Where was your Best Travel Assignment?

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Mar 19, 2016

Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California. I loved it there, and it was hard to leave. If I did not have strong ties to the east coast I would have definitely gone perm there!

Trjl · Apr 2, 2016

Great travel assignments all depend on what you like to do. You like Big cities? Hiking? The beach? Towns with a lot of history? Central to South Florida is nice because you have the beach, as well as a lot of other tourist attractions within a short drive of you. I did DC one summer. Loved it. It is not a driveable city really (parking a premium), but it is not very big. Easy by bike, metro or Bus. So much to do. I hope one day to go back. There was hardly a wknd that I wasn't able to go and see something new. The Carolinas can be nice. They also have nice beaches. As well as if you are more central in the state, they have some of the prettiest mountains and hiking (etc) on the East Coast. I am now on the Calif northern coast. I have the Pacific to the west (gorgeous bluffs) and the Coastal Redwoods just a few minutes East. I am not a skier, but I know several other employees that have gone to Tahoe for the wknd. So finding an assignment where you think you might like to 'play' is the key. Even small towns, that I never expected to go to, I have found fun things to do in or around the place. Just be aware, as a new traveler, many hospitals will not take you unless you have 1-2 years of Travel experience. So it is often not the best hospitals that will take a newbie, and it may not be in a location you desire. But you will need to get your feet wet and after 1-2 not so wonderful travel assignments, they will get better since more opportunities will open up in places you want to visit. Best of luck to you.

Maevish, ASN, RN · Apr 9, 2016

The hospitals I've liked best weren't necessarily because of the workload or staffing "within the ratios", but was the people. If you like your coworkers (and even better, if they like YOU) a job can go from "yeah, it's ok" to "I want to MOVE here!" haha! I wasn't to excited to go to Highland in Oakland and had heard a few stories, mostly from people who had never worked there. However, I knew that if I could work there, I could do most anything, so I took an assignment in the ICU there. It was crazy, don't get me wrong, but it was awesome! There are always a couple pickles in the barrel when it comes to the staff, but not usually enough to make you wish you hadn't taken the job. It was great and I went back again for round 2 when they asked me to. I absolutely loved an assignment in Sac, but was cancelled because someone told the manager I said something I'd never said in my life (no, not a curse word, just something so stupid it was comical), but that was a good gig and SO interesting/amazing until that point. The Sutter in Vallejo was great too and gave my actual agency good feedback during the contract, but they wouldn't extend me and I actually cried The nursing supervisor even told me to put her as a professional reference and still keeps in contact with me, we hit it off so well. It wasn't so stimulationg as Highland or other places (no cath lab, no post op hearts, etc), but the people were lovely and I felt part of a team there.

You just have to try things out and see if you like them. It can be a great way to find a permanent job as well as make new friends. You just really have to (sometimes even be a touch aggressive) about getting in there and helping the other nurses out so they learn that they can trust you and your work/opinions. After that, and you only have a short time to do it, it's usually smooth sailing! Remember that you're the most expendable of all the nurses there and be smart about what you say and do. Best of luck! xo