Traveling nursing predictions 2009-10 winter

[come2kim]

Every year, I try really hard to predict what will be the out come of our nursing seasons. We have seen changes in traveling nursing and many not for the good of the nurses, but many for the good of the hospitals.
We have seen salary roll backs, hiring freezes and the travel market dip by 60-70%- Will they come back? Will salaries stay low? More benefits cut? Less jobs for the season that starts in January? Less requests for the September staffing season? Still less jobs. Shorter contacts for travel? More cancellations and cuts on contracts?

Last year I predicted that travel would have it's worst year ever and I was right. Many were crushed under the avalanche of our highest unemployment rate. Budget cuts, jobs cuts, job terminations and companies closing after being in business 30-125 years.

Now is the time to prepare and plan for winter season, will it start after Labor day as always? Will this be a better winter season- here is what I see;
1. Will jobs come back?- I see the job marketing increasing again for nurses as we prepare for swine flu patients and health issues.
2. More benefit cuts- I see companies travel and alike cutting their spending and yes it means benefits- With the wage of overall health care this could be a detained.
3. Will salaries stay low- Unfortunately for now we are seeing pay cut's to bill rates $5-10 per hour- that is huge.
4. Less requests for the season starting in September- I see a late start for this maybe closer to 10-15-09- Many hospitals are being stubborn and will not add to the budget until the last minute. Similar to FEMA and Katrina.
5. Less jobs in January than normal- No I see the need going crazy a little at a time- hopefully to increase salaries.
6. Shorter contracts- yes I see companies doing more 4 weeks at a time, this is a crusher on the travel companies for housing alone with bill rates that are embarrassingly low.
7. More cancellations and cuts on travel with guaranteed hours- Yes I see this as a sign of the economic hard times.
8. Will the market come back- year with a vengeance.

Will this be better than last year- yes- will the season be better than 2008, yes. Will the jobs arrive in Sept- not many- but look out Dec- lots of requests. Just my 2 cents 30 years HR- 20 years staffing nurses- believe it or not!

[AmandaWIRN]

Thanks for sharing your perspective. I agree that things will improve slightly this year, but I don't think we're going to see nearly as many assignments as in the past. Hospitals are still on hiring freezes, and will avoid having to pay more for travelers if at all possible. I think that flexibility and being prepared are the keys- being willing to take assignments in different locations, and being prepared to accept an assignment that might come up on short notice.

[nurseyo420]

Im just hoping things are better by next spring so I can start traveling again! While Im grateful to be working and being near my family, I miss the fun in living in different cities.