Billy5949

Wolf - you're a world of knowledge. Orlando area -all of it is bad? Really wanted to go there.

Guys, tell me the best places you've ever worked. The nicest people, the traveler friendly places. I need a new location.

Hi there! I can help, I think. I just got back from my first travel assignment. Great experience. SLC, UT -University of Utah Medical Center. Great place. I didn't do it for the pay -I did it b/c it was my first assignment, the manager was so nice, sweet, awesome. I just wanted a good first experience -just so I knew I could do it. After all, I was traveling after only ONE year experience. So I suggest there. I can guarantee it. You go there being open and polite, and everyone will just be there for you. I know it's far, I know it's not along the coast -but you will have no stress. And it's a beautiful x-country drive. PM me if you want specifics. The floor, etc.

where are you from? why CT? I am from LI, NY. You really cannot go wrong in CT, as far as people are concerned. I mean, I assume you are asking about 'safe' places to go -where people are helpful, ratios are safe... Danbury is definitely a great place. I am really looking into Bridgeport, however. Close to the water, close to home. I'd be a little sceptical about Stamford. Only because it's huge, lots of people. Maybe not such a friendly environment. I have a friend who is an OB/GYN res. She says people/nurses are great. But I don't know how the nurses are to one another. I have a friend who lives in Milford, not a nurse -but she loves the nightlife in New Haven. Home of Yale -good for the resume, I'd assume. Let me know where you end up.

How long have you been an RN in your specialty? I was only a nurse for one year prior to traveling -talk about skimpy resume! Why don't you contact a travel company and see what they say? They don't really use resumes anyhow. They have you fill out an application and skills checklist. Then, they present your info to hospitals, and those interested contact them back. Then you talk/interview with the facility to see if it's a match. Just be honest. And the hospitals reviewing your info try to make sure you're a fit as well. No wants a mis-match and a horrible 3 months. I was extremely careful on my first assignment -and I had a wonderful experience. Now I am looking for the next assignment, and again with the self-doubt: Will I be good enough? Do I know enough? and blah blah. Truth is that we probably never know enough, and never will. So go for it.

O, I don't know. I am actually from LI -traveled for one assignment (to Utah) and just returned. My agency is trying to get me a local contract, and I am terrified of NYC hospitals! You may have just solidified my worries. I'll probably just skip it and head out again in May. Are things getting any better?

ooops. sorry, you already mentioned it. Who are you with now?

omigoodness! I just finished my first travel assignment at the University of Utah Medical Center. I LOVED IT. Everyone -terribly nice. Did I meet you here? So Gallup, NM. I do MS. Think I would like it? Mind telling me your agency? Just want to make sure I can make contact. Right now I am with an agency that doesn't have too many. Don't ask me how I went with them. Niceness wins me over anytime. (Got paid NOTHING in SLC.)

what if I hate this traveling? What if i cancel my assignment for no other reason except that I want to go home? (Not that I want to, I just want to know.)

I am on my first assignment, sitting in my new home -and getting pretty homesick. My first day is only tomorrow! Hopefully I adjust. I will keep you posted, and give any advice if I can.

Hello. I am a NY'er that just quit her job for agency work. I had an assignment with a start date -and it fell through. (Long story) However, now I am soon to be jobless! I have to laugh! I could stay where I am, and renig on my resignation, but I am determined to travel. Originally, I wanted to go to Orlando where I have friends and family. Only now it seems as if this is a very desireable place at this time of year, and all contracts have been snatched up. That and I suppose I am not 'first choice' because I have only a year of M/S. So I ask you all, where should I go ...by myself, for the holidays? I don't really care so much where I go, only that I am in a traveler friendly environment for my very first assignment. Any recommendations from any experienced travelers would be wonderful. I'm open to all. ND, SD, Boise, NM...

Hey there! Interested in keeping me posted on your decisions? I am soon to be a first time traveler -MS and thinking of NM or AZ. Very terrified! (I actually just quit my job -when my first assignment fell through! So now I am in a pickle, inquiring about all the different opportunities!) PM me if you want.

Does this sound right? I interviewed with a travel company -got an offer to travel to FL for $23/hr???? I new to this. Am I being taken for a very long ride?

hey, did you ever sign with them? if so -how is it going? where are you? I'm about to sign with them -for a contract in FL.

what does that mean 'experience doesn't make much difference'? I am getting ready to start traveling, and I am nervous as heck - nervous that I am getting in over my head. But I keep telling myself that you never know until you try!

...about to interview w/Davita...can anyone tell me what to expect? Anyone familiar with the hours? And does anyone know what it takes to travel with them? They have centers everywhere, if I train in one place is it possible to request to go OR for a few months? Or is that not normal practice?

once you apply for a position online, how long does it take for them to get in touch with you? ...should they decide to?

I love this website. You're all very helpful. I think I'll hang on to my current job for another few months, until I reach the year mark. Then possibly move into another hospital out-of-state for ~6mo-1yr...and then travel. How about that?

That's it. Just 9 months experience in Med/Surg and I've been recruited. It's very enticing. I've wanted to do travel nursing since I entered through the college doors. Should I do it? Or am I jumping the gun?

so funny -this entire thread is about moving into NYC, and I am looking for a way out! any specific questions, let me know. If you decide not to use the traveling option -you'll definitely have no problem finding a job on your own. There are vacancies everywhere. If you did use the travel option, you wouldn't need to extend your contract, you could find your own job offer in a NY minute.

I've been an RN for 6 months and I desperately want to travel when I can meet the minimum requirements. To experienced travelers -if you're unfamiliar with your facility-how likely are mistakes? More likely or the same as working somewhere for a while? What about write-up's? Like right now I work at what we refer to as the 'write-up unit'. Nurses thrive on writing one another up. (Well, there are a select few. ~8 of them). Days despise nights and vice versa. A huge civil war. Is this common practice in the profession? You know, I can understand some things: 100U of regular when it should've been 10U. Completely wrong med, completely wrong pt. But what about hanging a PB and forgeting to infuse? And I've never done this, but I've seen it written up by one nurse to another. What do you guys think? And sometimes it seems as if facilities have unwritten protocol. Sometimes I feel like I forgot to an ESP course in school. Any similar feelings? Or have I been jaded? I want to travel, but at the same time the thought really makes me nervous. I'm sure travelers have very strong backbones.

Hiya. I am in NY and just applied for FL licensure Jan 26. I did speak with one hospital that said that as long as I am licensed in another state -they could hire me as a 'RN Tech' until I received my paperwork. I just wondered where you planned on going? Curious what you know about the hospitals, because at this point, if I took a job, I'd just be guessing!

Thanks Jill. Very helpful. I have to look into the Spectrum Florida paper. Erika -the people on this site have been so helpful to me, and I want to be helpful to you -but I have no idea what LPN's get paid. I do know starting for RN's is anywhere b/w $17-24. Seems to me NY to FL will be a huge pay cut.

You're not there anymore? Where did you work? Any suggestions? Also, how long is a long commute? I live in the NY Metro area now. I can't imagine any commute longer than what I experience now!

Hi there! Hopefully you'll still get this response -since it's been since July... I wondered what you ended up doing. I will be in your position soon, as soon as I receive my FL license ~March. Then I'll start interviewing. Many people have told me about Mt. Sinai and how great it is. Is it? Did you take the job there? Where did you end up living? I was interested in Kendall...