Travel Nursing

[BlackMurse1]

I currently work on an Acute Medicine Floor with great staff, a great nurse manager and heavy patient assignment. I am very much content with what I do and where I work at. I am now engaged to be married and will soon be taking care of my ailing father, I basically need more money for his care and the wedding planned for next year. I pick OT when available but, we are hiring new staff which means the hours will be knocked down within one month. Currently I know 3 friends who are nurses who work as travelers within a 1 and 20 min drive, they make 35% more per week then I do and I am seriously considering leaving my unit to do local traveling. I would be able to stay with friends in the area in order to cut down costs. They work 36 to 40 hours a week and have consistent assignments.

Is there anyone out there who works at a traveler and can answer these 4 questions for me?

1. Have you ever been cancelled from an assignment?
   
2. Is true that the amount of money made is through the stipends?
   
3. Do you work full time or is it 24 hour a week shifts?
   
4. Do you consistently get assignments?
   

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

How would your Fiance feel about this? What if dad needs you right way and you are too far? I would seriously thank about this.

[monkeybug]

It's been a few years since I've traveled, but I will tell you about my experiences. You can get cancelled. You can choose to take assignments with guaranteed hours. I did have one assignment that ended early because the hospital did away with all travelers at the same time. In that case, the guarantee was fulfilled by my agency offering me another assignment. If the unit has low census, and you have guaranteed hours, the unit will cancel staff. Some of the time I would volunteer to be canceled (cleared this with my recruiter). I would take the cut in pay if I was exhausted and it helped maintain good will on the unit.

Most agencies will negotiate a lot with you. They start out with a pile of money that is designated for Traveler A. How much is take home pay, how much is rent, how much is travel, is all dependent on the final contract.

All of my assignments except for one were 48 hours per week. One was 36. I don't know what the norm is now.

I got as many assignments as I wanted, and rarely had to wait long to get one, but I was willing to go across the country. I still get monthly calls from several agencies telling me about opportunities.

[SquishyRN, BSN, RN]

How would your Fiance feel about this? What if dad needs you right way and you are too far? I would seriously thank about this.

The OP mentioned only being a local traveler.

[godfatherfreak]

So your friends do travel nursing around NY state only? Im also considering doing travel nursing in the US