traveler's conference-live scan for california

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Jul 29, 2015

Very efficient use of your time I'd say ðŸ˜‰ ... I did my livescan on a whim while on vacation in LA, worth the effort!

Sent from my iPad using allnurses

NedRN · Jul 29, 2015

Great idea! I stopped by the BRN yesterday on my way out of California to ask them about current processes (average endorsement time is 12 weeks). Very interesting and too much stuff for this post (I'll get the board info updated on PanTravelers soon). But one thing I learned is not only is there a BRN holdup on fingerprint cards, the California DOJ who processes them takes anywhere from a week to four weeks extra over the almost instant LiveScan. Plus some likely delay on the way back to the BRN. Make sure you save the LiveScan receipt. Scanning it and sending to the BRN will speed things up.

classicaldreams · Jul 29, 2015

Ned,

Thanks for the info. I plan to take everything with me so I can overnight it in Vegas after the LiveScan is completed. Will be sure to send receipt.

Looks like the Bartow Sheriff's Dept. does LiveScan. Will confirm here after I call them tomorrow. Only drawback I see is I must still send a check. I'm sure it must clear before processing. Too bad they don't accept credit card numbers.

Classicaldreams

ERpinup · Aug 2, 2015

Classicaldreams,

I went to the conference last year and it was GREAT!!! I unfortuantely can't make it this year but would be there without a doubt if I could. Plus it's Vegas! :-) As far as the Live scan for California, I highly recommend it! I just completed a contract in Arizona, my first one, and I went out and had mine done. Already got my license! I got it back in May, only three months total time. When I got back to my home state I just received the finger print cards from them and I requested them in February!! My recruiter is even still surprised that it only took three months as she has other people that have been waiting 6 months and still don't have it.

Bets of Luck and enjoy the conference!!! It is a lot if really good information!!

classicaldreams · Aug 7, 2015

Hello,

Sorry for the late reply. I was locked out of my account for a week.

Just a quick update. Looks like Needles, CA, is the closest livescan station from Vegas. Here are my notes;

Needles Sheriff

Colorado River Station

Needles CA 92336

909-326-9200

Per telephone conversation, bring $64.00 in cash.

Cash only.

Recommends making appt., even as late as day before.

However, I have decided to fly to Sacramento for 48 hours before attending the conference. Will apply in person. Anyone's experience or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

My husband and I are making this a business/vaca trip. We will be celebrating 30 years together during the trip! (No, we won't be in the air on our anniversary, so no media reports of a travel nurse cited for inappropriate behavior while flying. At 30 years, I'm sure a bystander's view of us on our anniversary would be considered inappropriate or maybe just plain awkard!)

I've also applied with the traveling VA Corp, although I don't expect to travel with them anytime this year. From what I have read, the process can take a long time.

Just deciding now on what other state licenses I should obtain. I understand that CA license verification is a slow process, so I want to get my other licenses in now. I'm thinking about AZ, WA, and MA. I'm licensed in PA and my license in NJ is pending. FYI, spoke to NJ today, endorsement is taking two to three months.

Thank you for the encouragement. See you in Vegas next month! I'm excited to start this new journey!

Classicaldreams

NedRN · Aug 7, 2015

MA requires all prior held licenses to be verified. So I would recommend doing MA prior to CA to avoid a huge delay in getting a MA license unless you are years away from working there. For what it is worth, both CA and MA are easy to reinstate instantly if you let them lapse so there is little reason to keep them current (unless you are working there at the time of expiration or intend to do so in the next year). NJ on the other hand will charge you for every missed year when you renew plus a penalty. While I might like to work in NJ, I have avoided getting a license there for that reason alone. NJ does pay well though, in part because it takes so much time to endorse there.

As another FYI, California requires 15 CEUs per year or 30 per renewal (or reinstatement). That can be a bit of a scramble if you wait until the last minute. I've been using Medscape in recent years (free), and they keep a record of your CEUs. Handy when renewing a license or specialty certification - just add any outside CEUs such as ACLS renewal (I scan certificates and save them a folder on my laptop).

classicaldreams · Aug 7, 2015

Hi NedRN,

Yes, I've read about CA verification, so that is why I'm applying now to AZ, MA, and WA, to avoid that whole waiting on CA mess.

NJ has three different checklists to complete for license endorsement, all three being different. I had to consolidation them all before submitting. Received a notice from them yesterday that I had left out two items. Called them today and, of course, they have them and was told to ignore the notice. This is New Jersey after all.

Thanks for the info about Medscape CEUs.

Classicaldreams

NedRN · Aug 12, 2015

I'm happy to say I've registered for the Vegas Traveler's Conference. Very much looking forward to it!
I also thought about renting a car and driving to Barstow California for my live scan while in Vegas. Anyone ever done that?
Would be great if there was a mobile service set up at the conference, but perhaps they can't cross state lines.
Classicaldreams

This post of yours got something going. It turns out it is possible for a California Live Scan provider to go out of state on trips rubber stamped by the DOJ (California Department of Justice who actually processes your fingerprints, runs a background check, and sends the results to the nursing board). The conference organizers are looking further into this possibility and we should know next week. From the numbers I heard, it sound very good financially. Not quite as cheap as having it done at an in-state site, but not that much more - probably less than double the common in-state rolling fee of $25.

That would save a lot of money over even driving to the state line from the conference, not to mention a round trip airfare to California from home.

classicaldreams · Aug 12, 2015

NedRN,

That sounds very interesting! Thought about contacting some of those livescan mobile facilities, but instead decided to just fly to Sacramento and do it all in person. I want to start traveling asap.

I'm busy doing my homework and plan to have several state licenses in hand before starting. Just feel like it gives me more control and options in negotiating. Received my NJ license today and it only took two weeks. So now I'm just trying to decide what other states to apply for endorsement. Already applied to WA. A MA license costs $275, so I'm a bit hesitant to shell out that kind of money without a contract in hand. I'm staying away from TX for now. (I don't live in a compact state.)

I operated as an IC, LLC years ago, prior to my nursing experience, and it really nags me the way these agencies do business. Honestly, there has to be a better way, I just haven't really figured it out yet. Do you know if the conference addresses travel nursing as an IC? While I'll go with agencies for now, I just know the whole business model will eat at me.

Classicaldreams

NedRN · Aug 12, 2015

There was at least one workshop on independent contracting with Jack Swinney (I don't remember what agency he owned then or now) at the very first conference. But really, that is a rather fringe thing of really only academic interest to most. For me, I started getting my own housing almost immediately when I started traveling so becoming independent wasn't much more work - getting suitable housing is by far the most hassle in running your own agency. Effectively, if you want to cut out an agency, you need to form your own agency to compete on a level playing field. You can also cheap out and find (fairly rare) agencies that will pay you via a 1099 so at least you can take advantage of LLC benefits, but that still leaves the agency with their margin fairly intact so is of limited benefit (pretty much what Jack was discussing). If you Google my screen name and independent nurse, the first hit will take you where you can find a free roadmap of how to form an agency and start doing direct contracts. A bit dated, but the fundamentals are still sound.

Also, wow! I didn't know a MA license cost that much initially. Now that they are compact, skipping their license will give you some money towards moving to a compact state. Not that that is really practical. Personally, I have found MA one of the best paying states, on par with California. In fact, Boston and San Francisco compete for the title of highest paid staff nurse in the country - both are now over $70 an hour (union contracts so years of experience and shift matter). I don't keep up the license, but I can renew it with a five minute visit to the BON office (paying a parking meter the minimum).

classicaldreams · Aug 12, 2015

NedRN,

Thank you again for the information. Will google you as suggested!

I know it is possible, so planning while learning the travel nursing ropes will hopefully help me land in a better financial place.

Yes, going 1099 seems to give me the headaches without the benefits, except for the marketing aspect of it, which perhaps could be more difficult than I imagine.

Professional Credentialing Services in Nashville TN processes the endorsement license for MA. I'm a ICU nurse, so thought MA's recent 1:2 ratio mandate would have benefits. Summer on Nantucket would be great and flying to Boston is cheap from the NE corridor. Boston is a great city, but no thanks in the winter. NE cities in the winter are not fun, they just don't know what to do with the snow.

Again, thanks for you insights.

Classicaldreams