devulms21

Hey! Yes I did go. I was in the ER. It was an excellent hospital and the ER staff were so nice and welcoming. They were very fair with pt load as well. What dept will you be in? I found out from the other travelers there that this particular hospital does in fact just have a crap bill rate.. not typical of California. None of us got paid big bucks. But I made plenty to live comfortably. its a nice area, so much to do as well!

I use RN Network and TravelMax. Had a bad experience with Onward which is a part of AMN

Take an assignment that is only 36hrs per week. That will leave you with four days to explore. Colorado is one of the lower paying states. I was scared and contemplated for a year or so before I finally did. I travel alone as well, 30 yo female. I am on my 7th assignment. Am so glad I did it! I've worked in Honolulu, Seattle, Phoenix, New Hampshire, Boston, LA, San Francisco Smaller companies pay better. The huge ones like Cross Country and AMN don't. They have tons of jobs but I don't hear the best reviews about either. You can find plenty of jobs with other companies than those two

I've done two assignments in Cali. They both enforced the ratio laws as well as breaks. At the first one we each got a 30 min and a 45min break. The second we got a 15 and two 30's

I have and it was an awful experience

I'm pretty sure AMN has the vendor for that hospital. Which is unfortunate bc they are a terrible company. I worked with Onward at MGH. Onward is now a part of AMN & had a really bad experience with that company. Other agencies not affiliated with AMN may have the assignment too, not sure. I did ER at MGH this past July-Sept

So sounds like its the hospital that has a low bill rate and not me necessarily being hosed by my company? Haha. I really love the location but I def feel like the pay should be way more. UGH

What will be your weekly take home? I'm at MGH now along with several other travelers. Pay for the particular hospital is definitely not that great.

They are apart of AMN now. I am with them for this contract and have had a horrid experience. Will never work with them again... plus I hate AMN

Are you willing to do a room share? I'll be leaving MGH at the end of Sept and my room would be available. 8 min ride on red line. Landlord is great.

Considering a contract at the hospital mentioned. I feel like I may be being lowballed on pay for the area too. Anyone have thoughts on whats normal? Anyone have experience with the ER in particular? THANKS!

Do you have facebook? There are several groups on there where travelers share things like that. I have found it much more useful than this website. I haven't had a travel job yet but your same type of question is asked frequently on those boards. I highly recommend them!

I haven't started the process yet but am looking into it (for Cali). I've heard from numerous people that it is taking a LONG time. Like 4 months minimum. Recruiters have been telling me the same. One lady I was talking to requested fingerprint card in Oct and just now got them. Not sure about the nursys verification.. surely you won't have to pay again though!? I will be doing the same (nursys) when I apply as well.

You basically described me! I'm nervous because I am a bit of an introvert. Good luck! I will be trying out my first assignment somewhere in the next few months

Thanks! This contract would actually start mid-may, gearing up for tourist season. I've never been to the area and it sounds interesting!

Has anyone ever worked at this hospital? I'm being submitted here. It would be my first assignment. My recruiter has definitely made it sound like a great place. I've never been to that part of the country either. Thanks for any advice related to this!!

I'm looking into travel nursing as well. I've lived in SW Iowa now NW Missouri all my life. I've been trying to decide if I should take my first assignment "close" to home or just go anywhere. I'm really thinking about California. I would be going alone. I don't have any suggestions but just wanted to say I'm right there with ya! Its overwhelming.

We are given 6 months orientation. This can be shortened for more seasoned nurses who are comfortable and doing well. All depends on how the individual is doing but we can be in orientation up to 6 months if its felt its needed. I work in a level II trauma center, very busy. Only hosp in a city of 75k.

Wow those are scary! I'm in a busy level II trauma center with a total of 30 rooms. For the most part, we have a 1:3 ration and sometimes 1:4. We have a fast track area w specific nurses to those rooms so it may be a little more. So our 3 or 4 patients can be anything. We have awesome teamwork where I am and help eachother out a lot. Your staffing levels seem horrendously unsafe.

Does anyone have experience in NYC in the ER setting? Are the nurse to patient ratios "do-able" or is it really terrible? Thanks!

I work in a 30 bed level II trauma center. Only hospital in a town of 75k. Very busy. We see everything- typical chest pains, abd pains, tons of pysch, drug seekers, MVCs, occ GSW or stabbing (fairly rare). We get patients flown into us from lots of the surrounding community hospitals. We get plenty of pediatric patients. We fly out the very sick pediatrics, complex ortho stuff like mainly pelvic fractures, sometimes will fly out complex neuro stuff but have several neurosurgeons here. There is a big burn center about an hour away so we send out all major burns as well. Codes are common too

Has anyone ever worked in either of these states? As a general rule, is the pay decent, staff welcoming? I know it varies agency to agency and hospital to hospital. But as a general rule, are these two states good to work in? Thanks

Thank you! What company does PPR stand for?

I've never been to LA. I've been to San Diego and loved it! Hopefully we will get some more input on travelers who have worked in Cali. :)

I'm interested in hearing answers as well. I'm really thinking about California right now. Or even Oregon. I live in the midwest and have all my life.