aamy

Thanks NedRN. I am actually a seasoned traveler and am working with several companies. The reason I AM asking, is because I HAVE had a bad experience recently. The only reason I want to look elsewhere is because this company has jobs in the area I want to go, plus their stipends are better than my current company. I try to keep my options open. Just wanted to know if anyone has had any experience with them. Recruiters alone can make or break a company in my opinion.

Anyone have any experience with Gifted Nurses travel nursing company? Any negatives? Positives?

$18.59/hr is low. Even in Florida. Especially considering you are taking their housing. If you take the housing stipend and find your own housing, you can usually pocket several hundred $ or more per month (If you have a tax-home because that makes your stipend tax free). I have done several contracts in Florida and have never made less than $20/hr (taxed base pay). It's been my experience that the housing stipends in Florida are typically at least $1200/month (oftentimes more, depending on where you are of course)

Talk to your recruiter and let him/her know your concerns. A friend of mine who travels (I travel as well), found herself in a difficult situation and actually terminated her contract. There were actually no hard feelings between the nurse and hospital because the hospital knew they were in the wrong (she got absolutely NO orientation...not even a day). The patient load was ridiculous, etc. She felt her license was at risk. If you feel your license is at risk, I would not hesitate to break this contract. Before you do, make sure you have documented what you have done to try to correct the situation (talk to recruiter, manager, etc). NedRN is right, it will make you better prepared in the future, and make you stronger, but is it worth the risk?

I am on my 5th contract. I still feel anxious at times. I am not a new nurse either. I think a lot of it has to do with being out of my comfort zone. I push myself to adjust though. I think it's making me a better nurse.

I have been traveling for 1 1/2 years. Lucky for me, I have had good assignments. The orientation is short, but it gets easier to adjust with each assignment. I am 30 hours away from my home. I am fortunate, however, because my husband (a disabled veteran) travels with me. I don't think I could hold out if it wasn't for him. Hang in there. It will get easier.

My labs were drawn through Labcorp. I am signed up on the site where you can view your labs. They did not and will not post them and give me access to titers. I have already talked to LabCorp about it.

The agency will not give me a copy of the titers because it is "against company policy", since they paid for them. The lab told me they can't give me a copy because "a physician did not order them". So I do not have a record of them. Unfortunately, I have to rely on the agency's insurance and since I am changing companies, I will not have insurance coverage to pay for it. I will try your suggestion. Thanks NedRN

I have had titers drawn (for MMR, etc) in the past by my current travel company and THEY paid for them. I am going with a different company for my next assignment and they are telling me that I have to pay for them. Is it common for the employee to foot the bill for titers?

emb92250, we may be at the same facility. The place I am in went live Aug 2 also. (In NC)

I have had easy, quick interviews, and I have had 30 minute interviews that were more intense. I've had the typical "tell me about a time when...." questions, which I hate because you never know what they are going to ask and I have a hard time recalling things off the top of my head.

I took the ER competencies last week and had no problems. They give you plenty of time.

It really is a lot of information in the beginning. And a lot to do to get started. I have been traveling for 1 year now, and I think it is worth it. I have actually wondered if I can ever go back to a regular full-time job. I think with 3 years, you will be fine. Good luck!

You mentioned that you do not have a house/house payment. In order to qualify for the tax-free benefits, you must have a "tax home". If you haven't researched this, you may want to. It has been my experience thus far that the hourly (taxed) amount is not anymore than what I made in my full time job back home. It's the money from the tax free housing and meals/incidental stipends that make your paycheck look better. But again, you have to qualify for this benefit by having a "tax home".

I travel with 2 dogs. One is a German Shepherd, the other is a miniature Schnauzer. I have had some difficulty, mostly because of the German Shepherd breed being on the "restricted breed" list. If you take an assignment in a vacation spot, it's not as bad. Fortunately for us, (my husband travels with me), the VA wrote a letter labeling the GS as a companion/service animal for my husband who suffers from PTSD. It has worked nicely.

I was in the same situation and lucked up on my current assignment with a hospital that is going through an EMR conversion. They are going to EPIC. My recruiter knew that's why I was getting turned away from some jobs so she was on the lookout for me. I feel very lucky to have found this because I know there are many places that require EPIC experience. The hospital is training the travelers on the EPIC system along with their regular employees.

I am taking an assignment in the Winston-Salem area. I am in need of a FURNISHED, PET-FRIENDLY rental for the 13 week assignment. The hardest part is finding something furnished without paying corporate rates ($1800/mo. and up). I have thought about renting the furniture; the lowest package I have found is $200/month (on top of the monthly rent, electric bill, water, cable, etc). Does anyone have any helpful recommendations or suggestions? Yes...I have also thought about taking the housing provided by the company.

I believe it's exactly what you stated....limited access to the outside world basically....breaks you down so they can build you back up the way THEY want you. They were allowed an occasional phone call from their personal cell phones. But cell phones were taken up and kept until their drills decided they could call home and then they would hand them out....typically 3-4 weeks between calls.

Yes, NedRN, as you have already found, many facilities are requiring prior EPIC experience. I too found that there is a certification that you can get, but like you, I'm guessing that is for super users. I may try contacting EPIC directly. Thanks

NedRN I JUST read your reply. Yes.....8 months later. To answer your question... My son was in MILITARY BASIC TRAINING. So no... he was not allowed to email.

I am a new travel nurse with experience in EMR, but I am finding that many hospitals require EPIC experience (a few require Medhost) and will not even consider you if you do not have experience with these systems. Is there a way to gain experience on these systems without actually working in a facility? Can you take a class? Suggestions or ideas?

It has been my experience that they want the majority of what you listed in items 1-11 prior to an interview. I don't know that it's required (prior to an interview) but that's what I was asked to submit. I didn't submit any of it until I pinned down the 3 agencies that I wanted to work with. Of course, other documents and requirements are facility specific. For one assignment, I had to have an MMR vaccine because apparently I was no longer immune.

I let my agency find housing for my 1st assignment. First, because it was already stressful enough. Second, because I was in an area that did not offer short-term housing. The apartments that the agency contracted with would not take my dog (he was on the restricted breed list), so I ended up in an extended stay hotel (which, by the way, makes for a long 13 week contract). I lucked up on my current assignment because it is in a vacation spot, so I took the housing stipend and found my own housing.

I am on my 2nd travel assignment. I work ER also. My 1st assignment I worked mostly in fast-track, but floated to triage and the main ER as well. I didn't mind fast-track because I am well into my career and honestly have no desire for trauma or high acuity patients anymore. On my current assignment however, I, for the most part, get treated like regular staff. Occasionally I feel that I get dumped on, but not to the extent that I feel I need to complain. I think it just really depends on the facility.

Thanks Nedrn