California Travel

[dared1]

I am very interested in traveling to California to work this summer for an 8 week assignment. I have heard through others that instead of going on an assignment with a travel agency, you can contract with the hospital directly to cut out the middle man and perhaps make more money. I know that to do that I would have to provide my own housing and transportation which is no problem because myself and 2 other nurses are willing to do this. Has anyone ever heard of this? What hospitals are offering this and what is the rate of pay? Any info will be so appreciated.

[mattsmom]

That's a great question! I live in WA state and have considered a travel assignment to Cali myself! Why not just call/email a few hospitals and see what their response is?? I do know a nurse who is independant, has his own corporation and markets himself, writes his own contracts with facilities, etc so it can be done. He has an accountant who takes care of his writeoffs for travel, lodging, etc on his assignments. but yes...he has to make his own lodging arrangements. there are websites to visit to find lodging...Craigslist is one I know of.

Good luck to you! I'm not sure I want to mess with Cali state taxes however...I don't know how that would work, do you?

[dared1]

Thanks for the info mattsmom. I never thought about California's taxes. Even though I live in Ga I am a resident of Fla (no state taxes) so I know nothing about state taxes. I heard of an agency called Access Nurses that offers something of a mixture of traveling and per diem work. I have sent them a request for info. I will let you know how that turns out.

[sbnursing]

I am currently on a travel assignment in Sacramento, CA. I have spoken with a few nurses that work per diem with some hospitals. There is one that works for Sutter General and she makes very well. There is another that works for Mercy and is making 55 an hour. I also know that Kaiser pays very well per diem (60 I think) but I hear a lot of bad things about the hospital and its staff. But if you can work anywhere, and get along with anyone, you would do just fine. I could kick myself for not applying at another hospital per diem to work on my days off...thats the thing to do. If you could take a travel assignment, then also hook up with another hospital (outside of their system, of course) and work on your days off then thats where the cush money comes in...while the travel company is putting you up in an apt, and maybe providing a rental car. Just a thought from someone who know a little bit about traveling. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

[Tishlishous]

This is away from your norm but I have a trrible perdicament! My b/f or x whatever is an RN & has recently skipped out of WA to escape im sure dicplinary actions taken by CA for the end of this month. He has had a FORMAL HEARING in Sept 05 for accusations of STEALING DEMEROL from the hospital he was working at. The dr. was prescribing 25 mg of demerol for the patient he was signng out anywhere from 75 to 100 mg of demerol withno account of wastage. This was documentated over a period of 2 days. The same nurse that questioned him on it also seen hm "coming out of the mens rest room with blood trickling down his arm". Of course I questioned him on this & his excuse was always the same"head nurse, fat &old in a bad marriage hates men took it out on him blah blah blah. I have heard this SAME excusefrom him EVERY SINGLE TIME he is let go/fired from the hospial. He ALWAYS does travel nursing BUT NEVER works for the same agency twice!!! His last job here in WA at Good Sam in Puyllup he told me (after 5 days of working) that the hospital was being shut down. He also told me some **** & bullstory about "how he saved the day because some develmentally disabled person got a lighter & was going to blow up the hospital blah blah" . I was doing a search on the hospital a couple days later & what to my surprise THE SAME STORY ABOUT THE PERSON WITH THE LIGHTER was online & it had happened like 2 yrs earlier!!!! Now, he is currently in Hawaii (renewed his license) & skipped before CA could do anything to him & is working there. Would ANY of you report him to the Nursing Assn in Hawaii or just let things run their course? This is NOT the first time this has happened to him. He has a repeated behavior of this (not finishig assignments) do you think hes stealing from every hospital he works at or am I making a montain out of a molehill? This CA incident is the first time theyactually filed charges against him. In my opnion he tries to stay ahead of them & when he feels like they might be closing in on him he quits! I have known im for 9 yrs & I can tell you that this goes on & on with him. Usually after "one of these episodes" he usually "lays low" for about 4-6 mo MAKING sure no body is after him. Please tell me what should I do, shoud I inform Hawaii or not?On top of all this he has a SEVERE ALCOHOL PROBLEM & shoulkd e in treatment.Im afraid hes going to hurt somebody or worse....whats everybodies opnion?