Travel Nursing-Need Input

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I have been on this site for the last 5 years, and this is the first time I am making a post. I need to hear from you all who have exerience and knowledge in travel nursing. My husband and I are wanting to take this up, I just don't know where to start. Thank you in advance for you valued knowledge and experience. I look forward to hearing from everyone.

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I figured this out myself recently by picking 2 travel companies and comparing their benefits. Some travel companies have more assignments than others and so many travelers sign on for more than one. But you have to start somewhere. So pick a place that you want to see, find a travel company that has positions at a hospital there, complete all the laborious paperwork and other stuff. It takes time to get liscensure, medical physical etc but then you'll be on your way. The travel company will walk you through it. There is also a healthcare travel magazine online and many travelers to talk to probably in your own hospital.

Have fun

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zipporah, I've been talking with a lot of agencies and travel nurses at work, they have given me some names of specific agencies to check in to. Thanks for taking the time to respond. I appreciate it greatly. This whole thing is kind of un-nerving. There is so much to learn, and then do. Thanks again... Maybe we will talk again...

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Specializes in OB.

Long term traveler here - 11 yrs. now. I'd be glad to try to answer any specific questions you may have.

It's hard to say what company is best for another person, as they vary widely in both what is offered and where. For some people, like me, having a large number of choices of contracts all over the country is essential, so a bigger company like the one I'm with is a good choice. I also like having the large organization with lots of backup when needed. Other people may be looking for a more personal experience with company that does more "hand holding". For them, a smaller company may work better even if it has contracts only in limited areas. For others, making the highest rate is the most important, so they may want to go with a company that will forgo all the niceties and benefits in order to make the highest hourly rate. No one company will have it all. Sit down and make an honest list of what you hope to get from traveling, and what things you absolutely require (non-negotiables). Then you can start matching those up with the offerings from different companies.

Again, feel free to post any specific questions I may be able to answer.

Good luck.

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I have read the postings here. Thank you, BagladyRN. I will take your suggestions regarding devising my own list of non-negotiables.

Calling BagladyRN and all other experienced travelers:

I was burned royally by Supplemental Healthcare. My contract was cancelled at the hospital where I was working last week WRONGLY based on a false report by a physician that I hung the wrong maintenence IVF. I knew very well I hung the correct one. A new staff nurse to their floor was in some trouble for not hanging calcium gluconate on a patient with a critical Ca+ level on day shift. I had to fix this. Even so, a very rude obnoxious physician came to the floor and verbally abused me, blaming me for the day nurse's mistake to the point that onlooking staff nurses in the nurses' station wrote him up for his behavior. The next day, I was called by my company telling me the hospital had cancelled my contract. Supplemental lead me to believe they were going to replace me in another hospital. The very next day, the company terminated me stating they were concerned about my skills. I have excellent ratings on paper from this hospital from which I was terminated when I was working per diem. I saved these written evals. I even had patient praises written to the floor I was working on at the time. I had so much respect and support from so many nurses up on the floor.

What really is the reputation of this company out there in the travel nursing community? I aksed one nurse and she stated she was "uncomfortable even sharing her opinion with me she had such a strong one, and that alone sould tell me something." I wish I had known all of this. Now I am researching the following companies on many websites and nursing forums. So far, I have not heard alot of negative about these people. If you have feedback, please let me know.

Until I hear from you---God bless my fellow nurses out on the road.

Love,

The Roadster

RNNetwork

AdvantageRN

IPI (Innovative Placements)

Bridgestaffing

Faststaffing

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Specializes in OB.

I haven't worked for Supplemental or any of the others you listed, so I have no direct experience to relate on them. What I would suggest, in addition to leaving the post up here for others to answer, try checking on delphiforums Travel Nurses and Therapists board. Being oriented only to the traveler, it has a lot more feedback on various companies and positions. It also has the function to search out any posts on a particular topic such as "Supplemental".

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Dear Baglady RN,

Thank you very much for your advice. I knew there was something I was missing.

Sincerely,

The Roadster

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