Psych Travel Nurses

NPAlby · May 28, 2007

I'm a psych travel RN. Have been wth Supplemental for three years. Had my ups and downs with them but they've been alright with me. Just wondering who you working with (company wise) and where are they sending you. I've gone down to VA and worked NYC and now working in Rochester, Ny with them. You can pm me if you have any specific questions. Good Luck!

janet

AUMPsychRN · May 28, 2007

i had these questions posted under the travel nursing forum but had no repsonses so far so here goes. i know this is a lot of questions :confused: however am sure it is only the tip of an iceberg - i'm just a little ocd. if you could shed some light i would be most grateful.

1. do you like the traveling?

2. did significant other go with you? was it easy to arrange w/agency?

3. was the housing convenient to job site & located in safe area?

4. if you have a multi-state license, how did you maintain/establish new

proof of residence without obtaining a new license?

5. did you have to get new tags/drivers license?

6. how do you file your taxes (1 state or 1 part time resident form)?

7. is the housing allowance taxable?

8. did you have any trouble with medical coverage/finding new md?

9. housing wise - is everything provided - appliances? linens? dishes?

10. if you drive your vehicle, do they provide travel reimbursement

immediately or does it take awhile to get it?

11. did you receive you completion bonus in a timely manner?

this is my first travel assignment....

:thankya:

giedre11 · Jun 11, 2007

I've been a psych travel nurse for the past five years and I will try and answer some of your questions.

Yes, I enjoy travel nursing! It's just not always easy, having to pick up and move again every contract, but I am seeing things and places I have never had the opportunity before and find it fascinating. Of course everybody is different and so this is a subjective answer. Just learn to travel light, something I've had a major problem with. I have my hobbies and need some of that around me!

I was without a SO when I started the travel nursing, but met up with another traveler, who did become my significant other!

I/we have always been on our own to find housing...not an easy thing when you are trying to get a short term lease for an apt! Stopped at the local police station to ask about safer neighborhoods.

Have a permanent home where other family resides while I'm not there. I do pay bills and such for permanent residence.

No, kept the same license/tags for my car.

I file taxes for every state I have worked in the previous year.

My company does not tax housing allowance...I have to pay for two residences at the same time...my permanent and of course my temp

MDs are everywhere, no problem finding one!

We usually rent an empty apt and found we had to have certain things. Got one of those fifty dollar blow up mattresses from wallyworld, they're really not bad! Buy a cheap set of everything...go to Big Lots or the Dollar stores.

My company provides travel reinbursement in first paycheck

Completion bonus is in last paycheck, provided you have worked the number of hours agreed upon in the contract!

My first assignment was the scariest...went full of confidence since I'd been working psych for six years already. Got there and was crying for my mom! It was forensics, and something I'd not had any experience with at all. However, as with anything, you learn, you do, you get used to it. Heck I even ended up working 2 contracts there!

Its fascinating seeing how different hospitals "work". You learn a lot! Good Luck!!

njmonsterboi80, BSN · Jun 24, 2007

All this is really fascinating. What are salaries actually like? Do they just send you somewhere where the salary is higher? I'm in Northern NJ and entry level is $29/hr. How much more would I make traveling? What kind of facilities have you been to? I work at a short term commitment facility and any patient who is extremely violent we rush off to the state hospital. Are the assignments at hospitals where nurses don't want to work? Do you recommend travel nursing for a nurse with 1 yr of experience?

Thanks,

Marc

I've been a psych travel nurse for the past five years and I will try and answer some of your questions.
Yes, I enjoy travel nursing! It's just not always easy, having to pick up and move again every contract, but I am seeing things and places I have never had the opportunity before and find it fascinating. Of course everybody is different and so this is a subjective answer. Just learn to travel light, something I've had a major problem with. I have my hobbies and need some of that around me!
I was without a SO when I started the travel nursing, but met up with another traveler, who did become my significant other!
I/we have always been on our own to find housing...not an easy thing when you are trying to get a short term lease for an apt! Stopped at the local police station to ask about safer neighborhoods.
Have a permanent home where other family resides while I'm not there. I do pay bills and such for permanent residence.
No, kept the same license/tags for my car.
I file taxes for every state I have worked in the previous year.
My company does not tax housing allowance...I have to pay for two residences at the same time...my permanent and of course my temp
MDs are everywhere, no problem finding one!
We usually rent an empty apt and found we had to have certain things. Got one of those fifty dollar blow up mattresses from wallyworld, they're really not bad! Buy a cheap set of everything...go to Big Lots or the Dollar stores.
My company provides travel reinbursement in first paycheck
Completion bonus is in last paycheck, provided you have worked the number of hours agreed upon in the contract!
My first assignment was the scariest...went full of confidence since I'd been working psych for six years already. Got there and was crying for my mom! It was forensics, and something I'd not had any experience with at all. However, as with anything, you learn, you do, you get used to it. Heck I even ended up working 2 contracts there!
Its fascinating seeing how different hospitals "work". You learn a lot! Good Luck!!

laceybug · Jun 26, 2007

Hi,

I am a travel Psych nurse and love it. I usually go where my family wants to visit. I have only been on three assignments. The first was Maine for 13 weeks, then I went back to the same place about a year later for 8 weeks and I just returned from Hawaii for 8 weeks. I have had really good experiences at the hospitals I have worked at and am now working on getting my 4th assignment.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

RNhiker · Oct 7, 2007

I want to go to Hawaii as a psych travel nurse. Where did you go, what agency, and how did you like your job?

Thanks!

laceybug · Oct 7, 2007

Hi mtngal49,

When I went to Hawaii I worked at Tripler Army Hospital on 4B2 and being a Government Hospital my Arkansas license was ok.

I went to Honolulu and my apartment was in Waikiki 1/2 block from the beach. It was a great assignment!! The hospital was great, the staff was great and I met so many nice people. It was peaceful and layed back, not to mention beautiful!!

The agency I worked for was Trustaff , I worked with Joe. Mention me if you call them and I will get a referral Bonus...

Feel free to email me if you have anymore questions.

Brenda

RNhiker · Oct 7, 2007

Thank you so much! I will check it out.

Marilyn

RNhiker · Oct 25, 2007

Please PM me so that I can ask more questions.

Thanks!

Kotz · Nov 17, 2007

I want to go to Hawaii as a psych travel nurse. Where did you go, what agency, and how did you like your job?
Thanks!

I worked travel psych nurse at Hawaii State Psychiatric Hospital on Oahu. I liked working there so much that I have gone on staff there. It is a great place to work. The staff are very friendly and helpful and the hospital is very well staffed.

I wouldn't recommend the travel company I went to Hawaii with to my worst enemy!!!! The lied to me about providing me with health insurance and as a result I am now stuck with large medical bills I cannot afford to pay. They do not provide housing or set up housing for you. They give you a couple of recommendations of places you might be able to get housing but you are totally left on your own to find housing. I did stay for a short while at one of the places they recommended but it was dirty, infested with cockroaches and not a safe place to stay. The company I went to Hawaii with is Worldwide Travel Staffing. Avoid them!!!!

Most travel nurses at my hospital are there with Supplemental or Altres and I have not heard anything negative about these companies from the nurses who work with them.

laceybug · Nov 17, 2007

Thanks for the information on this agecy, I am sooooo glad I read your reply!! I have been talking to this company and was thinking about taking an assignment with them but I couldnt get a nagging feeling out of my mind about the housing issue, I couldn't get them to commit to getting me an apartment, they just kept saying "we will help you get one" then they said I mignt have to pay a deposit, etc, etc. I thought it really odd because I had worked for some great agencys that just said "here is your apartment".

I worked in Hawaii at Tripler and loved it!! Do you know which agency the Hawaii State Hospital uses. Is it Supplemental or Altres that you mentioned?

Thanks for your information.