3 wks left & still no job:(

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2009

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.

U R in PEDs or OB right? If I am remembering right. Thats a pretty specific field. Did you open up your search to M/S and the like? That might help.

5 states, although better than the very limiting list many people I talk to have...........isnt really that much. My wife and I are willing to go to all but maybe one or two places (wont touch FLA for sure). We are licensed in WA, CA, MA, Arizona, PA and working on TX. If something comes up where we are not licensed, we get the temp. licnense in time to do the job is all.

Being "unemployed" is a very general statement. Are you truly "unemployed" or are you just not finding something to your liking in one of the 5 states your willing to go to. Unemployed to me says there are no options anywhere. There are many people right on this site getting first time travel positions and resigning. Sure, to get my next position, I may have to take a pay cut and not get the sign on bonuses I'm used to, but I wont be "unemployed".

Its just my opinion. Although I have run into a couple RNs at work who will truly travel for work who arent finding jobs.........they still admit they are turning things down for whatever reason (dangerous area, dont do nights, too much of a paycut). I'm signed on till late April, and my recruiter is already trying to make sure I stick with him. Its not like NOTHING is out there, just nothing as convenient as we are used to.

bagladyrn, RN · Feb 5, 2009

Again you aren't reading carefully - I said I was applying for ALL OB jobs (that includes L&D, PP, M/B, GYN, High Risk Ante, Level 1 and Level 2 Nursery - not really that narrow a field) in all currently licensed states as well as every state with a walk through (or temp lic. option). That is considerably more than 5. It's not a matter of 5 states I'm willing to go to - those hiring are not going to opt for someone who will take 4-6 weeks to get a license by endorsement when there are valid candidates who are currently licensed. Since I'm living on my emergency fund (something every traveler should have by the way), I can't afford to endorse in every state just in case something should come up. I'm not turning down anything - as I said I'm not getting calls to even have the option of picking and choosing.

I'm assuming that you do not mean to give offense, but your implication that those unable to find a position are not trying or being too picky feel like a negation of what we are going through.

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2009

No, I never want to offend anyone. Not here anyway. Well..........there could be instances, but this isnt one.

I cant lie about my experiences though. Every traveler I've run into that cant find work, upon questioning........has turned down at least one position for this or that reason (crime in the area, too far, pays less than $30). And I'm not even saying those are bad reasons to turn a job down. I travel with my wife, no way I'm accepting an assignment when I know she cant go to and from work without a real risk of being mugged. Shoot.........did you see the article about the attack on a nurse INSIDE a hospital. Cant blame someone for saying........."Nah, not willing to live Downtown (insert name of inner city with high crime)."

I guess the point of my being the devils advocate is to point out what I am seeing (more in life than in here). The travelers I meet who cant find work all are.........very picky. Turning down jobs because its $2 less than their minimum, getting POed cause the sign on is only $500 instead of what they got before (and these are real examples).

Hey, maybe they are full of crap, arent getting offers either and wont admit it. IDK. But, when I hear about people turning down jobs for reasons like this, I wonder sometimes if they are the ones posting "There are no jobs anywhere" in here. That gives people wanting to give travel nursing a try the wrong impression (when someone who is picky says there are no jobs, as opposed to someone who is realistic and just wants to work).

Plus, maybe this is a bit cavalier of me, but I think hospital administration is......enjoying the fact that travel nurses are not getting what they want a bit too much. I see administration with their noses in the air talking about how close they are to getting their facility to agency/travel nurse free. That annoys me. If you hate us so much, dont use us. That means when times are good and when times are bad. When all your staff are leaving for better pt. ratios at other hospitals (the ones who do use travel nurses), they dont act that way.

Nuff said. I dont mean anything personal. But our experiences/views are very different. I will continue to post mine, of course. But I do see your side to and....maybe can word things more carefully.

bagladyrn, RN · Feb 5, 2009

I don't offend easily! I think what happens here (and I really shouldn't be sexist) is that like many men you tend to be a bit more blunt. I've learned from dealing with my "boys" (now men about your age) to be equally direct in saying "This is where I disagree with you."

I agree with you however that some hospital administrations seem to be enjoying this a bit much - or at least using it to manipulate nurses to their advantage.

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2009

LMAO. OMG.

:sofahider Are you my wife posting in here while you are at work? :typing

That is what she says anyway. That I am too blunt. There is good and bad to that though. Its..hard to missunderstand what I am saying. I dont have a lot of "communication breakdowns".

Thats not sexist, it is a male trait to a certain degree. I'm that way cause my dad was a Marine and............yeah, said what he meant and meant what he said. Got it from him.

When things go back to normal, I'd like to take an assignment at a place where administration tried to eliminate agency/travelers and told their staff "its the economy, you have to take more patients" and see how it worked out for them. I see moral going in the toilet for some of these places.

wanderlust99 · Feb 9, 2009

Ok, so now I've got 4 weeks left and still no job! ha. My WA state license is taking 2 months...so my hopes for Seattle don't look so good.

Never thought I wouldn't be able to find a job in CA, but it's happened! I've over my recruiter, haven't spoken to her in a few weeks. She's probably not even looking for me anymore...I probably got lost amongst her many other travelers I guess.

So, I originally wanted to stay on the west coast. And I was told that jobs would start opening up after the beginning of the year...but how long am I supposed to wait for this to happen? I don't see it happening anytime soon.

Now I'm working on getting my license in several other states......it is just so freakin expensive to do so! Massachusetts is over 200 dollars. And add in a few other states and I'll be spending so much on getting these licenses where I may not even get to use them. UGH... And what a pain in the ass. Why can't everyone go compact again?

Anyway...this sucks. I was just starting my career as a traveler, and I've only been to California. I was hoping to see the entire country and hit all the major cities. And I am sooo far away from home, no family around, not enough money saved in the bank, can't get any OT at my current assignment.

I may see if I can extend another 6 weeks.

Just venting & rambling:)

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Feb 9, 2009

Hope extending works out for you at least.

I can tell you something that may help though. We wanted to work in WA. Our licneses were taking forever.

We called every week, acted very professional to "check on the status of our licenses". Every week.

Our licneses got done in a decent time period. I dont recall exactly how long, but not too long.

deege58 · Feb 10, 2009

Ok, so now I've got 4 weeks left and still no job! ha. My WA state license is taking 2 months...so my hopes for Seattle don't look so good.
Never thought I wouldn't be able to find a job in CA, but it's happened! I've over my recruiter, haven't spoken to her in a few weeks. She's probably not even looking for me anymore...I probably got lost amongst her many other travelers I guess.
So, I originally wanted to stay on the west coast. And I was told that jobs would start opening up after the beginning of the year...but how long am I supposed to wait for this to happen? I don't see it happening anytime soon.
Now I'm working on getting my license in several other states......it is just so freakin expensive to do so! Massachusetts is over 200 dollars. And add in a few other states and I'll be spending so much on getting these licenses where I may not even get to use them. UGH... And what a pain in the ass. Why can't everyone go compact again?
Anyway...this sucks. I was just starting my career as a traveler, and I've only been to California. I was hoping to see the entire country and hit all the major cities. And I am sooo far away from home, no family around, not enough money saved in the bank, can't get any OT at my current assignment.
I may see if I can extend another 6 weeks.
Just venting & rambling:)

Have you registered with Fastaff?? I know they have received a strike notice in NY and are staffing it now...I got a call from them today,