Travel nursing?

[Zooey72]

I just got accepted into my school's program and I really like the idea of being a travel nurse. If anyone has any experience with that kind of thing I would love to hear from you. There are a few specific questions I do have:

1. I hear they send you to places that are either out in the middle of nowhere, or places people don't want to work because the area is 'dangerous'. Is that true?

2. What kind of money do you make being a travel nurse vs. a traditional nurse?

3. I have a unique situation. My wife and I own our home, and the plan after I graduate would be for me to be a travel nurse. We would sell our home, and buy another one in the area I got sent to. My wife (who is the handiwoman of the 2 of us) would work on the home we occupied while I worked, fix it up, and by the time my contract was up she would hopefully be finished and we would flip the house and move somewhere else. (so much for stereotypes with a male nurse husband and a construction worker wife lol). My question is, can you tell your employer "I don't want the housing, just give me cash?" And beyond the housing, can you turn down other perks and just take cash?

4. I hear that they treat travel nurses like crap because they are basically temps. True?

5. How much experience after graduation will I need to become a travel nurse (I will have a 2 year degree).

6. Does travel nursing look good on a resume? I have heard that it does because it shows you are adaptable.

7. What types of nursing jobs are most desirable to become a travel nurse?

8. Can you expect HUGE OT as a travel nurse? I have no issue with OT, I like it. I just want to know what to expect.

Thanks in advance for the info =)

[RunBabyRN]

1. You choose which assignments to take. However, you may not be familiar with the area, so it can be a crap shoot. Most hospitals have at least a few travelers. You can choose to be close to home or go somewhere different.

2. Travelers make about the same as other nurses, but are contract workers, so no benefits, 401K/403B, and no protection with the unions. They are also often the first to be canceled on a unit, and there is no guarantee of hours.

3. I would suggest getting familiar with the housing market in the area before making such a big purchase. This sounds like a pretty risky plan, but to each their own. Others can probably better speak to housing money and how that works.

4. Kind of true, and different everywhere you go. You get the poop end of the stick, in that you get canceled first, and they may treat you like you're expendable. Some places will treat you better than others. It's hard to form relationships with the staff, because they know you're temporary, so people keep their distance. But like anywhere, you'll meet awesome people, too.

5. You need to know your unit. You need to be floor ready. They won't take new grads without experience. If you want to work in a specialty, you'll need some experience in that specialty first. I do know of one exception, a friend of mine who is a traveler in an outpatient surgery center. She was brought in as a new grad, they trained her, and they want to hire her on (she wants that, too), but it's been complicated because of her role as a traveler. This is all in the same town where we live and went to school.

6. Not sure. I imagine some managers like it, some don't.

7. Specialties are often most in demand, from what I have seen.

8. I wouldn't count on it. Again, I think it depends on the unit. Our unit has very little overtime.

Others may have different perspectives. Good luck!

[BBboy]

Travelers Ive spoken to at my hospital have said that agencies want 2 years of experience, something to keep in mind as you start to plan everything out. I want to be a traveler as well and was kind of bummed to hear that but it makes sense considering you won't get that much orientation before you're on your own in the units

[RainMom]

You need to check out the Traveling forum. One of the biggest monetary benefits of traveling seems to be keeping your home residence in order to receive the housing stipend tax-free. I think you would lose that option with the plan you have (you have to live far enough away from your residence to qualify, i.e. have to "travel" to work).

Perhaps Ned is around to chime in.