[Kendall]

How does a traveling nurse get hid/her "assignment"? do they work for an agancy?
thanks
kendall

[Anonymous]

Yes most of us work for an agency. Some nurses find their own assignments and work independently like a plumber or electrician.

A nurse has a speciality just like a teacher. A math teacher, English teacher, science teacher.

A travel nurse decides where he/she would like to go and then calls a company and asks them if they have a job in the area they want and in their speciality. If the company doesn't have a contract there they might call the hospital and ask them if they need a nurse or they might tell the nurse the name of a company who might have the contract.

A nurse needs a license for the state they want to work in so he/she needs to check that state to see what the requirements are. Some states have an agreement amongst themselves called a compact where the nurse can work in each other's state.. For example I have a Maine license. Maine is my home state. I can work in Arizona, Texas and several other states withour getting a license in that state. I work on my Maine license. Just like many people drive on their license from one state to another. Now California is not in the compact so I have to get a license in California.

WR,,, three commas for Becca

Next question....

[Kendall]

Thank you WanderingRN, you have answered alot of my questions since i have found this site, actually i think you have answered all of my questions, but i will probably have many more.
thanks always
kendall

[Anonymous]

That's ok.. I will answer them for you to the best of my ability.. Which isn't much..And if I can't we will find the answer..


WR,,, three commas for Becca

[obes99]

i have a question....i am a canadian RN and only a few states will endorse me without writing the nclex. if i get my maine license(they endorse)then can i work in any of the compact states?

[Anonymous]

You have to be a resident of the state of Maine to claim compact status.. If you "get" your Maine license without being a resident it will be stamped for use in Maine only.

WR,,, three commas for Becca

[cin3]

I am a maine resident and know of 3 canadian nurses who recently had to sit for nclex and will have to every 5 yrs in order to work in the US may want to check into that

[cin3]

anybody ever worked for a company called express care? anybody ever done a clinical residency with intelistaf thanks for any information

[harvgrad]

In the last few years the hospital that i work for has been employing traveling nurses. Have had to opportunity to chat with of few of these nurses, and I myself have become interested in traveling. Looking at being ready to travel in the next year, and at times get really quite excited about my possible new adventure. But then I come here and see quite a bit of negative. Like housing with dead animals under it, broken contracts, lost pay etc. Does this happen frequently? Is it a constant fight? If you get called off..do you still get paid, and if your contract is broken doesnt the hospital have to still pay...I know if I sign a contract for just about anything...and I break it...someone is still going to make sure they get paid. I just kind of worry that I will be 1,000 miles away from family...and get slammed with no pay, broken contract and responsible for that dead animal that someone else left behind. The reason I would travel would be to make extra money, which would be possible with my housing paid for, cause right now having a savings is next to impossible and to see and live in some new places. So is Traveling really worth it, are the extra bucks really there? Or is it one of those things where "if it sounds to good, it really isnt" And yes I know that several of you have said it depends on the company, but it looks like at least someone feels they have been burned, by almost all of the companies. Is the only way to get assignments is to sign up with several companies? or have most of you been able to stay with just one company and able to get assignments without wait time? or do you just keep extending at your current assignment? As you can see, I have a bunch of questions....some reservations ..but i still have a year to research and watch this board.

[Anonymous]

GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ Lots of questionss.. Whew...



#1 Have 2 or 3 months savings before you go to cover your expenses.

#2 Yes, your housing is "paid" where you are but in order to deduct travel expenses you have to have a tax home.. At least a small apt or a room with rent at the going rate. Say $200-$300 a month so it might not cost you too much to live in another place but it won't absolve you from your responsibilities at home..I still have phone, lights and heat at my condo. Plus a mortgage (sp) and condo fees.

#3 Always always have guaranteed hours in your contract. By that I don't mean for the full 13 weeks but for the week you work..If the census is low and your are available for work and you are "called off" you will still get paid.

# 4 A traveler gets no sick days, no vacation although some companies are trying to give long time employees a week or two.. They want you to stay with them..Saves them money.

#5 I am on my 6th contract. Never a problem with housing..Always remember "Some people would complain if you hung them with a new rope" loll Watch who posts and how many problems they have and how often they have problems Maybe it's them and not the situation...Maybe not.

#6 There are two contracts. You are contracted with your company. The company is contracted with the hospital. If the hospital breaks the contract hopefully your company will find you another.. Most companies won't pay any more than the last week you worked. They want to keep the hospital because they hope to get contracts at another time..Many companies don't realize that it's the nurse who makes money for them not the hospital..Maybe some companies should start getting rid of hospitals who continually renege on contracts..In spite of the fact that you have a contract with a company you are still an at will employee. Yes you could sue them for breach of contract but it might not be worth your bother.

#7 Is it worth it??. I took a 62% increase in pay when I left to travel 2 years ago...HMMMMMMMM

#8 It depends on your speciality, how much you like your company , how aggresive they are in finding work for you ..Many aspects as to whether you stay with them. I wasn't gonna stay with the company I am with but they changed insurance and now have BCBS national plan so as long as they have work for me I will stay with them.

WR,,, three commas for Becca

If you have other questions please post here so we can share with the whole forum.. I don't mind PM but I would like you to ask questions another potential traveler might not think about.