Traveling contract days/week

[VegasNurse05]

When you sign a traveling contract are you saying you'll work the required hours (ie 36/week) and then the hospital schedules you when they need you? I'm not sure I can make it happen if my shifts will be different days each week.... childcare will become a huge problem. Any advice or experience?

[bagladyrn, RN]

When you sign a traveling contract are you saying you'll work the required hours (ie 36/week) and then the hospital schedules you when they need you? I'm not sure I can make it happen if my shifts will be different days each week.... childcare will become a huge problem. Any advice or experience?

Yes, that is what you are agreeing to. If you have a need to have specific days/shifts, you should discuss this with the interviewer when you talk with them before the contract is offered. Then they can decide if this will fit the needs of the unit and you can have it written into your contract. Remember though that they are hiring a contract to fit the needs of their unit and you may not get many offers if you are too rigid on this.

Many schedulers will try to work with their travelers to the extent they can, but the needs of the unit AND their permanent staff come first.