Psych Travel Nurses

sarmedic70 · Nov 23, 2007

Hi everybody. Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving Day................I am a psych RN and also interested in travelling. Not in the market to do so for another 6 mos or so possibly. I have been trying to find out what are the BEST travel agencies out there, especially for psych nursing. Two areas I am focusing towards is at a state hospital or correctional facility. The key geographical area is Indiana (preferably around Indianapolis) due to having family there. Eventually I will venture out to other areas (that are WARM in the winter).....................but for starters this is what I am looking into. I have subscribed to Healthcare Traveler Magazine, but I really don't get the information I truly am seeking with regards as to the most reliable and best agencies out there. So what better experts to find out this info but from my fellow psych RNs..........I will greatly appreciate any info you can provide. I don't need to worry about living accommodations in that I would stay with family essentially............however, for the future that will be a consideration.............

Thanks tons! :-)

saralee777 · Dec 6, 2007

Hi everybody. Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving Day................I am a psych RN and also interested in travelling. Not in the market to do so for another 6 mos or so possibly. I have been trying to find out what are the BEST travel agencies out there, especially for psych nursing. Two areas I am focusing towards is at a state hospital or correctional facility. The key geographical area is Indiana (preferably around Indianapolis) due to having family there. Eventually I will venture out to other areas (that are WARM in the winter).....................but for starters this is what I am looking into. I have subscribed to Healthcare Traveler Magazine, but I really don't get the information I truly am seeking with regards as to the most reliable and best agencies out there. So what better experts to find out this info but from my fellow psych RNs..........I will greatly appreciate any info you can provide. I don't need to worry about living accommodations in that I would stay with family essentially............however, for the future that will be a consideration.............
Thanks tons! :-)

I would stay away from Supplemental.....BAD,BAD,VERY BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

atomic1976 · Mar 26, 2008

Thanks for starting this thread! Would you mind telling me what agency you are using? I am a psyc RN and am interested in traveling. Thanks!

Hello Out There,
Is there any psych travel nurses out there? Taking my 1st travel assignment in July and it is in the psych/behavioral health field which is my speciality but was wondering if anyone out there has done any traveling or has any experience with travel nurses.....

bfRN29 · Jul 8, 2010

This is all great advice! From all of you I found 3 companies that work with travel Psych nursing, they are: Supplemental, Trustaff and Altres. And one company to avoid, which is Worldwide Travel Staffing.

Can anyone else add any other companies to either lists? Much appreciated!!!

sarmedic70 · Jul 8, 2010

It was two years ago I had posted inquires about travel agencies for Psych RNs. Thank you for the posts as to agencies. So from what I saw with one of the posts is to remain away from Supplemental? Primarily of the housing issues? Does anybody have any updated information on them? What about Nightengale? I have seen and heard they work primarily with Psych RNs; however, from only ONE source have I heard that they are not a good agency to work with either. His first travel assignment was up in OR for the state hospital up there (and he had not even been an RN a year, too........hmmmmmmm......of which I found interestesting in that MOST travel agencies require a minimum of 1-2 years RN experience). At any rate, he indicated that if it wasn't for the recruiter he worked with, his experience would have been bad. His overall impression and opinion of Nightengale was not good. I do not know what agency he has used since leaving our state hospital to resume travel nursing.

At any rate, I am in serious hunt for a GOOD and RELIABLE travel agency that works with Psych RNs in that I really do need to get away from the current position I am working at our state hospital. I have been there for 3 years and just want to get away from the hospital "politics" et al and a change of pace but yet remain in psych nursing of which I love. Additionally, it would be great to know of a GOOD and RELIABLE agency that has 4 week assignments as well since my husband will not be traveling with me of which is the only reason as to why I have not pursued more seriously travel nursing up to this point.

How long are the assignments in HI? (at Tripler.......of which interests me in that I am also an Army Veteran......one of our staff psych doctors left our facility to take a governmental position with them and has been working with our vets with TBIs...............). Speaking of Veterans...........The VA has a travel RN option now as well. Has anybody checked into that route, and if so, experiences.........or does anybody know much about this VA travel opportunity?

At any rate, I DO need to make a change, and yet remain in psych/mental health nursing, and jobs around here where I live just do not exist unless I remain at the state hospital. And I do need a change........the unit I am currently core RN on is extremely stressful of all of the units then add to that the administrative issues that we RNs have to deal with overall daily......................my only other option would be to go into the Acuity RN Pool and remain benefited and work all of the units, be out of the "politics" of the units, and actually be a NURSE and do what I love doing........Psych Nurse......................what I am doing right now is NOT nursing at all...........and that is not why I became a RN...................

I have also thought about going back into the Army Reserves too in that they need psych RNs............just trying to locate a recruiter et al to work with me................fun, fun, fun................

At any rate, would be greatly appreciated with any updated information on Travel Agencies who work with Psych RNs: the pro's, con's, benefits, and so forth..............again, it is very hard to find that specific information on the web sites..................

MANY THANKS

C :-)

candlecat · Jul 31, 2010

are you still travel nursing?

Chazman, RN · Jul 31, 2010

The web site below has information on taxes for travel RN's

http://www.traveltax.com/TravelRN/KnowledgeBase/KnowledgeBaseHome.html

http://www.traveltax.com

kalsahealer · Feb 27, 2011

I'm wanting to go to the four corners area for psych travel nursing. As a nurse I've had 2.5 yrs with psych but I've had total about 4 years volunteer, PNA, ect. What company is good to travel with? What company is safe. I've had some per diem jobs and they've sent me to places that have been unsafe for my license. I wouldn't mind going to Hawaii if they provided housing for me and my dog. What do I watch for when accepting an assignment? What are good trustworthy have your back agencies?

mentalhealthRN · Feb 27, 2011

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

Which hospital in Rochester are you at? Curious as I live in the area......

mentalhealthRN · Feb 27, 2011

Did one 8-week assignment with Worldwide Nursing --granted not psych as they were limited in finding me a psych placement, me wanting only local travel, but.....they got me into Attica Correctional and well that was it........never found me a single assignment after that! They had 11 of us agency nurses in there at one time and some of us had good agents and some of us, including me, not good at all......we had some problems at the site and we all called to complain and no one did anything to help so stay away from Worldwide if possible.

fawnsternurse · Mar 1, 2011

Did one 8-week assignment with Worldwide Nursing --granted not psych as they were limited in finding me a psych placement, me wanting only local travel, but.....they got me into Attica Correctional and well that was it........never found me a single assignment after that! They had 11 of us agency nurses in there at one time and some of us had good agents and some of us, including me, not good at all......we had some problems at the site and we all called to complain and no one did anything to help so stay away from Worldwide if possible.

Hi, I am sitting on the edge of my chair and just had to respond to this. I have been primarily traveling since 2001. I have worked with Supplemental and Worldwide and now Onward.

I am making a general statement here but these recruiters are NOT Nurses. They do not have a clue as to what we are facing when we go someplace. I NEVER look to them for help.

Until WE NURSES get together and start our own companies we will NEVER have the support we think we need in regards to the work environment. Nor should we expect that quite frankly. The sooner we come to acceptance about this the better off we will be.

Most hospitals that hire Travel Nurses have issues. That is why they hire us. Because they cannot hold on to their regular staff because there are ISSUES. Especially in psychiatry.

Many of the jobs in psychiatry and corrections they have are places that have problems. That is why we are there.

Now with that said I have worked places via those 3 agencies that are awesome. I am at a job currently that I really enjoy and had one last year that was awesome as well.

Sometimes you can find an agency that has one of those psych jobs where they only need someone because a nurse is out on maternity or some other reason.

But the majority of the jobs that are in NC and other locales are because they cannot retain regular staff. Yes, they will be hard jobs and yes, there may be things happening that go against everything you ever learned in school or by working in a professional setting.

I generally use the policy that "when I am in rome I do as the Romans do" or that I am a guest in someone's home and I basically go along with the culture of that milliue. UNLESS IT IS TOTALLY ILLEGAL OR ABUSIVE. Then and only then do I wave my flag. I either do not re sign the contract or pray before and after work! LOL

I can honestly say that I have enjoyed working with Worldwide, Supplemental and Onward now.

All my recruiters have been awesome. Perfect? No not perfect but I have developed a relationship with each one and each one has demonstrated a commitment to me and have responded to me with integrity. BUT they do not intervene with any matters that occur at the Hospital and neither do I call them about those issues.

It is unspoken that if I am there its because these places have problems and hence I do not call the recruiters about the problems.

I hope the above makes sense. I haven't been feeling well and I am a little out of it right now.

larspat · Mar 29, 2011

I would love to get more information on travel nursing for psych assignments.

If you get this message, email me at: [email protected]

Im not sure how to PM you.

Patty