Traveling in California

LIG4me · Feb 17, 2016

We are planning to leave in April for Northern Cali. Can anyone recommend reputable traveling agency and/or recruiter? And yes, this is our first time traveling, we would like to talk to as many company as we can as most of the travelers recommended. If anyone have some pointer for us what to ask for or watch-out when talking to these agencies, we would love to hear about your experience.

traveler782 · Feb 20, 2016

Watch out for promises that sound too good to be true. All travel companies get the same amount from the hospital issued contract need. Then they take their cut before paying you. Most will either provide insurance or pay you money plus a certain amount towards insurance premium from a provider you can find. The pay packages can be structured many different ways depending on if you are bringing your own insurance, this goes for housing also. You can take the max stipend or use their provided houses (meaning a big piece of your pay goes to their housing division normally and can reduce your check a lot but less hassle).

Look out for new recruiters. They can be good but most of time are just like hungry cars salesmen. They'll promise you everything and have you working in miserable place. Example I had a guy send me a new contract for ICU with good pay. I Internet searched the place and it was a LTAC. He didn't understand the difference and was pushy I sign a contract..technically it was a icu of sorts but not one I wanted. Also generally speaking travel companies will not have your back very strongly if a issues happens. So you have to be proactive with your contract. I have only had one issue. I wanted block scheduling and requested it in my contract. They agreed and refuse to honor it. Now my company kind of just says well it's professional courtesy and didn't do much. I went around them and spoke with the icu director...issue resolved. Be respectful, polite, calm but stand up for yourself.

Don't pin all your hopes on one place or position..keep ypur options open. Usev3 different agencies. Also had a agency tell once I start looking with them I shouldn't be looking through other companies. Cut that deal off quick. I have a few assignments under me now so I tend to deal hunt depending on where I want to visit. My current agency normally matches or beats other deals.

Maintain emergency fund of couple thousand.

If a recruiter is too pushy that is a red flag.

Smaller agencies pay more normally (100-250 more per check) but also come with far less support and variety of selections of travel assignments.

Hospitals will both love and hate you depending on their internal workings. I am ICU float primarily but they have tried to send me to peds, ER and neuro floors. I have went tobER as resources but other times refused because Peds or neuro floors are outside of the agreed upon contract. You have to pick your battles.its your license after all.

Lastly, you can negotiate. Recruiters will low ball you all they can. After all they can to keep more if they do. Always negotiate. I have picked up bonuses and extra by just negotiating.

Keep up your papwork, don't get involved in staff drama...get out explore cause your traveling to experience life. Every where I have gone I have been asked to renew. At the bottom of everything managers just want a quiet, friendly, competent and helpful employees. If a fellow staff worker has a GI bleed go help if you can. Remember you might have been charge this or that, big time knowledge base at your home hospital but now your in someone else's hospital. Sovdwallow pride and just be a frienflyfrienfly/assest.

Some companies:

Crosscountry, flexcare or travel nurse across America (I am with travel nurse currently) They are countless smaller one also. Dont believe their online availability listing. Always call cause they don't update those online listing frequently. Get a seasoned recruiter for your first assignment. Also your new traveler so it's important to get at least the first assignment under you then you become way more marketable.

guest769224 · Feb 20, 2016

traveler782, thank you, that was immensely helpful.

LIG4me · Feb 21, 2016

Thank you Traveler782 for sharing your travel experience. :yes: We really appreciated.

traveler782 · Feb 21, 2016

No problems sorry for all the typos. I had just gotten home from work and did it from my phone. If I can help answer questions let me know. I am currently in Oregon on assignment. If you want to go to California start the application process NOW! It takes 3 months in the best of situations to get a license there. Close but easy and fast states to get license by endorsement are Washington or Oregon. Both of them have strong nursing unions and the nursing environment typically is far better than any where in south east.

I don't do the RV thing but I have looked into it extensively. It has its pros and cons like anything. If you have pets and are couple and plan on traveling for at least two years (time depends on your RV outlay expense...more expensive RV = more debt and cost naturally hence you would need to travel longer to make it truly cost effective). I have been very lucky or good at finding my own places via air BnB and VRBO sites. I normally initiate contact with owners of a tiny house, studio apartment or such and guarantee them cash rent 3 months in advance. I don't smoke or have pets though so it makes it a lot easier. All I need is safe, nice, clean place and good internet connection. I mostly use my places to sleep, rest, eat and as spring board of operations for adventures on my days off. My first assignment I was so lonely and the hospital in florida was terrible. High patient work load, 3 ICU patients every assignment, staff didn't warm up to help me til need end of contract and I coded 1 of my patients every week. I did a lot self examination and said I would give it one more go...hey I could also go back to my home and get job back. I committed myself to growing as person..drove across country by myself..saw so many states, stayed at nice hotels every other night. I took myself out to eat at really nice restaurants. Something happened...I grew up and became comfortable with myself. I had an assignment in washington close to Canada. Spent a lot time in Vancouver, hiked Mt Baker, went to seattle and meet up with a old friend who lives there. Started meeting other travelers for occasional get together. It is what you make it. It can be a exceedingly rich experience or a terrible one. That being said as a traveler you are going to get crapped on by charge nurses, floating out to other departments and you will get all the crappy patient assignments..GI bleed, pysch issues, family drama, changing your assignments every night and you will be looked upon as you are a idiot at times until they know you.

What you have to keep in mind is while staff is glad you are there, you also are kind of threat or they can be jealous of you. You don't have much recourse in those situations. The best defense is a good offense. I mean kill them with kindness and be proactive. Some are just miserable staff..but hey haven't we all been that? I feel there pain and they are my fellow nurses. Plus you get to walk away Scott free in 13 weeks if you hate it!

Night shift assignments are typically easier to find contracts.

PM if you ever have questions. Go to Pantravelers site, read the forums here, ask questions, mentally prepare yourself, load scanned copies to a cloud drive of your licenses, Certs and such (you will thank me later).

Go enjoy life! Live like a recently terminally ill patient but financially responsible.

muirite · Feb 21, 2016

We probaly will end up with a MotorHome and getting a smaller car for towing in future.

I have a MH with a toad. If you do go that route pick a car (toad) that can be towed 4 down (don't belive dealership they lie) a car dolly is a pain and adds a ton of weight.

Emfoster · Feb 29, 2016

I'm in the bay area now until the end of may. My recruiter -------------- with ----------------------- been great so far. I bring home 1850 a week without any overtime. That includes 2300 a month for housing and 400 a week for meals and incidentals. My husband and I are traveling in a 5th wheel. It's been a great experience so far. The cheapest rv park I've found is 600 and the most expensive around 850 plus utilities. I love the place we are staying it's 600 a month and it's beautiful. A little more of a drive but it's worth it to me. I've also kept a job in my home state to maintain a tax home. Per the lady from travel tax I have to make 10 percent of my income in my home state to maintain a tax home. Good luck with your travels. Hope you enjoy northern cali as much as we do!

traveltax · Feb 29, 2016

Emfoster

The lady from Travel Tax is my wife :)

I doubt she said 10% but more like 10K or more. The goal is make your home your main place of work measured by $ on an annual basis. That is an alternative to maintaining a home (duplicated expenses)

Emfoster · Feb 29, 2016

Super informative and nice lady your wife is :) and thanks for the information. I was worried that since we only rented and our lease was ending that we wouldn't qualify for the tax home but she assured me that since I have a job still in my home state that that counts!

HikingNinja, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Feb 29, 2016

I'm currently in NCAL. My net is > $2000 week on a 36 hr a week contract. I'm just north of San Fran. I also travel in an RV. The RV parks in and around San Fran will mostly have a waiting list. There's one in San Jose with a 2 year wait list for monthly rates! Daily and weekly rates can be super pricey. I chose a job north of San Fran, about 1.5 hrs away, pay about $800 month for my RV spot. I can still easily zip down into San Fran and enjoy the city without all the expense. Plus I'm equally close to Napa and the ocean. I'd recommend signing up with at least 3 agencies at once. That way all your references get bothered at once. I'm signed up with about 9 I think right now. A bit overkill as I only work routinely with about 3 but you never know when one will pop up with a really premo assignment. I'd also recommend joining a few Facebook groups for travelers. They tend to be more active than this board.

Adventures in RV Travel Nursing

The Gypsy Nurse

Travel Nursing: The Premium Job Board

Traveling the country one hospital at a time

Good Luck.

NedRN · Feb 29, 2016

If you get written references, they will be bothered much less. The written references will be verified (often just by verifying the referee worked there when it was written) and your professional profile messaging will be consistent. You never know who will answer the phone or what they might say, including your named referee. With a written reference, you know what they will say. Way better control of your career.

Trjl · Mar 1, 2016

I am not an RVer myself, but I am a travel nurse currently working in Northern California. (I am from Florida myself) Pay varies depending on your specialty, location and hospital. But I did want to mention a few things. Middle of the state in Northern California can get quite hot in the summer months, and the coast can stay quite cool all year long. So Spring and summer can be 'season' for certain parts of Northern Cali, and it may mean that RV park costs are higher, and you may need to get reservations as soon as you can. I am on the coast and it is beautiful. The roads getting here are crazy. I had no idea they were as winding as they were until I got here. The locals don't think much about it. But thought I would mention it since you want to bring a large vehicle up this way. But I have known several Travelers who travel with an RV. They love the convenience of taking their own home on wheels. Best of luck to you. Hope you find a company you trust and start your new adventure soon. Oh, I use the company --------------------------. I have not had any problem with them, and plan to stay with them for now. I have been with them almost 4 years. My recruiter is ---------------------. She has been with the company a few years.