Questions about travel nursing

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jan 8, 2011

Thank you for sharing your expertise with us. I am a fairly new nurse going into my first traveling assignment. reading your post really help me. i wish i could PM you i do not know how.

Site requirements are 15 or more posts to be able to send a pm

CCL RN, RN · Jan 11, 2011

What is it that you don't like about American Mobile?

Id like to know too. I'm doing preliminary research in travel nursing, and the few travelers I know are from American mobile and seem to like it...

ANNIENURSEANGEL · Jan 12, 2011

great advice. I want to move back to south florida where i am from. My family lives there. I worked as an NA for 9 years in the bigger hospitals there. I am familiar with the process. I worked with many a travel nurse. They seem well adapted to change, and great nurses. Do travel companies help with moving expenses? I have a husband, can he come with?

mskate · Jan 12, 2011

A lot of people don't like American Mobile because they are a big business company, so people can feel like they are a number, not a name. American Mobile also *can* pay less than other companies, but in my experience - this is the exception, not the rule. Other people have had issues with housing, etc...

The bottom line when choosing a company is finding a good recruiter who will work for YOU and not for the company's bottom line. It's also imperative that you know how to negotiate for perks to make sure you get everything out of an assignment that you want. Generally, companies have a bigger budget to give you things that they offer you and you have to go in to the situation understanding that. They may say "200 dollars travel reimbursement, 1 bedroom apartment, 35 dollars an hour." And you need to say "350 in travel, 1 bedroom apartment - (or two bedroom apartment if you are willing to pay the difference), and I want a king sized bed and tv rental comp'd in, the apartment has to have a washer and dryer, dishwasher and microwave with designated parking for my car. I also want my license reimbursed that I had to get for that state and I need the parking lease for the hospital to be reimbursed."

You need to learn, when you interview - to ask things like "how much is the parking lease?" So, when you decide you want the assignment and the hospital decides that they want YOU, you know what you need to ask the company for upfront.

Once you know you want the job and you have the official job offer, you get to the fun part where the travel company needs to get you to agree to take the job in order for them to make any money off of you. This is where you can negotiate, but you need to know what you want and how much $ to ask for before you sit down to negotiate. Don't go into it wishy-washy - know what you want, be willing to wait a day to accept the job officially for them to talk to managers or whoever to get your requests approved but make sure you don't get all crazy with your requests. Its gotta be do-able! :)

Don't be afraid to request a new recruiter if the one the company gives you don't have a great vibe, you don't converse well, or they are not willing to negotiate and if a recruiter says "Oh, well, I can't authorize a higher travel stipend" - understand that you can ask him/her to find out who CAN authorize it. On some assignments, their minimum travel stipend is sufficient - on others, when you are going cross country, its simply not enough money! They will never give you ALL of the money to move, but you can bargain for more than they initially offer. Remember - recruiters work for a base pay - but they are getting a COMMISSION from you taking assignments - they should want to make you happy!

I have been with several travel companies and I keep a current file with several so when it comes time to look for jobs, I can talk to several companies at the same time and see who has what jobs, where and how much pay. Then you can choose to interview for the job based on what company has the better pay or better hospital contracts. Big companies like American Mobile have exclusive contracts at hospitals so if you aren't with that big company, you simply don't get the jobs. Stanford, for example, is an AMAZING travel job - and they are AMN exclusive. I have been with AMN (American Mobile) for years now and although I have had some issues here and there, and I've changed recruiters a few times to find someone I really click with - its been nothing that isn't solved with some phone calls and discussions with managers who may have more company pull than your recruiter does to get things authorized.

Also, in regards to AnnieNurseAngel's questions:

1.) Yes, they do help with moving expenses in the form of a travel reimbursement. You get start travel and end travel money. You're starting, or arrival, travel money comes usually a week or two into your assignment and is based on cents per mile traveled, up to a max of usually 200-250 dollars each way, but you can negotiate for more sometimes.

2.) Yes, you can travel with your husband. People travel with their friends, spouses, children, pets... no problem. :)

CCL RN, RN · Jan 20, 2011

Fantastic info! Thanks mskate!

LadyTiger44 · Jan 27, 2011

I am with American Mobile, as are most of the travelers on my unit, which is made up of all travelers, and we have all liked them.

Loreta · Jan 27, 2011

:redbeathe:redbeatheGreat info everyone, thanks!!!!! I'm also considering traveling.....have lots of questions.

For now just researching, but of course there's nothing like sharing advice with fellow nurses who've been there!!!!,

joehazard · Oct 26, 2015

This is a very good summary of what its really like. Been travelling now for close to a year, first hospital was a hot mess and i hated life for 3 long months. The second contract was just the opposite, amazing experience. You definitely have to be the kind of person who pays close attention to all the details, from what is in your contract, to each paycheck. Then you have to be assertive enough to question what doesn't seem to make sense.

kdavis15 · Oct 28, 2015

I truly believe some nurses are built for travel and some not. I have been a nurse for over 20 year and I love to change my routine so much that I change jobs about every 2-3 years. I love to get floated and I realize many are not that way. Most staff nurses get comfortable in their own environment.