I've heard different views of travel nursing I'm looking to hear from travel nurses

NedRN · Jul 20, 2012

You need the confidence to deal with anything that can be thrown at you. Do you feel confident in your skills now? Can you handle 50% more patients than you have now? Have you tried doing registry to confirm that your skills translate to another hospital? The last is highly recommended before you try a travel assignment as the work flow at different hospitals and different units vary far more than you could imagine having only worked at one hospital.

Yes, some managers may dump on travelers. They may also float more than staff. But it is impossible to generalize. Travelers are often among the highest skilled nurses on a unit, and if so, they will be assigned the hardest patients. If not, then perhaps not. I have actually worked assignments where I was not given any hard patients, those were reserved for staff training! There is no hard and fast rule. But you are expected to be highly competent and need minimal orientation.

Most travelers bring their own cars. Regardless of the benefits you arrange with your agency on specific assignments (like a rental car or upgraded housing), you do need to be aware that there is a fixed bill rate the agency charges the hospital, and every thing you get is limited to this amount. So if you require a rental car, this will reduce your hourly or other benefit. Nothing is "free", not even the "free" housing.

Goobstress · Jul 20, 2012

I have been traveling for 8 years and you basically need to have at least 2 years of experience prior to traveling. You must be able to adapt quickly and not let anything bother you but never let anyone walk all over you. With that said, travel while you are young and definitely before you get married.

redhed6288 · Jul 20, 2012

Thanks for the comments...where do I do registry to confirm my skills can translate to another hospital?

NedRN · Jul 21, 2012

You can either sign up with another hospital for per diem shifts, or with a local agency. You would have to look up your local agency yourself, I don't even know where you are.

redhed6288 · Jul 21, 2012

Oh okay so work as an agency nurse in the area, I'll look into it. I'm located near MD/DC.

NedRN · Jul 21, 2012

Lots of agencies around there! My first job was in Baltimore, and I tried an agency before I went traveling. Don't remember the name.

shushu · Jul 21, 2012

Hi, I have been traveling since 2001, and have been an ER nurse for over 20 years. I am here to tell you, that you can't get a contract that is as good as they were 11 years ago! That's a fact!

Travel nurse payrates and benefits have been steadily cut since 2005. Dont mean to be the bearer of bad news......but that's the way it is. Most travelers are newbies.....cause the experienced travelers know how much they used to make, and how little they would make now!

For example, here is what the standard contract was 11 years ago. The agency flew you out, paying for your roundtrip airfare, let you pick up a rental car at the airport which they paid for, and had very nice, furnished, two bedbroom two bath, shared apartment housing....in a nice part of town. Your cable tv was turned on also! And the payrate was $35/hour with overtime after 40 hours. The standard contract was for 48 hours also, four 12's. There is not a company in America that will give you that contract! Blended payrates, low pay, very little in travel expense reimbursements, et......are the norm today.

Just got quoted a "high paying rate" (as it was advertised)....for a large downtown Sacramento hospital.....Sutter General. It was for $28/hr, some sort of housing (apartment not guaranteed), and you had to drive out without being reimbursed for expenses! It is pitiful what the agencies are doing now to travelers. I have found some agencies who give up to $500 for the roundtrip to CA. But that doesnt even cover the gas and hotels for the one way trip! Check out the gas rates on the interstates, and the hotel rates! Maybe the pendulum will swing back one day.

But, dont take my word for it.............just ask around. Good Luck

NedRN · Jul 22, 2012

Sorry, I have to disagree with that assessment. I've been traveling since 1995, and contracting directly with hospitals (or through a vendor manager) since 2004. Rates have increased every year. I will agree that there was a general downturn in bill rates when you look at the bell curve starting in 2008 (no surprise there) and lasting up to this year. But on the high end, rates increased even during this period.

48 hour contracts are almost always rapid response jobs (not the standard contract) and do pay more. Fastaff was the leader in rapid response back when you started and still are. They pay $40 an hour plus housing and airfare. So that is now better, right? I wouldn't send a first time traveler on most of those assignments though. Perhaps the ones for computer training coverage.

ukjenn231 · Jul 23, 2012

I had 1.5 years of experience when I started traveling last year. At one facility, I felt like they treated me well. At another facility, I was blind sighted by being expected to "cover" LPN work - meaning I had 5 of my own patients and I was expected to cosign all of the LPN's work for the rest of the unit! I spoke up to the charge RN/DON/and my travel agency and expressed that I did not feel comfortable with this and it was never discussed in my contract. So from there on out, I was not expected to do so. (Thanks to the DON, not my agency.) Sometimes I feel like I get a bad assignment, but that happens as staff, too. I just suck it up, do my best, ask for help when I need to. I have learned a lot, got tougher skin, and feel like I have succeeded.

OldnurseRN · Jul 26, 2012

I have been traveling for a couple years. I don't necessarily get dumped on or get the worst patients. I have guaranteed hours and a "no float" contract. I work med-surg so ALL the nurses have way too many patients. My usual is 7. I refuse to take 8 and my agency backs me on this. I have, at times, complained about that 7th patient and while not refusing it, I've protested in writing and have not been required to take it. Hospitals no longer seem to assign patients by acuity but by room location. I'd personally rather walk the entire unit to have a better group of patients but I find the regular staff want things the way they have always done it. At any time I am prepared to tell them I came to help not lose my license and am prepared to walk.

I make a decent wage ($30-$32/hr) and I am provided with a furnished apartment, including cable, internet and washer and dryer. I see no bills for these.

goldengirl88 · Nov 20, 2012

im new to travel nursing and just signed a contract with flexcare at Doctors in modesto, ca.

what did you do regarding car insurance? my parents say since i'll be in cali it might jump to $3000/yr. is there a great car insurance? currently im with geico

goldengirl88 · Nov 20, 2012

hi there! what car insurance did you use? my parents tell me mine might jump to 3000/yr since im moving from east coast to west - california. also is it better to ship or drive my car? i will be going in winter and i will max out the $500 roundtrip travel reimbursement, help! i feel i may just ship it ... what is the best one?