IdahoNurse

Do you go to the conference every year bagladyrn?

I hace 20 years of nursing experience and some days I find travel nursing very tough!!! You don't have much of a support system either.

Thanks for the great information Ned! What kind of educational opportunities do they have, you know? Oh, and do you know where in Vegas it is? TIA!

This could be a great way to get started, especially if you are in management school. I wouldn't worry about your peers not liking it, unless they are in management school also.

I would give him a coaching session. Related to the fact that it WAS not professional, and the family didn't take it as a joke... I love being a joker myself, and I can see this easily happening to a jokester.

Just remember that any bigger company that you go with (Cross Country, American Mobile, Nurse Choice, Nova Pro, Aureus, Onward Healthcare, Fastaff) you run the risk of being a name instead of a number. I had one company that couldn't find me in the system (my recruiter was gone) until I gave them my SS#. I had another company send my name tag to me in my first name, which I haven't gone by in 30+ years. Yeah, some recruiters really do care and make it a good assignment, but still you take some of the risk. I would personally try one of the smaller to medium sized companies such as Freedom Healthcare, IPI Travel, Total Med Staffing, or Trinity Healthcare.

The difference between the different companies usually lies in benefits and pay. Cross Country is more about benefits and Nova Pro is more about a bigger salary. Same with the AMN companies of American Mobile, O'Grady Peyton, and Nurse Choice. American Mobile is more benefits, O'Grady Peyton is more on the International side, Nurse Choice is more on salary and rapid response.

I have a copy of the 2007 version of Highway Hypodermics and it does have a section on RVs!!! Great book for the beginning travel nurse!

You need atleast one year's of experience for lower acuity floors like med/surg, but for ICU, ER, and OB, I would suggest atleast 2 years of experience. Remember that you will have to be able to jump in with both feet AND take off running. Unfortunately, since Oklahoma is not a compact state, for every state that you go to you will need another license. If you were to have a primary residence in any of the neigboring states of Texas, New Mexico, or Arkansas, which are part of the nursing compact, THEN you can cruise around in about 25 other states, call the Nursing License Compact, without having to get a license.

I interviewed there and was my second choice.... just couldn't see workin for $9 less than I was offered in Seattle. People go to Charleston for the history and culture not the pay rate. Also heard that they are now having travlers take the PBDS... so guess that I will never go there, because I'm boycotting that stupid test.

I worked HCA and renewed, wasn't too bad! Just remember to put your nurse to patient ratio's in your contract! Write down everything that is said in the interview and then put it in the contract, "As stated by Joe Blow of The Right Hospital, nurse to patient ratios will be... floating will be.. etc...."

The made a terrible mistake, wouldn't admit to the mistake, wouldn't discuss it, and took FOREVER to correct it... only when I threatened them with criminal prosecution.

I wouldn't travel with them for love or money. I found them to be very dishonest.

In California you do NOT have to change all of that if you stay less than 6 months. After that, you very well could be stopped and questions by a officer of the law. Just remember to ALWAYS keep a copy of your contract in your glove compartment. I have NEVER had trouble in California staying less than 6 months.