For some of you seasoned travelers.....could you give us some advice for nurses wishing to begin a career in traveling? Some positives and some negatives please...
I have been traveling for 4 years now and I love it. I hope you choose to do it. I have worked for 3 different companies. From my expericne Clinical one is that best. Web site www.clnicalone.com . Phone : 1*800*919*9100 . They are bases out of Boston. They have good benefits and a great staff. Very efficient and decicated to their nurses. My recruiter is Lori G...give her a call and she will answer any of your questions concering the positions available in your speciality.....tell her that Melissa <font color="brown"> </font color> told you to call. She is an amazing recruiter. Questions feel free to email me and I'll do my best to stear you in the right direction.
Also go to www.healthcaretravler.com and sign up for their free magazine that is gearned towards travel nurses and offers a great deal of information on companies, assignments and other great atricles.
Take care and good luck,
Melissa P
Clinical One
Current Assignment: Carson City, Nevada @ Carson Tahoe Hospital !!!!!
Okay, there is alot to learn out there in travel nursing country. I have only began my learning experience. I am from Alabama originally and am now in Tucson AZ for my first assignment. Actually I should say my second assignment, for I have come across some pretty hefty bumps in the road. There is so much to consider. If you would like you may email me, and ask about my situation .. of which one company dumped me unexpectedly for no fault of mine, and another picked me up and I am still going. I suppose if I never were to hear from you again, the best line of advice I could give at this present time is "Listen to a seasoned travel nurse .... trust her/him .... and take off. Traveling is an exciting adventure, and even with my big bumps in the road I am glad to be on it.
Take Care!
First, make sure you feel confident with your company and your recuiter. Next, for your first assignment go with another traveler. When travelling the big thing is realizing that you are in the facility and not there to change the way they do what they have been doing. If you have more questions, just drop me a line at
agps_30@yahoo.com
Traveling isn't all that difficult if you have the right company. I agree with gothrn with "make sure you feel confident with your company and your recruiter."
Most companies offer the same bells and whistles, but not all of them are always there for you. Talk to a number of companies before settling with one. No matter what one says, you should talk to a few at the start. Find someone you feel comfortable talking to, and see how personal they get. The more personal they get with you, the more they will actually care, and be there if something goes wrong, or you have a problem on your assignment. You want someone that is there for you, even at 4AM if something should happen or you need to talk. You want to be a nurse and a person, and not just a number and a name.
Hey, I'm in the same boat as All41. I have an added twist to my situation--I've nearly 20 years experience in critical care, but not during the last 3 years. Any suggestions on what I should do to best and quickest become marketable to a travel company??? I'm getting my ACLS and taking some courses to review hemodynamic monitoring. I'm applying for per diem positions so I can back into the hospital environment. I figure I'll need at least a year before I'll be marketable. Anyone with any words of wisdom will be greatly appreciated.
THis is for the Alabama nurse who is now in Tucson. I am dealing with a company now who is trying to place me. I am a psych nurse but my son and daughter-in-law are in Tucson, military. This company is trying to place me as close as possible. San Diego is one possibility.
Any tips for a new would-be traveler? I've been a nurse for 28 years.
Kay
P.S. I am originally from Bama as well. Now living in TN.
Advise: Make sure you and your recruiter have a good relationship. Pack light, take only what you need. Make sure you have enough $$ for emergencies. Have family support. Enjoy the adventure. Know YOUR job. Watch out for YOUR license. Enjoy making new friends. Seek out other travelers. Be willing to learn, be willing to teach.
I am a newbie and I need some advice. I am still pre nursing and i need to focus on a feild in nursing that is profitable and fufilling where should I look?
McPamela, when you get into your nursing clinicals try to make the most of each experience. If there is something to do and only 1 student can observe or participate jump in and do it don't sit back and say well if anyone else wants to they can be the one to do everything. Once you see different areas you'll have a better feel. Also if there are nurse extern programs for students in your area do it that will give you more experience then clinicals can. Everyone has their own thing I love L&D, NSY & Peds, I can do M/S if I have to but DO NOT ever want to do ICU or Tele and there are those that feel the same about my job.
Good Evening everyone, I have pretty much the same ?, but I am an LPN. Are there many travel positions available for LPN's, in hospitals, as opposed to LTC facilities? I periodically check different agencies and a vast majority are only requesting RN's.
My advice is similar to others in that you need to be able to trust your recruiter and make sure they are working for you and for your best interests. Also, it is a good idea to have 3 or 4 companies working for you in finding an assignment. What one company doesn't have another one might. Remember this is a business and these companies are in competition for your skills and services. I am finishing my first year as a traveler and I have had a wonderful time and great experiences. Best move I could have made. I was in a dead end job and this has jump started me again and I love my job again. Good luck and if you need any advice, feel free to email me. Jamie
I completed an assignment in Tucson, Az...my first travel.It was a great experience with Starmed at that time.Since then, two of my recruiters have quit and the company is now owned by Intellistaff.The present(replacement) recruiter has lost 4 jobs for me.I'm a CS in psychiatry with 27 years of experience and fine references.The recruiter keeps saying the job is filled before he can get an interview.....what's the real story.
Jayne
I am new to this and would love any and all information about travel nursing I have not found a company that I feel comfortable with and any advice from anyone is greatly appriciated. Montana
If you tell us what you are looking for in terms of perks, assignment etc. we might be able to help.. Such a broad question requires a broad answer.. Break down for us and we'll try to help.
I am a Canadian RN who is looking into travel nursing. I am just in the process of getting the VISA screen and then I am going to look at companies to apply with. I find the process a little overwhelming given the sheer number of compainies out there. I want to make sure that I pick the right ones to apply to so I have a good base of comparison. The advise I have been given is to go with smaller companies because the bigger ones don't necessarily pay the greatest and the service from the biggies leaves to be desired. With the smaller companies what are the key questions to ask when looking at wages, housing, and expenses. Any suggestion for companies to look at would also be greatly appreciated. I am a PICU RN with 7 years experience so I know there will be placements out there for me I just want to make sure that I pick the right placement and the right company. Any advice would be appreciated. I just learned about ensuring that the company pays you even if the hospital cancels your shift so I think that being on here is great and I look forward to any further advice that is out there. Thanks in advance for the information.:)
:D Ive been a travel nurse for about 2 + yrs now. I was a nurse in the USNavy for 5 years ( I guess that can count as traveling). And I thought after a while of being in the same place for the last 10 yrs I wanted to start traveling again. One fo my best friends in the military told me about travel nursing through Intelistaf nursing where she works and I signed up. Shortly after I started I meet my husband and wanted to start a family. I asked if I could remain on travel status but stay in the state that I live, but just pick up jobs in state and they were wounderfull, I don't work as much now but at least I stay close to home. Ive loved my experience with intelistaf, and I love being a travel nurse, you get the best experience and I feel well rounded now , even though I was a working for over 10 yrs as a nurse before I began to travel, I just feel you get to experience more medicine this way. If your new and haven't signed with a specific travel nurse co. yet . I would check them all out and see what your long term options are, and what happens if you dont like a job or if like me you want to stay close to home for a while.
you can call my friend Cristine Kreplick, Nurse Recruiter at Intelistaf Healthcare Travel. Her # is 1-800-950-3415 Ext .3716 / Just tell her you were chating with Liane and needed some advice, shes the best and wont try to just sign you up, shell help you with understanding what the whole job is about.
I also am considering travel. I have over 30 years of experience in Psych nursing. Any company that specializes in Psych? Currently licensed in Ohio and North Carolina and want to stay initially on the Southeast Coast. Also will be traveling with my 2 cats. Thanks for any info.
Research assignments in detail ask all the right questions.
Double verify everything. Question everything. It will pay off in the long run.
Stay very organized and prepared for all possible opportunities.
Have a good amount of money save as a emergency buffer including credit.
Switch to online banking and pay everything online.
Anti virus software : AVG FREE
Anti Spyware: Spy Bot, Ad aware (Free)
Good cell phone company
Depndable Transportation
Good references with multiple numbers
Get Signed Letters of reccomendation and/or evaluations
