Want to start traveling...any info/advice?

Published

Specializes in Telemetry.

I am looking to start doing some travel nursing asap. I was wondering how to find an agency and how to research the reputation of these agencies. Are there any nurses out there that are traveling or have traveled and have any suggestions? Have you had a good experience with your company or poor experience? What has been good and/or bad?

Also, I noticed in a post related to pay rates that many were stating rates without benefits. Are there any of these types of contracts/agencies that provide benefits?

Any information or advice provided would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in acute care then Home health.

i'm kinda new at the agency thing, but as far as researching them, i've been typing in the agencies name here on allnurses and getting the feedback from the nurses here. You can also check the bbb (beter business bureau) website for any complaints against an agency. Yes, some offer benefits. I've heard Maxim is terrible.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice.

Google travel nurse and therapists forum and it will bring up a travel nurse and therapist forum- lots of great advice and where I figured out what agency to work with. You need to decide what kind of jobs you want. I spent 3 months in Seattle- this is an area where lots of people want to travel, so the pay is not as good and there seem to be a few agencies that place most of the nurses. I decided on my next assignment to go with a smaller agency that did critical staffing. It was a 48 hour guarantee assignment in a terrible little town in a dumpy community hospital. I made lots of money and saw some of the sights, and even though it was a dumpy hospital in a tiny town it was not terrible. Beware- any agencies you apply with will call and call and call. It has been 2 years since my last assignment, and I get an average of 1 call a week from recruiters.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, Public Health, Travel.

I have had great experience with both CrossCountryTravCorp and American Mobile, but prefer CrossCountry. Just give them, or any agency for that matter a call and they will go over what they have to offer. Just know that if you give them your contact information, they will contact you frequently for years to come :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What is the agency pay vs LTC pay? I make a measly $16.50/hr in GA working 3-11 and I was nudged toward agency from a friend... Please help!! I've got to find a new job... I'm desperate.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

When I was thinking about starting travel nursing I asked everyone who had been a travel nurse what the good AND the bad was. Most would rave that they LOVED it, so naturally my next question was why they had stopped. Tired of living away from loved ones, met someone, had children were all the common responses.

It is very important to get setup with a good company. Try www.highwayhypodermics.com for a relatively straightfoward comparison on benefits and whatnot.

My experience has been pretty good I think. First day med benefits, and my recruiter has been very fair with me (always remember that no matter how nice they are, they are always working for thier company first, then for you). You have to be your own advocate.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion