kaiser and accepted at Cal Pacific main campus, although the pay is ridiculously low. Just a better option for me as you said "live where you work" and i always wanted to live in SF. Do you have any experience with Cal Pacific? you are very well travelled! thanks again!!

there are 14 states that dont require a SSN but VA and TX are the fastest and easiest states. i am also canadian, originally licensed in MN and got my TX license in

Hey! I am starting an assignment on Dec 9th as well in San Francisco. Where are you guys travelling?

Hey! I know this is a year old but just wondering how you found your assignment at Kaiser Oakland. I am looking into taking one myself in the ER, and would also love to live in SF. How did you find the hospital? the commute? any opinions would be great!

To be honest, changing companies would probably much easier than the hassel of finding your own apartment, within the stipdend range and arranging your own furniture. If I were you, I would consider switching to a company who offers stipend as well as company housing. It is very easy getting a new TN visa. I am also Canadian and have dealt with this before.

why do you need to have an immigration consultant?

oh my goodness, i just saw this now!! how are things going for you?! ben taub was definately a huge adjustment for me!! hopefully everything is going well at md anderson! are you ready for this crazy heat?! im not lol

Hey! I just took my first assignment in Houston too, starting April 8th! I'm working in the ER at Ben Taub right down the street from you!

last minute change in the game lol i switched agencies and am now considering a job at ben taub emergency, $33.25 an hour, paid weekly about $950 i believe. the housing was $1400 a month, but i think im just going to take the agency housing... i googled it, doesnt look too bad, plus im coming from a ways away so finding my own housing would be difficult i think for my first assignment.

ill be making a trip to dallas if the canucks play the stars in the playoffs! go canucks go!!

Wow, thanks so much!!

I am going through a travel company and although I was offered the position, I have not accepted it yet because I wanted to research the facility/emergency dept before I made any decisions. Just looking for some non-biased opinions.

i am kind of in the same boat right now... although travel agencies cant expect nurses not to look around and check out all options, (we would be silly not to, i think). i'm currently talking with 2 companies, the first really helped me out getting everything in order and have been so great answering all my questions and after months of waiting for documents and licenses, im finally ready to go and i'm thinking about taking an assignment with another company who i just have a better feeling about. i dont think there is a set time in which you need to let the first company know... perhaps when you have secured the job with the other company, thank the first company for their help and support but explain that you have recieved another offer that better suits your needs at this time?

Hey guys! I was given the opportunity to work nights in Emergency at Memorial City Medical Center. Can anyone provide any information about the work culture there? How are the facilities? Nurse to patient ratio? Breaks? Pay? Business? or anything else you would like to add :) Im Canadian so i'm not sure what to expect! Thanks so much!

Heeey everyone! I've been offered my first ever (AAAHHH!!!) travel assignment! I'm looking for all your wonderful opinions! The job is at Memorial Hermann Southeast. Has anyone ever worked there or have any idea what this hospital is like? The pay is $29/hr (19.75/hr tax) for 13 weeks. $1300/month in housing but im planning on taking the free private housing. I'm so anxious and really looking forward to travelling but I dont want to make any uninformed, quick decisions. I feel like I have researched for hours on end on allnurses as well as other websites but I know there are some seasoned travellers here and would LOVE your opinon! Thanks sooo much for your help!!!

you know ER is for you when you can handle the unpredictability, crazy adrenalin rushes, organized disorganization and dealing with patients at their most vulnerable and often there most sickest moments. it takes a certain personality to work in emergency... you'll find out very quick if its for you or not. as for IO's... grab a drill from your garage and an egg lol thats what it feels like to put one in. like above posters said, they're typically used in peds - they can be hard starts and when a kid is crashing they need fluid quick! there is no time to fiddle with IV's. IO's can be left in for up to 24 hours but are typically used to plump up the patient enough to get a peripheral line and remove the IO.