RN2travel

I am SO sorry to hear of your loss. My heart is with you during your time of loss. Best wishes. C.M.

THe most I ever got before taxes was $4128, that was working an 84 hour week. I try to do that once or twice each assignment! I allways contract for 48 hours a week, and will work OT when I feel like it.

NO NO NO!! They can not do that. You did not sign a contract and are under no obligation. If they try just get yourself a lawyer, and also contact the labor board in the state the company is based! You are under no obligation till the contract is signed!

I personally won't go with a company that does strike nursing (Fastaff) but love On Assignment. Each of us have to choose where we go and who we go with based on our own needs and rules. I look at it like this I am working for me and I want a company who will give me what I want($$), support me in what I do, back me up when I need it. Thats about it. I want to do good nursing care in the right location for the right $$ and live in clean, safe, comfortable Corporate Housing. I choose On Assignment and Health FOrce as they give me all of what I need!

I use 2 great companies right now, tried CCTC (with the Evil Empire) once and would never do it again. I currently travel with Health-Force and On Assignment. Both are wonderful companys with high wages, corporate housing, insurance, everything I want and need. My recruiters for both companys are straight forward and honest. They are the best. Another place to look into companys is the travel nurse and therapist site on google. it provides a wealth of information about travel companys and hospitals from the traveler's view. Just do a google search.

I have renewed everywhere I have taken an assignment! I have never taken a cut in pay and never would! Typically I renew for 13 weeks at a time but this contract in Vermont I just extended for 17 weeks to get me thru the worst of the winter. I personally would not consider extending if I did not like most everything about the area of assignment! I need to like the hospital, the nurses I work with and where I live. If I am not happy in any of those areas I would not consider staying. So far I have been very lucky with the assignments I have taken and had a great experience at each place! Good Luck in your decision! Carol

I have had no experience with this hospital but have nothing good to say about Cross Country Travel, please research them carefully before you sign up with them. They generally pay less, do not have free private housing and are not there when you need them. After travelling with them for 6 months they called me and asked if I would be interested in taking a first assignment with them! They didn't even know I was currently traveling with the. When I had problems with the hospital I was at they would not return my calls. I had 5 or 6 recruiters in 8 months and had to resend all my infor over and over again (that alone should have told me to stay away in the first place!!). Carol

A.What types of patients do you have at your hospital? 1.What is the nurse/patient ratio? 2. Do you have an orientation for travel nurses? 3.Who manages vents? CRT available? 4. Are there pt care techs? CNA's? 5. Do you use paper or computer charting? 6. What can I do to prepare myself for working at your facility? 7. Is there a particular uniform requirement? 8. Will I be floated? Where? Is traveler always floated first? 9. What is the work schedule? Weekends? Days off together? 10. 12 hour shifts? 7-7?? 11.Are travelers permitted to attend educational opportunities offered by your facility? Hope this helps. Its not the perfect list but it is my basic list and I just add to it as needed. Good Luck, Carol

I got tired of the insurance the companys were offering and covering my spouse was very expensive (500-600 a month). Some of the insurance was not accepted in states I traveled to! I bought my own coverage with BCBS, it is on the expensive side but at least its accepted everywhere! I did learn though that you have to be careful picking your provider. Sometimes finding a prefeered provider is not easy and you pay more!

I forgot to add my list of questions! 1. Are many assignments available? a. What is the average assignment length? b. Is there a good choice of assignments and locations? c. Where are the majority of assignments? d. Is there a specialty preferred? 2. Are the following benefits offered? a. Housing 1) Private apartments (corporate or not) 2) Housing paid (part or total) 3) Utilities paid (part or total -any limits on amount paid) 4) Deposits for apartment & furniture paid (part or total) b. Tax advantage program (immediate or delayed) c. 401(k) 1) When allowed to contribute? 2) Company matching provided 3) Vested when? d. Sick time e. Vacation time f. Health care benefits 1) Medical coverage 1. Type of coverage (PPO, HMO) 2. Cost for coverage 3. When does it start? 4. What are the limits? 2) Prescription coverage 1. Yearly limit 2. Cost of prescriptions 3) Dental 4) Vision g. Local transportation allowance provided? h. Travel relocation reimbursement provided? 1) Paid per mile or set amount? 2) Paid when? i. Is paid drug testing provided? j. Are reimbursements provided for nursing licenses, certifications or CEU's? 1) Limited or full amount? 2) Paid on obtaining or at end of assignment? k. Malpractice insurance coverage by company provided? l. Are bonuses provided? 1) Hospital or company bonus 2) When is the bonus paid? 3) Can the bonus be rolled into the hourly rate? 3. What payroll issues are there? a. Are all hours guaranteed on all assignments or are there limitations on the guarantee? b. What is the usual rate of pay? c. How many hours per week are required on the average assignment? d. Can contract hours include a 36 to 48-hour guarantee? e. How often is pay? f. Is direct deposit offered? g. How is overtime paid?( very imporatnt for CA assignments as all hospitals do NOT pay OT after 8) h. How many hours per pay period are required before overtime pay is paid? i. How is missed time treated? 1) Is time missed penalized or housing charge required? 2) Can time missed be made up without penalty or housing charges? 3) How can missed time be made up? 1. Can it be made up as overtime? 2. Must it be made up as additional time on the end of the assignment? 3) When are charges for missed time repaid? 1. Immediately? Any questions you can e-mail me!

I have traveled with On Assignments for about 2 years now they are by far my favorite company. The pay is great, they provide free corporate housing, a good 401K plan, my recruiter is wonderful and very easy to contact. THey have plenty of jobs to choose from. I could go on and on!

Recruiters names are not permitted to be posted. You can send them via pm.

ONE PLACE YOU CAN DO RESEARCH ON NEW COMPANYS IS AT http://www.delphiforums.com AND LOOK IN THE TRAVEL NURSE AND RESPRITORY THERAPIST AREA. YOU CAN FIND OUT TONS OF INFO ON DIFFERENT COMPANYS. MY PREFERENCE IS FOR ON ASSIGNMENT. I LIKE EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM.

Sansan, Don't take that offer!! I don not know who made such an offer but it is horrible!You may want to check on delphiforums at the following address for further input (travel nurse forum) PM me if you have questions. forums.delphiforums/travelnurses

Mark, bought your book online and its great! A great refresher that fits into any ICU for the new nurse or a refresher for the rest of us! Keep up the good work!