Hello

[At your cervix]

Hi! I'm new to the site. I'm originally from MI and currently work as a L&D Traveler in CA. I've worked M/S, ICU, Home Health and my passion in life...OB. I'm on the central coast at a community hospital that has treated me very well. I'm currently trying to find a place in Wyoming. Has anyone been to Cody or Sheridan? Any good/bad things???

[AmandaWIRN]

Welcome! I have not been to Wyoming, but I have to say... I LOVE your screen name- hilarious!

[Helenthecat]

Dear At Your Cervix,

Hi! This is my first time in this forum. I too am a labor and delivery nurse. I wish I could help you with your search in Wyoming. I don't know anything about Wyoming, but I am looking for information about California and the West Coast. I am a "sort of traveler". I have worked Labor and Delivery for 38 years, and last year I quit my full time job at a local hospital to take a contract with another small county hospital about an hour from home. I had been doing per diem work in addition to my full time job for about a year, and got an offer of a full time contract through the agency where I had done the per diem work.

For a while I worked BOTH my full time job AND the full time contract position. (It about killed me, 6-12 hrs shifts per week.)

What I want to know, is how do you choose a travel company? My husband and I have decided that after the first of the year we want to travel to the west coast (or somewhere else that is WARM for the winter). I have been in contact with a couple of recruiters, and have been SWAMPED with phone calls, emails, letters, packets of information, etc. How do you choose? I wish I could clone myself into 12 or 15 people, I could have that many jobs!

I want my experience to be a successful one, and am concerned that if I choose the wrong travel agency, I will have problems. How did you choose the agency you are working for?

Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

Thanks!

Helen the cat

[At your cervix]

I chose my first company by scanning through the internet adds. Had I come upon this sight, I never would have signed up with American Mobile. The have the worst pay rate. I liked my recruiter, but that's about all. I switched to Aureus medical, because I had talked with several travelers that were very happy with them. I don't know that I'm making the most $ with them vs other agencies. Three contracts later....I'm still here, and changing companies is a PIA.
If I were you, I would contact the ones that are offering you the most money and compare the exact package you need, ie housing requirement, ins, hours guarantee, flight, car rental. Hospitals most of the time work with multiple agencies, which I didn't know starting out. If you sign up with a couple of companies, you will have more contract options and will be able to negotiate. Every company gets paid the same amount. How they divide the money can be confusing, and if you are willing to negotiate, YOU WILL MAKE MORE. Never settle on first offer and always ask for more travel$. My last check, the gov. will let you claim or be paid $0.48/mile. With the price of gas, it may have increased recently. That adds up to way more than the $500 they give you. Another thing that I did was request my extention bonus be diverted to travel when I've eeked out of them what they're willing to pay. You will get more tax free dollars that way.
As for CA, I think the central coast is great. I've been treated very well at a teeny place called Twin Cities Community Hosp. There's a lot to offer and everything is drivable. Every town's weather is different. Pismo Beach has a pretty temperate climate, Santa Maria is hot and cold, more inland it stays hotter, the mountain region get cold and snowy. Where I'm at gets to the 20's and frosty in winter, but....always sunny. Winters could never be as bad as IA.
As for the recruiters calling you, don't plan for that to ever stop unless you say...stop calling me. That's the down side to submitting your info to better educate yourself. Check out Travel Nursing: Travel Nursing Jobs, Travel Nurse Agency & Company I have never traveled with them, but I have mentioned in another thread,that they seemed to pay quite a bit more.
Good luck in your soon to come travels. It's scarry, but it's the best thing I could have ever done for my self personally, professionally and financially. I travel with my husband and 2 small children (18 mo and 4yrs). We have never been happier. We plan to go back to MI when our 4 yr old is ready for Kindergarden.

[cougarnurse]

Welcome to the site, both of you!

'Cat'

[CarlosCaroleSegovia]

Good luck in your soon to come travels. It's scarry, but it's the best thing I could have ever done for my self personally, professionally and financially.

Thanks, AYC.

[singer7]

Hi! I'm new to the site. I'm originally from MI and currently work as a L&D Traveler in CA. I've worked M/S, ICU, Home Health and my passion in life...OB. I'm on the central coast at a community hospital that has treated me very well. I'm currently trying to find a place in Wyoming. Has anyone been to Cody or Sheridan? Any good/bad things???

Hi, I'm originally from Michigan also! And I now live in Wyoming. I'm in Lander but don't work there. I did for a while. I think you will do better in Sheridan than Cody, unless you are only planning to be there for 1 assignment. The hospitals in Wyoming are very small, and you will most likely be required to work other areas in the hospital. I am also a l/d nurse. I am currently working in Idaho and will soon be leaving here to work in Rock Springs, WY. It's about 2 hrs from my current home. It's not very pretty there, but it is in Lander If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me. I also know a few good companies.
Cheryl

[At your cervix]

I would love to get your in put on several of the "revolving" hospitals that have posts q 13 wks in WY and the companies you think highly of.

[MSN180]

Hello!!

What part of Michigan are you from?

Dan Barren
Medical Staffing Network
(517) 664-1810
danielbarren@msnhealth.com
Medical Staffing Network

[auntsas]

Hi, I realise this is an older post, but I was woundering if any of you ended up going to Sherican Wy? I am looking at an icu position there being posted. I am from IL, so any information would be very helpful! Thanks Sarah