Seriously considering traveling, need guidance!

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Specializes in ER, PACU.

Hello all, thanks in advance for any help!

I filled out an application for CCTC a few days ago and the recruiter called me today. She explained some things to me, but I would really like to know if anyone has come up with a list of questions that I should ask, and things that I should have put in my contract.

I am an RN with 1 1/2 years experience in ER, and I have 2 years of LPN LTC experience. I am a little nervous about going to a new place with little orientation and possibly being treated badly by staff nurses, but I am excited about having new experiences and having the ability to see the country. Do you think this is enough experience to travel?

Any help would be appreciated, thanks again in advance :)

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Have you ever worked local agency in your area? If not, perhaps you should try that first to see if you can adapt to it. I would do that before quitting my regular position.

Also, you say that you work ER, but in what type of facility? A small community hospital or a regional trauma center? Big difference with what your level of comfort is going to be.

Hope that this helps............

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Specializes in ER, PACU.

Thank you for replying! I work in an extremely busy level 2 trauma center, we see about 90,000 patients a year. We dont get too much trauma, but the acuity of the population is high. I worked agency in LTC when I was an LPN, but have not worked agency in any hospitals as an RN. I agree that its a good idea to work agency here, but I am worried that if I have a contract with a local agency, that I will not be able to work in the same facility as a traveler, as many make you sign that you cant work in the same place for 2 different companies or you have to pay them damages.

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Back up a moment, one of the major benefits of being a traveler is the tax breaks that you get by being at least 50 miles from your home base. Depending on where you live, many facilities will not hire a nurse as a traveler if they are local. You get taxed on all of that, if you are more than 50 miles away, then your living expenses are paid by the company not you, no tax for you, plus you get a per diem rate that you can take for expenses.

I am suggesting that you try a few shifts to see how you like being thrown into something without any orientation and having to fend for yourself.

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Any help would be appreciated, thanks again in advance :)

I would try taking a nearby assignment at first. My first assignment was 200 miles from home. It was just enough for me to get my feet wet, but not out far enough that I felt "stranded."

Hope that this helps!

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Specializes in OB.

Ask your recruiter to send you a copy of the "interview sheet" with questions you should ask the hospital when interviewing. (It's not mandatory, but it's a good reminder so you don't forget important points). Also go check out the forum at delphiforums.com Travel Nurses and Therapists. Lots of us long time travelers there with advice on everything from the serious to the silly.

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Hello all, thanks in advance for any help!

I filled out an application for CCTC a few days ago and the recruiter called me today. She explained some things to me, but I would really like to know if anyone has come up with a list of questions that I should ask, and things that I should have put in my contract.

I am an RN with 1 1/2 years experience in ER, and I have 2 years of LPN LTC experience. I am a little nervous about going to a new place with little orientation and possibly being treated badly by staff nurses, but I am excited about having new experiences and having the ability to see the country. Do you think this is enough experience to travel?

Any help would be appreciated, thanks again in advance :)

Hi, I'm new to this so please don't mind any goof-ups. I've been RN for 23 yrs.: started traveling approx. 3 yrs. ago after 15 yrs. at same hosp. and can honestly say I will never go back to F/T nursing . I've learned a lot since traveling; I feel it's made me a better nurse; it's helped me through a major 'burn-out'; I've met some fantastic people ( and some not-so-fantastic) ;the money is great .....there are a lot of negatives but they balance out with the pluses. the best advice I can offer is go for short-term assignments (4-6 weeks) til you know how you'll like it, and under no conditions accept Bakersfield,CA or Rhode Island!! Good Luck

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Specializes in ER, PACU.

Thank you all for the advice! I am scheduled for an interview with a nearby hospital for a travel assignment, and if I am offered the job, will be starting around the end of February. The place that I work out now is absolutely crazy, all the travelers that I have worked with say that its the hardest place they ever worked, so I figure it cant be any worse than what I am dealing with now, and the pay is almost double.

I am looking foward to joining all you travel nurses out there in the workforce!

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There is a great book by Shalon Kearney called: :"Hitting the Road-A guide to travel nursing" It is a quick and easy read with many useful sites to investigate. The book also gives you information on accountants who are familiar with travel nurses and what is tax exempt and what is not. I highly encourage you to pick up a copy of this book. Hope it's helpful~!

Sincerely,

Jeri :balloons:

Hello all, thanks in advance for any help!

I filled out an application for CCTC a few days ago and the recruiter called me today. She explained some things to me, but I would really like to know if anyone has come up with a list of questions that I should ask, and things that I should have put in my contract.

I am an RN with 1 1/2 years experience in ER, and I have 2 years of LPN LTC experience. I am a little nervous about going to a new place with little orientation and possibly being treated badly by staff nurses, but I am excited about having new experiences and having the ability to see the country. Do you think this is enough experience to travel?

Any help would be appreciated, thanks again in advance :)

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From reading on the travel sites most of the nurses say to avoid HCA for travel positions. They also say to have everything, even floating and time off in writing . Good luck and here wishing you excitment with travel nursing.

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www.hospitalsoup.com has a section chock-full of interview questions.
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hi

Ive been traveling for 5 years and ive been a rn for 8 years!

Ive only done icu some ER registry when I travel. cctc I went with them for 1.5 years, If you plan to live by yourself you have to pay a few hundred a month for housing. they talk about points you accumulate for one year them you can get free housing. but its the points not the year that counts. this is what you want!

1)free housing with utilities payed for (all utilities)

2)medical/dental (if its important to you) or get your own.

3)guarented 36 hour a week pay (sometimes the hospital calls you off and making the hours up is hard to do if the hospital is slow. sick days they do take money out of your pay find out how much.

American mobile Im with but I am switching companies

they dont pay as much as others

im in san fransico area and my friends are getting payed 35/hr with time and half after 8 hours ( basically 40$/hr) good money.!

you can play companies against each other for example I had a friend who said to his recruiter that his friend was getting payed 26/hr and if he didn't get the same he'd have to go with that company so the recruiter gave hime that money. these companiies NEED YOUR BUSINESS!

the experience itself is great it is weird at first being the new kid but you learn to be flexible and you learn a lot about yourself. I never thought I had anything to learn about myself but when you put in situations that are a little uncomfortable you learn how to handle things in the best way.

Hello all, thanks in advance for any help! you'll meet a lot of other travelors if you go to major cities (san diego(crazy fun!) san fransisco, denver, all has many travelors! dont let fear of the unknown rule your life!!! goodluck I traveled after 3 years of nurseing, it all depends on you comfort :) level. every job you go to you have to learn a new system but there basically all the same. you'll do fine good luck

happy travelor

I filled out an application for CCTC a few days ago and the recruiter called me today. She explained some things to me, but I would really like to know if anyone has come up with a list of questions that I should ask, and things that I should have put in my contract.

I am an RN with 1 1/2 years experience in ER, and I have 2 years of LPN LTC experience. I am a little nervous about going to a new place with little orientation and possibly being treated badly by staff nurses, but I am excited about having new experiences and having the ability to see the country. Do you think this is enough experience to travel?

Any help would be appreciated, thanks again in advance :)

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