3 wks left & still no job:(

loricatus · Jan 19, 2009

Things are rough out there now. The travel nurse forum has been discussing this situation in great detail-you are not alone. The advise delphi seems to be giving is that if you have a chance to extend, do it. Other advise is to sign up with at least 5 agencies (full paperwork and references)-but, you don't have that much time right now. All I can think of is to try pantravelers.org for links to the TNT recruiters' postings for jobs and see if anything turns up in your specialty-however, I have heard that for every single job posting there are at least 20-50 travelers being submitted because the number of travel positions available have decreased. Good Luck.

wanderlust99 · Jan 23, 2009

Thanks for the info. Yea, that was a big mistake...not signing up with more companies. I have a little over 2 weeks left & still haven't had one interview.

bagladyrn, RN · Jan 23, 2009

Rachel - I answered your email. Post to me here if it didn't go through and I'll resend it. (I'm between my contracts and on someone else's computer)

cconrad · Jan 24, 2009

Rachel, I am aso a neuro ICU nurse and I just started a job in Phoenix AZ @ Banner Good Samaritin. I travel with RN NEtwork and I seem to have no probs finding assignments here.

loricatus · Jan 24, 2009

Rachel, I am aso a neuro ICU nurse and I just started a job in Phoenix AZ @ Banner Good Samaritin. I travel with RN NEtwork and I seem to have no probs finding assignments here.

Word has it that Banner cut out a lot of travel jobs and is not renewing contracts. By any chance are you trying to bait the poster to contact you?

cconrad · Jan 25, 2009

Nope,

Not trying to bait anyone. Just stating a fact that I just started an assignment here, and thought perhaps she could find one as well.

wanderlust99 · Jan 29, 2009

So, I have decided to extend with my current contract. Luckily they still have a need for me, otherwise I'd be in trouble. I'm relieved to have a job for awhile though! :)

loricatus · Jan 29, 2009

So, I have decided to extend with my current contract. Luckily they still have a need for me, otherwise I'd be in trouble. I'm relieved to have a job for awhile though! :)

Glad things worked out for you.

I am still kicking myself for going staff to ride things out. Lost all my savings over two successive cancelled contracts d/t economic conditions. If it weren't for the current state of things and needing to have a paycheck, I would not be holding my tongue over the deplorable conditions I have to work at now. Even with the staff position, I am starting to get hours cut because of decreased census. Things are scary out there now but should pick up by the time your contract is through.

BSN_DEC_2006 · Feb 3, 2009

Looks like travel assignments are still slim pickens, well with my agency anyway. My 1st contract here in Texas ended the first week of January and I extended til the beginning of March. My recruiter emails me about potential assignments and as soon as i reply only a day later, she says that those same assignments have just been filled. I'm glad they still have a need for me here at my current hospital.

I went in to travel nursing because I wanted to travel and see the country and also see how other hospitals compare to my previous staff position. So far I've only had 2 different travel locations since i started last summer.... bummer :mad:

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2009

I hear CA is really hard to get work in right now too. If U R willing to go to more places, you will find work. Thats my understanding.

All the nurses I've talked to who cant find work........they will only travel to 2 or 3 different states. The ones, like myself, who zip from one side of the country to the other........and like it.............I havent had any of them say they cant get signed on.

bagladyrn, RN · Feb 4, 2009

I hear CA is really hard to get work in right now too. If U R willing to go to more places, you will find work. Thats my understanding.
All the nurses I've talked to who cant find work........they will only travel to 2 or 3 different states. The ones, like myself, who zip from one side of the country to the other........and like it.............I havent had any of them say they cant get signed on.

erik - Here I am again to give you a different perspective. When we last wrote I was ready to start a new contract. Less than a week before my start date the hospital cancelled all travel contracts. Since that time I have applied for ALL positions in every state I'm currently licensed in (5 at present) as well as in every state which has a "walk through" option for licensing. I have worked all the angles, making personal contacts where I know the staff and instructed my recruiters to send out my resume immediately when these positions come in (not even waiting to call me first - timing is everything). I've got an excellent resume with many years of varied experience. In the last two weeks I have gotten NO callbacks.

Try not to place the onus on the nurses who are looking for positions. It really is that tough out there and it only feeds into the depressed feelings that come with being unemployed for the first time in over 30 years.