Highway Hypodermics ®

Travel Nurses Make A Difference, One Hospital At A Time

 

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Stories From Other Travel Nurses

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For those contemplating the travel nurse field: The best way to learn about the travel nursing field is from those who are actually in the travel nursing trenches.  This form was created to give travel nurses a venue to post their experiences.

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For experienced travelers: Do you have a travel nursing experience?   Share it by answering the travel nurse questionnaire!

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Name: lorissa
ResidentState: tennessee
Specialty: er
MoneyImportance: 2
BenefitsImportance: 3
LocationImportance: 1
RecuirterImportance: 4
Housing: Two+ Bedrooms, don't mind paying some
TravelingYears: Under 1 year
NOWTravelCompany: cross country
SwitchCompanies: Yes
DisasterCompany: american mobile
NonFriendlyHospital: cape fear valley fayetteville nc
Favoritecity: wilmington
LeastFavoriteCity: fayetteville
Date: 14 Dec 2006
Time: 01:45:00

FirstTravelNurseExperience

hell

TellAFirstTimer

do your homework on facility and staff and area make the best of your situation even if it is a bad situation '

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Name: Julie
ResidentState: California
Specialty: PACU
MoneyImportance: 1
BenefitsImportance: 2
LocationImportance: 3
RecuirterImportance: 4
Housing: One Bedroom Paid For
TravelingYears: 2-5 years
NOWTravelCompany: Med RP
SwitchCompanies: No
DisasterCompany:
NonFriendlyHospital: Cedars Sinai in Hollywood
Favoritecity: LA
LeastFavoriteCity: Dodge City, KS
Date: 15 Dec 2006
Time: 01:20:54

FirstTravelNurseExperience

Overall experience was OK. Agency was very good, supportive. Hospital and staff were very traveler friendly & welcoming.

TellAFirstTimer

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Name: Kathy
ResidentState: WI
Specialty: Neuro, Med/Surg
MoneyImportance: 4
BenefitsImportance: 1
LocationImportance: 2
RecuirterImportance: 3
Housing: One Bedroom Paid For
TravelingYears: 2-5 years
NOWTravelCompany: Emerald Health Services
SwitchCompanies: No
DisasterCompany: RTG Medical, Beststaff
NonFriendlyHospital: Cottage Hospital and Novato Community Hospital
Favoritecity: San Rafeal
LeastFavoriteCity: Chico
Date: 17 Jan 2007
Time: 06:56:13

FirstTravelNurseExperience

My recruiter lied to me, left me stranded 3 hours from home, and the hospital was the worst hospital I have ever been in.

TellAFirstTimer

Get everything in writing and even then the travel company can still lie to you. Beststaff's contract stipulated an 8 week contract of 12 hour nights. When I arrived at Novato I was working days, Pms, Nocs and 8 and 12 hour rotating shifts. Then I found out that Beststaff had typed the wrong ending date on the contract with the hospital so I was left without work for 2 weeks. Beststaff pretended to be a small southern company that had Christian values but BOY were they just the opposite. They lied about everything including the apartment which was a DIVE and they wouldn't do anything about it when I brought that to their attention - doors didn't lock, the balcony was rotting wood, the carpet and flooring had sharp tacks sticking up and you couldn't go barefoot, etc.

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Name: Michelle
ResidentState: Nevada
Specialty: NICU
MoneyImportance: 1
BenefitsImportance: 4
LocationImportance: 3
RecuirterImportance: 2
Housing: Two Bedroom Paid For
TravelingYears: 1-2 years
NOWTravelCompany: Aureus
SwitchCompanies: Yes
DisasterCompany: Aureus
NonFriendlyHospital: No
Favoritecity: Las Vegas
LeastFavoriteCity: None
Date: 21 Jan 2007
Time: 03:53:50

FirstTravelNurseExperience

I took an assignment in Seattle, WA at Evergreen Hospital with HRN. First of all, I had a great recruiter (Summer, who is no longer with them, regrettably). She was very on the ball, helped me figure out the ropes, and got me the greatest little apartment in a fabulous neighborhood. I went to work with the night crew, had awesome coworkers and stayed on for a total of 6 months. Great first time experience. I am so glad it wasn't a horror story like some people's!

TellAFirstTimer

Don't ever go into a facility and tell the staff repeatedly, "Well, back at (blank facility), we did it this way." Staff hates to hear that, even if it is true. It just grates on the nerves. We had a traveler at my old hospital once who always said with her thick Bronx accent, "Well, back in New York..." -you fill in the blank. Everything was done differently there, apparently. If you have to absolutely add your two-cents about how something could be done better, just don't preface your comment, "Well, back in (blank)..." and try not to do it too terribly often, because it will still carry the same effect. Remember, you are not out there to change the world! Just enjoy that you get to be so lucky to see how things are done differently everywhere and relish the fact that we get paid a good sum of money to travel around and experience the differences in American (and sometimes foreign) culture(s).

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Name: dorothy
ResidentState: kentucky
Specialty: er / critical care
MoneyImportance: 4
BenefitsImportance: 1
LocationImportance: 2
RecuirterImportance: 3
Housing: I'll Take The Stipend & RV It
TravelingYears: 2-5 years
NOWTravelCompany: trustaf
SwitchCompanies: Yes
DisasterCompany: american mobile
NonFriendlyHospital: no
Favoritecity: lexington, ky
LeastFavoriteCity:
Date: 03 Feb 2007
Time: 20:40:52

FirstTravelNurseExperience

I had been a nurse for 12 years at the time of my first assignment, so I was fairly comfortable with it.  I have enjoyed the nursing staffs everywhere that I have been, and have made friends that I continue to keep in contact with from every assignment.

 

TellAFirstTimer

Be careful!  Your assignment is only as good as your recruiter.  Get it in writing and stick to your guns.  Adapt to your surroundings, work hard, be a team player, and you will fit in anywhere you go.

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Name: Teshia
ResidentState: California
Specialty: NICU
MoneyImportance: 1
BenefitsImportance: 3
LocationImportance: 4
RecuirterImportance: 2
Housing: One Bedroom Paid For
TravelingYears: 1-2 years
NOWTravelCompany: Emerald Health services
SwitchCompanies: Yes
DisasterCompany: none so far
NonFriendlyHospital: Long Beach Memorial
Favoritecity:
LeastFavoriteCity:
Date: 18 Feb 2007
Time: 14:59:27

FirstTravelNurseExperience

Pretty exciting. I find the staff overall very nice and helpful. It was not long before we all bonded like a family. I love meeting different nurses learning how we all do things different to achieve the same goals!!!

TellAFirstTimer

Research your companies and listen to seasoned traveling nurses they have great advice and tidbits that you just don't realize until you have traveled for a while!

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Name: kristi
ResidentState: Texas
Specialty: Surgery
MoneyImportance: 1
BenefitsImportance: 1
LocationImportance: 1
RecuirterImportance: 2
Housing: Give Me The $$MONEY$$
TravelingYears: 1-2 years
NOWTravelCompany: Talemed
SwitchCompanies: Yes
DisasterCompany: National Healthcare
NonFriendlyHospital: none
Favoritecity: Reno, Nv
LeastFavoriteCity: none
Date: 20 Feb 2007
Time: 12:07:14

FirstTravelNurseExperience

My first experience was very nice. However, in the middle of my extended contract my original company merged with NHC and everything went to pot! I had a horrible recruiter. I had had an excellent recruiter with TVL. Needless to say, next assignment I switched companies.

TellAFirstTimer

Things to remember: ALWAYS GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING. Companies will promise you the moon to get you. Ask the company you are going to work for to have a nurse who already works for them contact you. This way you can ask them personally about their experience. Have a list of questions written down before you start contacting companies. I have been an OR nurse for 15 yrs and have had good experiences everywhere I have been. I plan to continue traveling. It is a wonderful way to see the country. I have made so many new friends.

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Name: Kristen
ResidentState: Lousiana
Specialty: critical care
MoneyImportance: 3
BenefitsImportance: 4
LocationImportance: 1
RecuirterImportance: 2
Housing: I'll Take The Stipend & RV It
TravelingYears: 2-5 years
NOWTravelCompany: Cross Country Trav Corp
SwitchCompanies: No
DisasterCompany: yes
NonFriendlyHospital: Naples Community Hospital
Favoritecity: Oklahoma City
LeastFavoriteCity: Naples, FL Los Angeles
Date: 28 Feb 2007
Time: 23:09:43

FirstTravelNurseExperience

Okay... My husband and I travel together ( he is a RN too) we took an assignment at Emory in Atlanta, GA. It was OK. A little reverse racism going on there, but I just minded my own business.

TellAFirstTimer

Be very wary of any promises made over the phone. My recruiter is great and does an excellent job of keeping us out of not traveler friendly areas. The nurse manager of the ICUs at Naples Community completely lied about floating (how often and where). I extended only b/c I drove all the way from LA spent all my savings for the trip so I was stuck. I was floated MANY times to med/surg floors which is very difficult for an ICU RN...read TOO many pts. And when you where floated out you received no help, always took the crazy pts, admits etc. Bottom line...talk to other travelers to get the down low.

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Name: Rhonda
ResidentState: FL
Specialty: tele/step-down/whatever !!
MoneyImportance: 1
BenefitsImportance: 4
LocationImportance: 2
RecuirterImportance: 3
Housing: Give Me The $$MONEY$$
TravelingYears: 2-5 years
NOWTravelCompany: fastaff
SwitchCompanies: No
DisasterCompany: no
NonFriendlyHospital: bakersfield, CA
Favoritecity: Reno !!
LeastFavoriteCity: Bakersfield, CA
Date: 03 Mar 2007
Time: 22:42:15

FirstTravelNurseExperience

First did a 3 week strike, loved it ..so I did a 4 week travel to see...LOVED IT, this is why I love nursing !!!

TellAFirstTimer

Ask lots of questions, get everything in writing !! Travel with a buddy the first time. Be flexible at the hospital, smile & work hard... it always pays off !! Enjoy, you will meet so many new friends !!!

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Name: Tina
ResidentState: IL
Specialty: ICU/ER
MoneyImportance: 3
BenefitsImportance: 4
LocationImportance: 2
RecuirterImportance: 1
Housing: One Bedroom Paid For
TravelingYears: 2-5 years
NOWTravelCompany: Travel Nurse Solutions
SwitchCompanies: Yes
DisasterCompany: On Assignment
NonFriendlyHospital: Our Lady of Fatima, Providence, Rhode Island
Favoritecity: STL
LeastFavoriteCity: Providence, Rhode Island
Date: 19 Mar 2007
Time: 13:23:59

FirstTravelNurseExperience

disaster.... the countryside was great, nurses, were standoffish, stuck up, snooty, management was disorganized, didn't get paid for 3 weeks, if they make a mistake on your check, they pull the entire deposit out of your bank, don't pay any bounced check fees and leave you on your own

TellAFirstTimer

Stay out of the politics, most of us travel because we don't like the games, so remember that. Keep quiet for a few weeks, watch things, listen and learn who to go to for protocols etc. Not everyone likes travelers

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Name: Bobbye
ResidentState: Ms
Specialty: Telemetry
MoneyImportance: 1
BenefitsImportance: 4
LocationImportance: 2
RecuirterImportance: 3
Housing: One Bedroom Paid For
TravelingYears: Under 1 year
NOWTravelCompany: Trinityhsg.com
SwitchCompanies: No
DisasterCompany: None yet
NonFriendlyHospital: None yet
Favoritecity: Mesa, Az
LeastFavoriteCity: None yet
Date: 23 Mar 2007
Time: 02:57:48

FirstTravelNurseExperience

My first traveling experience was at Banner Baywood hospital in Mesa, Az. The first 13 weeks was like a honeymoon. I asked for single housing for me and my husband and they put me up in a 3 bedroom townhome on a beautiful golf course! The townhome was gorgeous and fully equipped! As far as the hospital goes, They had a nurse patient ratio of 5-1 max and they stuck to it, we had experienced charge nurses that were really helpful. We even had a monitor tech, which I find now not all hospitals have in telemetry. I made a lot of friends there, and I feel it is an excellent hospital.

TellAFirstTimer

Find another nurse that works for the company you are thinking of working for and grill him/her on the how the company really works!!

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Name: Tasha
ResidentState: North Carolina
Specialty: Cardiac Stepdown/Telemetry
MoneyImportance: 1
BenefitsImportance: 4
LocationImportance: 3
RecuirterImportance: 2
Housing: One Bedroom Paid For
TravelingYears: 1-2 years
NOWTravelCompany: Nurse Choice
SwitchCompanies: Yes
DisasterCompany:
NonFriendlyHospital: Kent General in Dover,Delaware
Favoritecity: Phoenix, Arizona
LeastFavoriteCity:
Date: 31 Mar 2007
Time: 03:24:20

FirstTravelNurseExperience

I took an assignment back in my home state of Delaware so that the transition would be a little more smooth, being that I was in a familiar place trying something new. The Hospital, Beebe Medical Center, was very Traveler friendly and the orientation was excellent so my first experience wasn't too hectic. The staff was very welcoming and friendly, probably helped that the hospital is near the beach. Many of the other nurses on my floor were travelers also and a handful were repeat travelers to that facility. I chose to begin my travel experience with American Mobile Healthcare, which is a pretty good company but I never really felt a connection with my Recruiter and I probably talked to her assistant more than I spoke with her.

TellAFirstTimer

Do your research before signing with any company or facility and make sure to find a recruiter that you mesh with and is out for your best interest.

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Name: Tricia
ResidentState: NY
Specialty: CVICU
MoneyImportance: 3
BenefitsImportance: 4
LocationImportance: 2
RecuirterImportance: 4
Housing: One Bedroom Paid For
TravelingYears: Under 1 year
NOWTravelCompany: Cross Country Travel
SwitchCompanies: No
DisasterCompany: No
NonFriendlyHospital:
Favoritecity: Baltimore, MD
LeastFavoriteCity: None
Date: 06 Apr 2007
Time: 22:43:06

FirstTravelNurseExperience

My first travel assignment was in NY at NYP-Columbia. Absolutely great hospital. Was very hard leaving. Very traveler friendly. Worked in the PACU. Loved it!!!!!Great staff.

TellAFirstTimer

Do your research on your company, on the hospital that you want to work at and read contracts. If it is not what was agreed on, DO NOT SIGN. But enjoy the world of travel nursing.

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Name: Eva
ResidentState: Tennessee
Specialty: ER
MoneyImportance: 1
BenefitsImportance: 2
LocationImportance: 3
RecuirterImportance: 4
Housing: One Bedroom Paid For
TravelingYears: Under 1 year
NOWTravelCompany: Intellistaff
SwitchCompanies: Yes
DisasterCompany: American Mobile
NonFriendlyHospital: Mercy General....Sacramento, California
Favoritecity: Loved Hartford, Connecticut
LeastFavoriteCity: Loved Sacramento, hated the hospital
Date: 27 Apr 2007
Time: 17:30:29

FirstTravelNurseExperience

I had an awesome first travel experience in New Britian, Connecticut. I had to move after 2 weeks to a better location, but that was OK. New Britian General Hospital (now The Hospital of Central Connecticut) was extremely traveler friendly. The staff and Doctors were wonderful, friendly and warm. My second assignment was to Mercy General in Sacramento and it is NOT traveler friendly. 4 of the 6 doctors I worked with were very nasty to all nurses.

TellAFirstTimer

Gather a notebook together with sections. Keep all your license', shot record, TB etc...education, resume.....you will need it alot! It makes it very handy to be organized.

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Name: Devora
ResidentState: VIRGINIA
Specialty: OR
MoneyImportance: 3
BenefitsImportance: 2
LocationImportance: 3
RecuirterImportance: 3
Housing: One Bedroom Paid For
TravelingYears: Under 1 year
NOWTravelCompany: CONTEMPORARY NURSING SOLUTIONS
SwitchCompanies: No
DisasterCompany: CONTEMPORARY NURSING SOLUTIONS
NonFriendlyHospital: NO
Favoritecity: NA
LeastFavoriteCity: NA
Date: 29 Apr 2007
Time: 17:56:51

FirstTravelNurseExperience

I am working on my first travel assignment and have been at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring Md since Sept. 2006. This is a great place to work and a great place for a first time traveler to start. The doctors and staff have been great. It will be hard to leave.

TellAFirstTimer

Ask questions and if the ansewers are not what you want find a new company.

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Name: Sigurid
ResidentState: NE
Specialty: Step Down, Telemetry, Med/Surg
MoneyImportance: 4
BenefitsImportance: 4
LocationImportance: 2
RecuirterImportance: 4
Housing: One Bedroom Paid For
TravelingYears: Under 1 year
NOWTravelCompany: Trustaff
SwitchCompanies: Yes
DisasterCompany: No
NonFriendlyHospital: Valley View Medical Center in Fort Mohave, AZ
Favoritecity: Too new at traveling to say
LeastFavoriteCity: Too new at traveling to say
Date: 01 May 2007
Time: 16:09:53

FirstTravelNurseExperience

Nursing Nightmare. Valley View Medical Center just received JHACHO Certification but I am not sure how they got it. Medical Surgical Telemetry Unit is a disaster, unorganized, understaffed, 1:8 or sometimes more N/P ration 1 CNS often have inappropriate patients on the unit who should be ICU (only 6 beds here) or on a Step-down(PCU) unit. Nursing staff very unfriendly, not helpful, travel nurses are treated with no respect by staff. Changed time on Kronas and did not pay overtime I worked. Trustaff did not back me up on this even though I had signed time sheets for all the overtime. Was terminated for speaking to HR about my frustations. Trustaff took my last check to cover the two weeks of housing contract and left me with no money. They did find me a new job within a week which did not require me to move.

TellAFirstTimer

1. Get it in writing and do not believe your agency will back you up when it comes to an issue that might mean the hospital will terminate their contract with agency...not just you. 0 So make sure you have everything done and are ready to go with several companies before you take your first assignment, meaning physical, immunizations, respirator fit testing, and all the application and skill testing done so you can be ready to go with any of your chosen companies at a moments notice. 2. Research the web sites by travel nurses for travel nurses, such as this one, ultimatenurse.com nurseforum.com Delphi etc. It pays to heed the advice of seasoned travelers who can tell you what companies are good, what hospitals to stay away from. 3. Have realistice expectations. Know that if the pay and bonuses are high there are more than likely issues for travelers and staff alike and that staff may have attitude toward travel nurses in general so stick with your fellow travel nurses, bond, share, complain to one another, but do not voice your opinion in front of staff as they will tattle on you to management and among themselves which can make your life a living hell there. 4. Make sure that you have in writing that the facility must call you to discuss schedule changes and that you have the right to refuse changes. A traveler must be flexible, but one does not have to be inconvienienced by changes made by management without permission. Such changes mean you have no life, you cannot make plans to explore, and you might end up with a long stretch of shifts without a day off. Get in writing how many shifts you will work in a row (two on, two off, etc.) For example I do not like working 4 nights in row with a 48 hours guaranteed contract. It is too fast paced and my body does not do well with 4 twelves in a row. Know your limits and stick to them. 5. Make sure you know just what your companies policy is on contracts cancelled early or without just cause...Save at least $1000 dollars just in case for relocatiion expenses to cover any expenses not covered by your company...in my case, I stll had six shifts to work or two weeks before my contract was up...so the company used my paycheck to pay the last two weeks of my housing and the cat deposit which was supposed to be taken out over the 8 weeks of the contract but had not been so I lost the entire paycheck which I had already written checks for bills and mailed...overdrafts cost me more money. 5. Find out what the state you are working in allows for per diem on the tax advantage system and make you company do it right. 6. Utililize the Tax Advantage System if you reside in another state as your primary resident. Learn about it. Ask a seasoned traveler how it works if your recruiter does not explain it well...and sometimes they encourage it when it saves them money but is not to your advantage..  so always check out what is best for your situation... not theirs. 7. digital camera, lap top computer, make sure local phone is in your contract unless you have cell plan that does does not have roaming charges. Always ask about what is included in furnished apt. i.e. dishes plates, etc. In my case I elected to take my pots and pans, dishes,and silverware, coffe pot, and cooking utensils, a cookie sheet etc. as it saved me $160 a month on my housing. What size bed and if linens are included. It all depends on if you drive to your assignment or fly. If flying make sure your travel company has a rental care waiting for you when you arrive and understand what it will cost you to drive it. 8. My two requests. A washer/dryer in the apt unit and high speed internet. I am willing to pay a little more to not have to go to a laundry mat or a community apt. laundry facility. Basic cable should be included, utilites, and local phone when possible. In some remote areas you may have to use Wi-Fi for internet. So check out what is availble amd in some areas cell phones drop call no cell towers. 9. Remember the agency you work for is out to make money too, so if it is not in writing they may renig on admitting they ever said it or promised it to you.

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Name: Jennifer
ResidentState: MD
Specialty: NICU
MoneyImportance: 1
BenefitsImportance: 2
LocationImportance: 2
RecuirterImportance: 1
Housing: One Bedroom Paid For
TravelingYears: 1-2 years
NOWTravelCompany: On assignment
SwitchCompanies: Yes
DisasterCompany: American Mobile
NonFriendlyHospital: Long Beach Memorial
Favoritecity: Santa Barbara,Ca
LeastFavoriteCity: Palm Springs,Ca
Date: 02 May 2007
Time: 14:13:05

FirstTravelNurseExperience

Horrendous! Housing was far from facility and traffic was even worse! Iwas tired by the time I got to work.That assignment lasted 2 weeks! Thats all I could take! That was my very first travel assignment almost 10 years ago.Since then I've learned the ropes-still learning!

TellAFirstTimer

GET IT IN WRITING!! Be sure to get an interview with the facility so you can have all your questions answered.  Don't take the assignment if you have doubts!

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Name: Jennifer
ResidentState: MD
Specialty: NICU
MoneyImportance: 1
BenefitsImportance: 2
LocationImportance: 2
RecuirterImportance: 1
Housing: One Bedroom Paid For
TravelingYears: 1-2 years
NOWTravelCompany: On assignment
SwitchCompanies: Yes
DisasterCompany: American Mobile
NonFriendlyHospital: Long Beach Memorial
Favoritecity: Santa Barbara,Ca
LeastFavoriteCity: Palm Springs,Ca
Date: 02 May 2007
Time: 14:15:02

FirstTravelNurseExperience

Horrendous! Housing was far from facility and traffic was even worse! I was tired by the time I got to work.  That assignment lasted 2 weeks! Thats all I could take! That was my very first travel assignment almost 10 years ago.  Since then I've learned the ropes-still learning!

TellAFirstTimer

GET IT IN WRITING!! Be sure to get an interview with the facility so you can have all your questions answered.  Don't take the assignment if you have doubts! Good Luck!

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Name: David
ResidentState: Minnesota
Specialty: Critcal care/Intensive Care
MoneyImportance: 1
BenefitsImportance: 3
LocationImportance: 4
RecuirterImportance: 2
Housing: Suite Is Fine
TravelingYears: 1-2 years
NOWTravelCompany: Medical express
SwitchCompanies: Yes
DisasterCompany: no
NonFriendlyHospital: no
Favoritecity: Denver, CO
LeastFavoriteCity: Newbedford, MA
Date: 07 May 2007
Time: 00:23:27

FirstTravelNurseExperience

My first assignment ended up with me in a very unsafe city and a hospital with very poor management and poor patient care. My first introduction to the city involved a car of gangbangers holding a knife out their car window, and me unsure how to get out of my contract. Thank goodness that the city was surrounded by great things to visit.

TellAFirstTimer

Be well prepared as a nurse first and foremost.

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Name: sandra
ResidentState: iowa
Specialty: er
MoneyImportance: 1
BenefitsImportance: 3
LocationImportance: 1
RecuirterImportance: 1
Housing: Give Me The $$MONEY$$
TravelingYears: 2-5 years
NOWTravelCompany: onassignment
SwitchCompanies: No
DisasterCompany: no
NonFriendlyHospital:
Favoritecity: reno, nv
LeastFavoriteCity: coalinga, ca
Date: 08 May 2007
Time: 17:07:45

FirstTravelNurseExperience

Had a wonderful time, staff was great at Carson-tahoe, nv.

TellAFirstTimer

 

Name: Julie
ResidentState: California
Specialty: PACU
MoneyImportance: 1
BenefitsImportance: 2
LocationImportance: 3
RecuirterImportance: 4
Housing: One Bedroom Paid For
TravelingYears: 2-5 years
NOWTravelCompany: Med RP
SwitchCompanies: No
DisasterCompany:
NonFriendlyHospital: Cedars Sinai in Hollywood
Favoritecity: LA
LeastFavoriteCity: Dodge City, KS
Date: 15 Dec 2006
Time: 01:20:54

FirstTravelNurseExperience

Overall experience was OK. Agency was very good, supportive. Hospital and staff were very traveler friendly & welcoming.

TellAFirstTimer

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Name: Kathy
ResidentState: WI
Specialty: Neuro, Med/Surg
MoneyImportance: 4
BenefitsImportance: 1
LocationImportance: 2
RecuirterImportance: 3
Housing: One Bedroom Paid For
TravelingYears: 2-5 years
NOWTravelCompany: Emerald Health Services
SwitchCompanies: No
DisasterCompany: RTG Medical, Beststaff
NonFriendlyHospital: Cottage Hospital and Novato Community Hospital
Favoritecity: San Rafeal
LeastFavoriteCity: Chico
Date: 17 Jan 2007
Time: 06:56:13

FirstTravelNurseExperience

My recruiter lied to me, left me stranded 3 hours from home, and the hospital was the worst hospital I have ever been in.

TellAFirstTimer

Get everything in writing and even then the travel company can still lie to you. Beststaff's contract stipulated an 8 week contract of 12 hour nights. When I arrived at Novato I was working days, Pms, Nocs and 8 and 12 hour rotating shifts. Then I found out that Beststaff had typed the wrong ending date on the contract with the hospital so I was left without work for 2 weeks. Beststaff pretended to be a small southern company that had Christian values but BOY were they just the opposite. They lied about everything including the apartment which was a DIVE and they wouldn't do anything about it when I brought that to their attention - doors didn't lock, the balcony was rotting wood, the carpet and flooring had sharp tacks sticking up and you couldn't go barefoot, etc.

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Name: Michelle
ResidentState: Nevada
Specialty: NICU
MoneyImportance: 1
BenefitsImportance: 4
LocationImportance: 3
RecuirterImportance: 2
Housing: Two Bedroom Paid For
TravelingYears: 1-2 years
NOWTravelCompany: Aureus
SwitchCompanies: Yes
DisasterCompany: Aureus
NonFriendlyHospital: No
Favoritecity: Las Vegas
LeastFavoriteCity: None
Date: 21 Jan 2007
Time: 03:53:50

FirstTravelNurseExperience

I took an assignment in Seattle, WA at Evergreen Hospital with HRN. First of all, I had a great recruiter (Summer, who is no longer with them, regrettably). She was very on the ball, helped me figure out the ropes, and got me the greatest little apartment in a fabulous neighborhood. I went to work with the night crew, had awesome coworkers and stayed on for a total of 6 months. Great first time experience. I am so glad it wasn't a horror story like some people's!

TellAFirstTimer

Don't ever go into a facility and tell the staff repeatedly, "Well, back at (blank facility), we did it this way." Staff hates to hear that, even if it is true. It just grates on the nerves. We had a traveler at my old hospital once who always said with her thick Bronx accent, "Well, back in New York..." -you fill in the blank. Everything was done differently there, apparently. If you have to absolutely add your two-cents about how something could be done better, just don't preface your comment, "Well, back in (blank)..." and try not to do it too terribly often, because it will still carry the same effect. Remember, you are not out there to change the world! Just enjoy that you get to be so lucky to see how things are done differently everywhere and relish the fact that we get paid a good sum of money to travel around and experience the differences in American (and sometimes foreign) culture(s).

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Name: dorothy
ResidentState: kentucky
Specialty: er / critical care
MoneyImportance: 4
BenefitsImportance: 1
LocationImportance: 2
RecuirterImportance: 3
Housing: I'll Take The Stipend & RV It
TravelingYears: 2-5 years
NOWTravelCompany: trustaf
SwitchCompanies: Yes
DisasterCompany: american mobile
NonFriendlyHospital: no
Favoritecity: lexington, ky
LeastFavoriteCity:
Date: 03 Feb 2007
Time: 20:40:52

FirstTravelNurseExperience

I had been a nurse for 12 years at the time of my first assignment, so I was fairly comfortable with it.  I have enjoyed the nursing staffs everywhere that I have been, and have made friends that I continue to keep in contact with from every assignment.

 

TellAFirstTimer

Be careful!  Your assignment is only as good as your recruiter.  Get it in writing and stick to your guns.  Adapt to your surroundings, work hard, be a team player, and you will fit in anywhere you go.

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Name: Teshia
ResidentState: California
Specialty: NICU
MoneyImportance: 1
BenefitsImportance: 3
LocationImportance: 4
RecuirterImportance: 2
Housing: One Bedroom Paid For
TravelingYears: 1-2 years
NOWTravelCompany: Emerald Health services
SwitchCompanies: Yes
DisasterCompany: none so far
NonFriendlyHospital: Long Beach Memorial
Favoritecity:
LeastFavoriteCity:
Date: 18 Feb 2007
Time: 14:59:27

FirstTravelNurseExperience

Pretty exciting. I find the staff overall very nice and helpful. It was not long before we all bonded like a family. I love meeting different nurses learning how we all do things different to achieve the same goals!!!

TellAFirstTimer

Research your companies and listen to seasoned traveling nurses they have great advice and tidbits that you just don't realize until you have traveled for a while!

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Name: kristi
ResidentState: Texas
Specialty: Surgery
MoneyImportance: 1
BenefitsImportance: 1
LocationImportance: 1
RecuirterImportance: 2
Housing: Give Me The $$MONEY$$
TravelingYears: 1-2 years
NOWTravelCompany: Talemed
SwitchCompanies: Yes
DisasterCompany: National Healthcare
NonFriendlyHospital: none
Favoritecity: Reno, Nv
LeastFavoriteCity: none
Date: 20 Feb 2007
Time: 12:07:14

FirstTravelNurseExperience

My first experience was very nice. However, in the middle of my extended contract my original company merged with NHC and everything went to pot! I had a horrible recruiter. I had had an excellent recruiter with TVL. Needless to say, next assignment I switched companies.

TellAFirstTimer

Things to remember: ALWAYS GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING. Companies will promise you the moon to get you. Ask the company you are going to work for to have a nurse who already works for them contact you. This way you can ask them personally about their experience. Have a list of questions written down before you start contacting companies. I have been an OR nurse for 15 yrs and have had good experiences everywhere I have been. I plan to continue traveling. It is a wonderful way to see the country. I have made so many new friends.

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Name: Kristen
ResidentState: Lousiana
Specialty: critical care
MoneyImportance: 3
BenefitsImportance: 4
LocationImportance: 1
RecuirterImportance: 2
Housing: I'll Take The Stipend & RV It
TravelingYears: 2-5 years
NOWTravelCompany: Cross Country Trav Corp
SwitchCompanies: No
DisasterCompany: yes
NonFriendlyHospital: Naples Community Hospital
Favoritecity: Oklahoma City
LeastFavoriteCity: Naples, FL Los Angeles
Date: 28 Feb 2007
Time: 23:09:43

FirstTravelNurseExperience

Okay... My husband and I travel together ( he is a RN too) we took an assignment at Emory in Atlanta, GA. It was OK. A little reverse racism going on there, but I just minded my own business.

TellAFirstTimer

Be very wary of any promises made over the phone. My recruiter is great and does an excellent job of keeping us out of not traveler friendly areas. The nurse manager of the ICUs at Naples Community completely lied about floating (how often and where). I extended only b/c I drove all the way from LA spent all my savings for the trip so I was stuck. I was floated MANY times to med/surg floors which is very difficult for an ICU RN...read TOO many pts. And when you where floated out you received no help, always took the crazy pts, admits etc. Bottom line...talk to other travelers to get the down low.

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Name: Rhonda
ResidentState: FL
Specialty: tele/step-down/whatever !!
MoneyImportance: 1
BenefitsImportance: 4
LocationImportance: 2
RecuirterImportance: 3
Housing: Give Me The $$MONEY$$
TravelingYears: 2-5 years
NOWTravelCompany: fastaff
SwitchCompanies: No
DisasterCompany: no
NonFriendlyHospital: bakersfield, CA
Favoritecity: Reno !!
LeastFavoriteCity: Bakersfield, CA
Date: 03 Mar 2007
Time: 22:42:15

FirstTravelNurseExperience

First did a 3 week strike, loved it ..so I did a 4 week travel to see...LOVED IT, this is why I love nursing !!!

TellAFirstTimer

Ask lots of questions, get everything in writing !! Travel with a buddy the first time. Be flexible at the hospital, smile & work hard...it always pays off !! Enjoy, you will meet so many new friends !!!

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Name: Tina
ResidentState: IL
Specialty: ICU/ER
MoneyImportance: 3
BenefitsImportance: 4
LocationImportance: 2
RecuirterImportance: 1
Housing: One Bedroom Paid For
TravelingYears: 2-5 years
NOWTravelCompany: Travel Nurse Solutions
SwitchCompanies: Yes
DisasterCompany: On Assignment
NonFriendlyHospital: Our Lady of Fatima, Providence, Rhode Island
Favoritecity: STL
LeastFavoriteCity: Providence, Rhode Island
Date: 19 Mar 2007
Time: 13:23:59

FirstTravelNurseExperience

disaster.... the countryside was great, nurses, were standoffish, stuck up, snooty, management was disorganized, didn't get paid for 3 weeks, if they make a mistake on your check, they pull the entire deposit out of your bank, don't pay any bounced check fees and leave you on your own

TellAFirstTimer

Stay out of the politics, most of us travel because we don't like the games, so remember that. Keep quiet for a few weeks, watch things, listen and learn who to go to for protocols etc. Not everyone likes travelers

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Name: Bobbye
ResidentState: Ms
Specialty: Telemetry
MoneyImportance: 1
BenefitsImportance: 4
LocationImportance: 2
RecuirterImportance: 3
Housing: One Bedroom Paid For
TravelingYears: Under 1 year
NOWTravelCompany: Trinityhsg.com
SwitchCompanies: No
DisasterCompany: None yet
NonFriendlyHospital: None yet
Favoritecity: Mesa, Az
LeastFavoriteCity: None yet
Date: 23 Mar 2007
Time: 02:57:48

FirstTravelNurseExperience

My first traveling experience was at Banner Baywood hospital in Mesa, Az. The first 13 weeks was like a honeymoon. I asked for single housing for me and my husband and they put me up in a 3 bedroom townhome on a beautiful golf course! The townhome was gorgeous and fully equipped! As far as the hospital goes, They had a nurse patient ratio of 5-1 max and they stuck to it, we had experienced charge nurses that were really helpful. We even had a monitor tech, which I find now not all hospitals have in telemetry. I made a lot of friends there, and I feel it is an excellent hospital.

TellAFirstTimer

Find another nurse that works for the company you are thinking of working for and grill him/her on the how the company really works!!

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