I have posted before regarding other travelers take on the economy and didn't get much feedback. I have stayed on it though with the recruiters I am dealing with and I am starting to get some real feedback now stating that even though this is normally a slow time of year, holidays and end of year budget tightening, it is much slower than normal, that nursing administration is not getting the allocation of budget money to place the orders for traveler assignments for January, and that many nurses are holding off on traveling for fear that they won't get an assignment after their first one is over. Anyone else have any feedback, direct experience or insights? Personally, I think the whole country is sort of in the holding pattern until elections and waiting to see if the credit unfreezes some, so I am not overly concerned but definitely watchful. Not sure I will sign anything until January. Anyone else?
Its the economy...
I don't know, I think the only real difference I have seen is that agencies are less willing to bargain with you on some issues. I think travelers are going to be needed everywhere no matter what the economy is like. If you look at a hospital that is not willing to come off the money to hire a traveler, then they probably are not treating their full time staff well either...and that of course leads to a situation where they have to have temp staff.
I do not know if it is nursing, more the upper management (CEO's, CFO's, etc)that is not giving the OK for travelers yet. As for the agencies not negotiating, I think nurses must be watchful that the economy doesn't get used by agencies as an excuse to cut back on travelers' packages. Any industry is going to use whatever tactic they can to increase their profit margin. It is just the name of the game. It should be interesting. I suppose it will all unfold just as our economy is going to, but which way is anybody's guess.