MsConstrued

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone (especially Ned) for the advice in my previous posts before I took my first travel assignment here in Hawaii. I was skeptical about my first travel assignment being so far from home but I am enjoying myself imm...

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 wer...

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 o...

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 ...

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...

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 ...

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 ...

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 talk...

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 goin...

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 hi...

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 t...

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 regi...

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 positi...

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 ...

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 t...

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 traveler...

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 ...

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...

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 o...

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 lon...

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 ...

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...