MsConstrued

My first contract was in HI and has a similar rotating schedule. They were kind and did not rotate me without a day or two off to adjust to a new shift and I often did not know what unit I was on until I got to work. However I didn't mind as they were all in my capabilities and I actually enjoyed getting to know the ins and outs of every unit in the small hospital. I had 8 hour shifts and did all 3 throughout my contract. It was a shame it was my first contract because none since has ever been so great. HI was the most amazing place ever.

I am having the same issue. Thought I was making good money out on the west coast then saw the union-posted pay rate of the staff nurses on the intranet. I make about the same as them when it comes down to it but I pay rent in 2 places so it's kind of ridiculous!

Do you mind me asking what the pay they're offering is? The rent is VERY high here but I'm from the south so it was sticker shock to me. I've seen some furnished places on Craigslist during my search around $1800-2000. Getting a roommate is the best way to go I think. I'm with my partner and 2 cats so we need an apartment and it's hard to find anything under $2000, unfurnished. I live 30 minutes outside the city now and take the bus. SO MANY FUN THINGS TO DO!!! The weather is amazing right now, can't wait for summer. Taking some time off to explore.

I started last year with 1.5 years under my belt. I did not have strong MS experience and find it is a struggle for me even on night shift and is more stressful than it should be so I may get out after this contract and get some more experience under my belt first. It's possible, just depends how much you're willing to wing it.

That's the BEST part about traveling to me. I make enough that I can take a month or more off between starting my next contract and can do the traveling or relaxing that I never am able to do with a FT position. Especially if you have a partner with you or go back home after your assignment you won't have a ton of expenses.

Based on your experience I think you'd be a great traveler, especially if you are very adaptable and flexible. I only have 2 years experience and I seem to manage even if it's stressful for me at times. For your first assignment or two I would stick to a state close to home just to see how you like it. As for HI and AK, I have been to HI and the travel allowance doesn't even cover how much it costs to get there, plus the pay is really low because everyone wants to go. You usually have to find your own housing too with their stipend and the rent is really high. But it's great to go for the experience of it as long as you don't expect to make much money after expenses!

You can make it through, trying to switch your schedule is a good idea. I'd work only weekends if I had that option. Less "politics" and meetings than during the week. I also prefer nights for the same reason. My current job is great no one even talks to each other during the shift mostly. Everyone sits in their own nursing station LOL. I do like to make friends on my assignments but definitely try not to gossip, and I just don't show up to meetings unless they personally tell me otherwise.

We just went last weekend, it was beautiful! I took a bike tour and had a great time even though I fell off my bike and thought I broke my hand LOL. Nothing will ever beat Hawaii for me, but I really like it here in Seattle. I hear the summer is going to be even better. My fiance just got a contract job here himself so I think we might end up staying!

I started traveling from Atlanta and two of my classmates and a doctor I know work at Piedmont. It's a great hospital that is VERY busy but very rewarding in their opinion. Traffic in ATL is horrendous so live as close to work as you can!

You have to do it every time and depending on the company you have tons more paperwork to complete more than just the license. I found Cross Country to have the most unreasonable paperwork requirements. I wouldn't go with them again if I was a new hire. If they start making me run around to get things notarized and faxed to them or overnighted, I will simply decline the position.

I've never had a manager tell me truthful information on the telephone interview so it really doesn't matter. They will hire anyone whether you have the correct experience or not. I always ask about OT, how many techs there are per patient, patient to nurse ratio, floating requirements once I'm there, what my schedule will be like, etc. and it has never matched up with what I was told.

You have to keep a tax home in order to be a traveler. There is a plethora of information on what that means on PanTravelers.org but if you do not pay market value rent to a place back in your tax state, keep your mailing address there, your car registration, etc. then you do not qualify for the tax-free stipends which are part of the $11-1400 a week you are seeing for a traveler. If you're definitely moving there you can look for a perm position that pays for relocation expenses or you can take those out of your taxes next year if you're NOT a traveler.

I am on the MS ortho unit right now and I do enjoy that unit (it's in the brand new hospital) but I found a place to live near there so when I get floated I spend over an hour in traffic each way. I did just receive an email for EMR conversion positions in Bellingham next month for top dollar if you PM me I will refer you. I am going to take one of those next I think in the summer. They have immediate and August start dates.

I'm at Swedish right now and I can't wait for the next two months to be finished. They don't treat travelers very well. They float you between all of their hospitals (traffic here is horrendous so I spend over an hour each way when they do this) and float you every four hours if they need to during the shift. They don't care what's in your contract, when you point that out they say that's the way it is and if you don't like it you can leave. The upside is all the units I've worked on are very nice to me and are always willing to help me out so I don't feel like an outsider, just when it comes to floating. You also have to pay for your own parking downtown which is ridiculous.

I just applied for a pier diem position at Swedish and they called me the very next day. I am a current traveler there and they do not treat their travelers very well. I would take a staff position there instead. They had so many when I was looking through them last night.

Among other reasons! I would never work at Kaiser thanks to the great advice here on this forum.

I am Swedish Medical in Seattle. There are no differentials offered with most agencies. Flat rate no matter what shift you work, there are call back, OT diffs of that nature but not the shift you work. I hate Swedish because they float their travelers to every campus (some are far away and the ones downtown you have to pay for your own parking in the garage) no matter what is in your contract and they will float you every 4 hours if they need to. I just pointed out that it's not in my contract to do that and they are like too bad that's what we do. So be aware because they won't tell you that in the interview even if you ask.

Thank you! I prefer to work them also, even the big ones. I'd rather have a few extra bucks on my check and celebrate the next day with my family instead.

Nope. I'd be surprised if you can travel as a new grad, nor would I want to. I went in with 1.5 years experience and sometimes I wish I waited longer to get down the basics. Some nurses look at me like I'm crazy when I encounter something I've NEVER done before and ask for help. They don't mind helping at all, but they are surprised there are basics I haven't seen or done and am traveling when most nurses can't stand to even be floated to another unit. You would be putting your license on the line every day by going to new facilities with no experience. Nursing is not easy. It's even harder as a traveler.

This thread inspired me to talk to my recruiter about my contract and they said something weird. That holiday pay legally can only be 1.5-2x your base hourly pay (which is obviously low since we live on stipends). Is it like this for everyone else or have you ever heard of that before? It makes me not want to work any holidays during my contract if I'll be making LESS than I was as a staff nurse per hour that day.

I am on my third assignment too. The first one the housing coordinator got in touch with me days before I got to Hawaii and since they did not offer housing she only had a suggestion on who to use. I had no choice at that point and it costs me half of my TOTAL take home pay. My second assignment with another company, I took the provided housing and while the apartment was GREAT "furnished" meant a soda, loveseat, the world's most uncomfortable mattress, a dresser and a dining room table and 2 lamps. When I saw how low the rent was in the apt complex I felt dumb for not taking the stipend. Now I'm on my third assignment in Seattle and I took the stipend and ran. Since I travel with my fiancee and our 3 cats, we got an empty apt and had our belongings shipped out here. Very much a hassle but I am not into extended stays and sleeping in uncomfortable beds. And please rant away!! That is how we learn around here from others!

I think the only downside is I miss all my friends back home and even if I make 1-2 friends during an assignment to go out with when I'm off, it just isn't the same. I can't imagine that for years and years, even having my fiance with me. It gets lonely. But I'm so new, the novelty hasn't worn off yet so I will keep doing it until it does!

You should definitely be choosing between more than 1-2 offers so you can go with the highest one. This seems low, I would not take it knowing what I know now. I did the same thing for my first contract too. Glad I got going as a traveler but when I got there I realized I was making a good $10 an hour less than other travelers in other companies who had experience.

Great advice Ned, thanks! My OT/holiday rates have been very low Also OP I asked this time for a no float clause in my contract where I will not float after the shift has started. I heard some hospitals (in CA mostly) will float you every 4 hours if they can because you're a traveler so I put that I will not do that in my contract. Also any days off you want ahead of time in the contract as well.

I left ATL for traveling and know several people who work there and it is a great hospital! I suggest finding a place to live as close to work as possible. The traffic is horrible there, especially around that area both times of day. If you need any suggestions on things to do in the city feel free to PM me.