Travel nursing information

NedRN · Jul 26, 2013

Start by reading some of the posts in this forum. Then perhaps you can ask more focused questions rather than asking a book length open-ended question. There are many threads about traveling with kids for example. You can also Google the question for some traveler blogs and books on travel nursing.

nikkidrn · Jul 26, 2013

I can't understand all of the negative that goes on in these forums. It seems as though someone finds a problem with just about every question asked...just looking for some help, from people who have experience, not really in here to get trashed

miam · Jul 26, 2013

i dont think anyone was trashing you. However a question such as " best agency" or general " how is it" questions simply cannot be answered by any of us that travel. There is no way there is a best agency. Some are good, some are really bad, but the end all be all is your connection with a recruiter and finding out what they are willing to do for you. That is a individual thing that no one can help you with. its just a matter of you calling several agencies (6-10) and ask questions. Spend time ( im talking days or weeks) reading and researching travel nurse forums. I dont think its that people dont want to help but unfortunately it really is a live and learn process. Just know that right now as a new traveler you would probably get the low end of the barrel assignments and have to work your way up.

nikkidrn · Jul 26, 2013

This is helpful. I wasn't even aware that recruiters are involved. As I said, 100% clueless as to what is out there. My hope was to use this as a way to work in Connecticut for summers and spend the rest of my time in Texas, from reading many of the posts in this forum I'm still unsure if this is even a possibility as far as travel nursing goes. I guess I need to speak with a recruiter and hope they are with a decent agency.

dance4life · Aug 4, 2013

The Gypsy Travel Nurse is a great website too.

nursetaminator · Aug 5, 2013

Travel nursing is a whole other world and there's TONS you'll learn. Let me start by saying I don't travel yet, but that is my goal and what I'm working towards now. Getting my experience in so I can hit the road! So I'll try to answer some of your questions and hopefully the seasoned travelers can chime in and add or correct as needed.

Don't see any reason why you couldn't make your plan work. It will take a while to build up your travel resume until you're at the point where you can pick and choose when/where you want to go, based on availability of jobs in the area. You might not be able to find work in a certain city in CT but maybe an hour or two away from your folks, which would be closer than Texas! Call me naive but again I don't see why you can't make it work for you and your family.

The pay can vary greatly and depends on a lot of different factors. It seems that some areas of the country pay much better than others. Southern US states = less pay; not a rule but seems to be the trend.

Some people let the agency secure & pay housing for them, some folks opt to get reimbursed for housing therefore they find their own digs. If you're traveling with kiddos it might be a better option to find housing on your own.

When I started digging in depth last year I called a couple of agencies at random to ask questions. They were all very nice but some more willing to talk than others. Have your questions prepared ahead of time and know specifically what you want to ask.

In the past few weeks I've work with 3 travelers (all about 5 years traveling experience) and they have about the same things to say: they work with specific recruiters they like (from a few different companies), they decide what area of the country they want to go to next and they've had no trouble finding work. One has worked mainly in the southern states, one pretty much works only in Texas, and the 3rd has been all over the country.

There are a few helpful books you can download or buy - search Amazon. I bought Highway Hypodermics and found it a good starting point. Check out pantravelers.org. Spend a few hours reading previous posts here. Subscribe to posts that have info you want to keep updated on.

Really spend some time doing a lot of in depth research then come back and ask more specific questions. Just be prepared that when you get one question "answered" it leads into 20 more questions. Happy reading!!! ;-)

miam · Aug 5, 2013

just a couple things that you may be confused about. Number one, if i choose to not take company housing i do not get reimbursed for the housing i find on my own. I can take the housing stipend that is provided and be responsible for my own housing. Hopefuly the housing that i find is less in amount then the stipend, if that is the case i come out ahead. If on the other hand the housing that i find is 500 dollars a month more then my stipend i wind up paying that out of pocket and the company in no way "reimburses " me for the extra expense.

Also, you have mentioned you live in texas which means you have a compact nursing license, but i assume you know that connecticut is not a compact srate? So you will need to be be responsible for aquiring that license if that is where you are looking to work. And though someone stated that they though you would have no trouble getting an assignment there, just know ahead of time that as a new traveler you very well may have a hard time getting your first coupke assignments anywhere, untill hospitals see that you habpve the experience they are looking for. It is def not realky easy when you first start, but it does get better.

NedRN · Aug 5, 2013

Technically, your housing stipend is a reimbursement (IRS language) - which is why it is non-taxable.

Some travelers locate housing and the agency takes over, paying directly. This is not uncommon and makes those travelers very happy that they don't have to deal with leases and utility deposits. No chance of keeping any unspent stipend of course.

There is at least one agency, HRN, that has a housing budget. They will pay directly for your housing, and pay any balance as a non-taxable stipend. Kind of a hybrid, and while I've never figured out how that could be legal, they've been doing it for many years.

Lots of variations on a theme!