Travel nursing

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Dec 18, 2005

Hi,
I am living in Texas and plan on moving to Northern California next March. I'd like to be a travel nurse so that my travel expenses and housing will be paid for; meanwhile, I can also sample hospitals before I choose a permanent one.
Does anyone have experience using travel nurse agencies? Any recommendations on specific agencies, general advice, warnings? Do the hospitals offer orientation periods? Is travel nursing as good as it appears to be?
I would greatlly appreciate your input!
Rachel:nurse:

Check the travel nurse forum on this site and I think you will find many answers to your questions. There is a wealth of information there, as these questions have been well covered.

As far as orientation, I have had as little as 4 hours and as much as 1 week orientation as a traveler. It all depends on the hospital. You do have to be prepared to be up and running very quickly and work independently. They don't have time to teach you how to be a nurse, just how they do things at their facility.

I think traveling is worth it. Just like every other job, there are benefits and drawbacks. It works for me now, but may not always, nothing ventured, nothing gained!

suzanne4, RN · Dec 19, 2005

I am going to take the liberty and move this to the Travel Forum.

As stated above, you have to expect to hit the floor running and being able to function without any real orientation to speak of. You may get a few hours only to find out where things are and the paperwork. But do not expect the type of orientation that you would get as a new employee. This is why most of u keep saying that you should have at least two years of work experience as an RN before beginning to travel. The agencies say one year, but you really should have two for most faciliites and they do require that, at least the better places.

texastraveler · Dec 21, 2005

Yes, travel nursing is as good as it appears if you use the right company. My first travel company treated me horrible, but it was a lesson I learned. Now I love travel nursing and with the right company you will also. The company you pick should provide you with private housing, at least $38 to $45/hr and travel reimbusement. Some even provide rental car reimbursement. I have alot of friends travel nursing in CA. There are alot of jobs there and the pay rate is very good. I don't know if I can say the names of good and bad companies on here but I'll be happy to e-mail them to you.

some hospitals will give you a week or two of orientation and some will only give you 3 or 4 days. Your first assignment will be the hardest, after that, they get easier and easier. It is the best way to see the country and have everything paid for. I've made alot of friends all over the place. I hope you enjoy travel nursing!!

e-mail address posting not permitted

nightingale, RN · Dec 21, 2005

We do allow the occasion good and bad info about facility specifics but lets not be so negative that it opens us up for liabilous situations. No name specifics please.

Please utilize our PM mechanism if you want to share individually.

TravelRNMike · Dec 21, 2005

During my first contract, I was given 5 patients the first morning I stepped onto the unit. I didn't even know where the Pyxis was, how the rooms were layed out - awful! My second contract hospital gave me two 8 hour general orientation days AND two full 12 hour shifts on the unit. I just renewed my contract with that second hospital!

That said, I'm not seeing NEARLY the kind of money that texastraveller is talking about - maybe his/her specialty is a big factor in that kind of reimbursement package?