Starting up traveling again!

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I Traveled for about a year back in 2012-2013, then left to take a staff position in Raleigh, NC. It's just not cutting it for me. Not enough money, and we put up with too much to not even clear $60,000 a year. I'm looking to travel within the state, preferably within 2 hours drive of Raleigh. Hoping to go do my 3 days in a row, and return home. Also staying per diem at my current job.

My recruiter says Cape Fear in Fayetteville is really needing ICU nurses right now, and they are paying a lot for them. It's hard to ignore $1400/week (after taxes), but really worries me as well. Has anyone been to Cape Fear recently? Why are they needing so many nurses right now? I'm also looking into Greensboro, possibly Winston Salem. I'd love any insight into any of these areas and maybe what's changed in travel nursing in the last 2 years.

Thanks!

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They have used lots of travel nurses for at least the last 15 years that I know of so this is ongoing. It has been a while since I have read comments about it, but they have been mostly negative in the past. So I'm guessing there is a management issue. A quick Google reveals that HCA purchased it back in 1996 so that may have been the start of poor management. HCA only lasted two years and they are back to non-profit, but just like human behavior, corporate culture tends to persist. It is good to go with head up and not blinded by money (although the money doesn't sound so special). One telling question you can always ask a manager during an interview is why do you need travelers, and how is staff morale. But the need there has been consistent, perhaps with a drop during the financial downturn along with the rest of the country.

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Thanks Ned. My current paycheck is $1300 as staff, so doubling it sounds pretty special to me. Im limited in what I can do because I have a house, 2 horses and a dog, so need to be in a certain radius to get back to them. I didn't realize its been a consistent need. One thing I know is that Fayetteville itself has a lot of gang activity. We are constantly getting their GSW victims turfed to our hospital. Maybe the patient population makes people not want to stick around very long.

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I'm not surprised. There is often a correlation between high crime areas (which is persistent) and difficulty in staffing/morale. Nurses (like everyone else) prefer better areas to live in, and can afford it. Travel pay has perhaps a higher free market component than staff, so troubled hospitals have to pay more. Unlike staff, it is even easier for travelers to vote with their feet.

I'm guessing you are quoting two week staff pay versus one week travel pay? Otherwise your numbers don't make sense.

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I refuse to work at Cape Fear. They always list it as a hot job. I shake my head and lol. It's a hot job because it's a hot mess! Although everyone is different. I know a nurse that liked Cape Fear and did two stints in Fayettnam! Greensboro and Winston are good! Both on Epic.

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Yes that was 1 week travel pay vs 2 week staff pay check. I've heard mixed things about cape fear. Unfortunately I'm really needing money right now, so as long as it's not in danger of losing your license bad, I may go for it. I do pacu and icu, but I think they are only needing icu right now.

Greensboro is closer, but still qualifies as travel, so I'm hoping they will pay well.

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Working at a troubled hospital does not incur jeopardy to your license, only you do. Impossible workload? All you can do use your nursing experience and judgment to prioritize care. If you do that, your license is safe in most states.

One other point here, I don't know the travel time from the assignments you are considering to your home, but if you don't need overnight stays at the assignment, you are not eligible for special tax treatment. Even just doing two night hotel stays for a 3 day schedule is pushing full eligibility.

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Gboro is a good commute if you work 12's. I would be mad if the IRS gave me trouble over that. Talk to a tax professional though. That tax stuff can get messy! If you have you should be good. I heard it's hard psychologically. But the nurses I know are some bad ass nurses. They hated it but it made them stronger nurses.

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It's 100 miles from my house, so I think that necessitates overnight stay and should count. We'll see. I'd like to get into Greensboro, Ive heard good things about Moses Cone.

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Good choice! Fingers crossed!

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Other option is to do local contracts. Duke PACU is looking for travelers, might see if they'll do local contract as well. I just know this $24/hr isnt cutting it anymore.

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Have you looked into New Hanover Regional ?

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