shushu

I have worked two travel contracts in Nevada, one in Reno and one in Las Vegas. Let me tell you.........it is like working in Mississippi during the 1970's. Without nurse-patient ratio laws and the increase in patients at the hospitals, the staff is at the mercy of the corporate money-makers and suit-sayers. No designated triage nurse around the clock, the charge nurses taking a full patient load, some ratios are 7-1 and over. That's on the floors.........the icu's and er's are just as bad or worse. Some icu's are 3-1 and one er in Reno only has two RN's from 12am to 7am (and it is a huge er). So they only keep 10 beds open for the two nurses. (oh yeah, they have to triage everyone also because there isn't a triage nurse!) This is horrific staffing. I have finally realized that it is not worth it to renew my NV license. Other travelers have told me the same at the facilites they have worked at. Believe it or not, some of the staff nurses working at these facilities have actually been thought-led to believe that this is safe for patients and best for the hospital. It is just amazing to listen to them defend these staffing levels. Just unbelievable. So, I will visit Nevada for vacation and fun.............but not to ever work again as a RN. later on

I like the Sacramento or Modesto areas. How long have you been a nurse? I think it is the way to go! I am in S. Louisiana.....u?

Right on Zeke!!!!

Oldnurse......the only negative things I state in a post.......are against the low salaries/contracts that travel nurses are offered by the agencies today. I am very "pro-nurse"....and always be! A recruiter in San Diego told me years ago........... "P. T. Barnum could have made millions if he owned a nurse travel agency." I laughed and told him that I took offense to that. He said, "call me in about 5 more years and tell me that." We then played a round of golf, which he won. As I look back on that day, and see how things are today in travel nursing........I realize what he meant and just how "spot on" he was. Reading some of these posts, confirm it even more. Travel nurses have taken pay and benefit cuts over the past 6 years or so. Anyone on this site who states otherwise is just not being honest! (or they haven't been a traveler long enough to know that) And I will never mis-lead a nurse new to traveling.....by stating now great the pay is, or how good a contract is, by certain agencies. It is not going to happen. It is not my meaning to offend anyone. I am just stating the facts as it relates to my knowledge of travel nursing. Anyway, football season is about to start............and will be better!!

Well spoken!

That high cost of living stuff is for the Bay Area. It is true that land cost more............but I will have an apartment. I have allread checked......a nice apt in Baton Rouge cost more than in Sacramento! Every since Katrina in 2005....we have been getting raped in our area for sure. Some of the same items at at the grocery store in CA are cheaper than in Baton Rouge. I have been traveling to CA for 11 years....I am telling you! And gas cost more in CA.....that is true. But I am not worried about the cost of living outweighing my income potential. That's for sure! I am talking about a single person, I dont know what a married couple with kids would have to endure...lol. But, for me.....I am not worried about "the cost of living" in CA. I mean, if it was good for me on rinky dink traveler pay, it will be "bank" getting staff pay and differentials!!

I have been a nurse for 21 years and a traveler for 12. I used to work full-time in the Baton Rouge area as a staff nurse in the ED. During my years of traveling and speaking with nurses in CA, NV, MN and many more...........they just could not believe the salary we were paid in Louisiana and the way we were treated by hospital administration. Just about all travelers are from the South for these reasons. Over the past 5 years, I have kept up with salaries in various states. I can honestly say that California is the best state to work as a RN, with Nevada a close second. CA is first because of their high salaries and their nurse-patient ratio laws. NV does not have nurse-patient ratio laws, but they don't have a state income tax either....so your take home pay is larger. I have decided to take a full time staff position in northern CA after the first of the year. A friend of mine from Arkansas did it five years ago.........and the profits were unbelievable. He has since moved back to Ark. enjoying life with his huge bankroll...lol. My plan is for only two years......and should reap the same benefits.... as I am single, (he is married). Just last night, I got a call from a nurse who works in the ER at a Kaiser Hospital in CA. She has 16 years experience. They just signed their new contract and she now earns $74/hr base salary. Sounds hard to believe doesn't it. Even at the Sutter Hospitals, my nurse friends all earn in the 60's. I have finally realized it is time to make the move. This travel lifestyle of taking pay and benefit cuts have made me sick. Fighting with recruiters at travel agencies to get $30/hr has gotten old.........and frankly I am just sick of it. The staff pay in CA is the way to go. It would be better if I could find a travel friend to share apartment expenses and do the same. But, either way, I am gone! wish me luck ShuShu

I was a patient at OLOL for an eye procedure in the OR. Once all the nurses found out that I was a travel nurse............they all wanted info on companies. Man, they dont get lunch breaks, earn low salaries (low 20's), and the way the administration treats the nurses is depolorable! Their nurse turnover rate is crazy! That's what they told me anyway........before I was sedated...lol.

Old RN......are u a recruiter at Aur? u gotta be!! lol

Old RN......are u a recruiter at Aur? lol

The last two posters........must be recruiters at Aur. lol

Go for it! Take the new job. Believe me hospitals are cold toward nurses, so u better worry about yourself. The hospital will have a new grad working in your spot next week! So, take the new job..............that way you wont have to wonder ....what if?

Wow............... Auburn, CA Davis, CA Roseville, CA Fresno, CA Fairfield, CA to name a few that we got paid those rates. Man, if you think you are getting paid today, what you were worth 11 years ago..............dream on, put your little rn license plate on your car, and go to bars in scrubs acting like you somebody. But dont mislead these new travelers that they are getting a great deal! They deserve the truth..............and better than that. And dont misquote Fastaff rates of $45, then they take housing, travel expenses, etc out of that and leave u with $29. I wont post on this topic again........... good luck and safe travels

Sorry......I am only going by statements I have read here. Travelers have stated that they want to work in a place with sights to go see and things to do. That is just not on my list of requirements for a travel contract. They never list the payrate as a concern....until they get their paychecks or they return home after an assignment. It is then that they realize...."hey, i really didn't make any money." Did not mean to offend anyone at all, but that statement r/t the "newbie travelers" came from a recruiter. His agency focuses on these new travelers...........who do not know the history of traveler payrates and contracts..........and would more likely take these low rates...........just to see a place they wanted to go to. And, I am telling you.........HPO (now On Assignment) paid $35/hr in 2001. It was the norm! Sutter General and Sutter Memorial in Sacramento is where we all worked and earned this! They had so many travel nurses in Sac, that the company even opened an office at the apartment complex where we were housed. It was at Irongate Apts on Arena Blvd. But you dont have to believe me.............check it out. Ask travelers with over ten years experience in that area. Do you really think I am making this up? Man, I was there! Then Bryan Healthcare, in Novato, Ca.....started paying $40/hr and paid that until the owner, retired in 2009. Bryan actually took a lot of the travelers from HPO. I just want nurses new to traveling to know what is really going on. They are asking advice about travel contracts, and I tell them. And like most things....the farther you can look back, helps you to see ahead. Sometimes people just dont want to realize what it is really going on. It is always easy to look the other way. Good Luck NedRN........and once again, I meant no offense.

It is a busy, sh*thole place. I personally know nurses who work there. And yeah, it is Modesto, CA.......about an hour south of Sacramento on the 99.

Hi, RN here in Louisiana and have been traveling to CA for 11 years. Am looking at Valley Healthcare also. So, thanks for the info. I am aroung the Baton Rouge area and just work as a traveler.

Travelers were getting paid $35/hr in 2001. Now, 11 years later, we cant get that! We are getting screwed for sure. I went to nursing school in Mempis and lived there for 8 years. good luck

You are right! In 2001, travelers got $35/hr. Now, 11 years later, we cant get that! What a crock! The agencies are really screwing travel nurses man. And the traveler newbies don't even know it. They just want to be tourist and act immature. How many jobs can you have, where you would earn less today than 11 years ago?!

Fair........well, in 2001 travelers were paid $35/hour, with housing, airfare and rental car. Today, 11 years later, we cant get that! You are lucky if u get $29/hr with housing. How many jobs dont make as much today as they did 11 years ago? Think about it.

Now, I did not say.....move to CA indefinitely! Just wanna go there for about 24 months and save a little money. I allready have a home that I own and it is paid for. So, with that, and my years of experience.....it makes it easier for me to do.

Well,, I have worked and lived in CA for at least ten years. You know what makes the cost of living high there......it is land and gas. I aint gonna buy any land, and my car gets good gas mileage and I am not tourist. I am telling you, a certain product at a Wal Mart in CA, costs less or the same as a Wal Mart in S. Mississippi or Louisiana. As far as rent.......I have checked. A 1 br, very nice area apartment in Sacramento is cheaper than Bilxoi MS or Baton Rouge, LA. Hurricane Katrina was a built-in excuse for everything to be priced extremelty high in the South! Groceries cost about the same in CA, or less than the South now! I have checked.............believe me.! The wages are triple more than the South! It is well worth it. I have worked my last shift as a nurse in the South, getting $22/hr and not getting a lunch break on a 12 hour shift! It aint gonna happen again! But for travelers who get about $30/hr.......and spend all their money as a tourist having fun........they cant keep a dime. And that roundtrip travel to CA is very expensive.......about one of your paychecks. So, on a 13 week contract, you get 12 paychecks. I am headed to CA after the holidays and will keep everyone updated! ShuShu

I have been traveling to Northern CA as a nurse for 11 years......from the South. I have finally realized that, if you really want to make some serious money, you need to be a staff nurse there!! no doubt about it. Even in the small town hospital, the nurses are paid around $60/hr, more depending on experience. The larger hospitals pay much more! I personally know some staff nurses who make $75/hr base salary! And they get those shift diffs also, that travelers dont get! A 24 month stint in CA, and a nurse could pocket some serious change! That's what I plan to do after the first of the year. "Get busy living or get busy dieing"......that's what the man said! That's damn right....lol. (that's what the other guy said) If two nurses went and shared expenses, that's just more money for both of them. Something to seriously to think about. I have made up my mind, see u there in Jan!

First of all............$31/hr is a joke for travel nursing! Second of all.......Aureus is a bigger joke! They always try to low-ball their travel nursing payrates. And all the recruiter I talked to kept repeating was...."Well, we are a very large agency and that's why we cant pay our nurses a good rate" I almost fell out of my chair laughing at him. He finally realized that he could not pull the wool over my eyes, and just gave up. He told me that I could get higher payrates at other agencies, but that if I could not find an assignment, call him back. Unbelievable.....haha!

Hi, I have been traveling since 2001, and have been an ER nurse for over 20 years. I am here to tell you, that you can't get a contract that is as good as they were 11 years ago! That's a fact! Travel nurse payrates and benefits have been steadily cut since 2005. Dont mean to be the bearer of bad news......but that's the way it is. Most travelers are newbies.....cause the experienced travelers know how much they used to make, and how little they would make now! For example, here is what the standard contract was 11 years ago. The agency flew you out, paying for your roundtrip airfare, let you pick up a rental car at the airport which they paid for, and had very nice, furnished, two bedbroom two bath, shared apartment housing....in a nice part of town. Your cable tv was turned on also! And the payrate was $35/hour with overtime after 40 hours. The standard contract was for 48 hours also, four 12's. There is not a company in America that will give you that contract! Blended payrates, low pay, very little in travel expense reimbursements, et......are the norm today. Just got quoted a "high paying rate" (as it was advertised)....for a large downtown Sacramento hospital.....Sutter General. It was for $28/hr, some sort of housing (apartment not guaranteed), and you had to drive out without being reimbursed for expenses! It is pitiful what the agencies are doing now to travelers. I have found some agencies who give up to $500 for the roundtrip to CA. But that doesnt even cover the gas and hotels for the one way trip! Check out the gas rates on the interstates, and the hotel rates! Maybe the pendulum will swing back one day. But, dont take my word for it.............just ask around. Good Luck