Double-Trouble Posted January 25, 2018 Report Share Posted January 25, 2018 I am retired but my girlfriend still needs to work for a while longer to meet her financial goals. She has been in nursing and nurse management for decades. She is exploring the idea of travel nursing so we can start traveling sooner rather then later. If you wouldn't mind sharing thoughts and ideas please post up. Thank you Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpcoll01 Posted January 25, 2018 Report Share Posted January 25, 2018 My wife has done some travel nursing and our plan is for her to do that when we "go mobile" in 4 years (good lord willin' and the creek don't rise). Generally, she has found that the assignments are in less than desirable positions/hospitals (but not necessarily bad locations). The money is great and usually a significant housing allowance (not taxed as I understand it). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted January 25, 2018 Report Share Posted January 25, 2018 I have known several traveling nurses and currently know one family that lives on the road making their living that way. What is it that you want to know? Quote Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Second Chance Posted January 26, 2018 Report Share Posted January 26, 2018 I have not done the travelling thing but retired from nursing after 42 years (about half in the military at the bedside or head nurse and half civilian in administration). We used agency nurses when we had to during shortages but tried to avoid it for financial reasons. I don't remember any cases where agency personnel were used in management or administrative positions - they were all clinical assignments. Credentialling was critical for any specialty area. The agencies assisted their personnel in acquiring licensure in the state where the job was. Rob Quote 2012 F350 CC LB DRW 6.7 2020 Solitude 310GK-R, MORryde IS, disc brakes, solar, DP windows Full-time since 8/2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double-Trouble Posted January 26, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2018 (edited) 5 hours ago, Kirk Wood said: I have known several traveling nurses and currently know one family that lives on the road making their living that way. What is it that you want to know? Reccommendations of reputable agencies that people have used. Ones to stay away from. Any other thoughts or knowledge they would like to share. Edited January 26, 2018 by Double-Trouble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al F Posted January 26, 2018 Report Share Posted January 26, 2018 (edited) I did an internet search for "traveling nurses forum" and got several hits of blogs and forums about traveling nurses. I would suggest picking several of the hits and start reading. It shouldn't be too hard to find a few which contain good to excellent information. For what it is worth, the above is the method I used to find a lot of RV'ing info. You find some worthless sites and others that have lots of great info. Edited January 26, 2018 by Al F Quote Al & Sharon 2006 Winnebago Journey 36G 2020 Chevy Colorado Toad San Antonio, TX http://downtheroadaroundthebend.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted January 26, 2018 Report Share Posted January 26, 2018 Our friends are using Atlas MedStaff to locate nursing positions. They have now been using them for 3 years. Quote Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double-Trouble Posted January 26, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2018 Thank you Kirk! That's the problem Al, knowing which ones are worthless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou Schneider Posted January 27, 2018 Report Share Posted January 27, 2018 On 1/25/2018 at 1:03 PM, jpcoll01 said: The money is great and usually a significant housing allowance (not taxed as I understand it). A housing allowance isn't taxed if you spend it all on housing. If you don't, the unused portion is taxable income. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
57becky Posted January 29, 2018 Report Share Posted January 29, 2018 We had four traveling nurses around us while in California, and they all used an agency, don't know which, but they all signed up for 13 week stints, and then could renew if they wanted to and there was an opening. We were even parked next to a traveling doctor earlier last year and I guess he was also using an agency the same way. I guess this a great way to see the country and the plus is you don't get bored with any one location. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skater91 Posted October 14, 2018 Report Share Posted October 14, 2018 I have been doing contracts on the road since 2002, on my second Class A. Jobs for management level RN's are not common, but are more so than 10 years ago. Some of the jobs i walk into are chaotic, with resident staff that are 'traveler fatigued'. Mmgmt jobs above my pay grade can be worse. I had to end a job at 715 am one morning because a rent-a-mgr tried to shanghai me into doing an OR case I had no training for. You have to ferret out the reason why they need you at the job site. Best answers on the interview from mgmt are: we have a young staff who are serially pregnant (means stable work force, with ties to the area), key staff out on leave for surgery (you are just place holding til they get back. Sketchy answers involve complete loss of staff from the area, "they moved away", 'after we trained them'....they saw the writing on the wall and don't want to stay. Or, 'we have a hard time attracting staff to this locale'. There is always local staff in the area that mgmt have pissed on and won't work at the hospital, or even bring their family in for care. I peruse the hospital career page to get an idea of how many short they are in the area I work in (OR) and how long they've had positions open. Also look at ALL the positions in the area with openings. If there are ads for techs, housekeepers, anes. techs open, that tells me I will be doing triple duty when I arrive there...because RN means you do ANY job needed if there isn't a body populating the FTE, eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted October 14, 2018 Report Share Posted October 14, 2018 1 hour ago, skater91 said: I have been doing contracts on the road since 2002, on my second Class A. It is great to have you join in the forums! Please don't be a stranger here as I'm sure that you have much to share. Quote Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cherilanet Posted October 17, 2018 Report Share Posted October 17, 2018 I traveled as a nurse in 2017 to Texas and would do it again. I did a lot of research and Highway Hypodermic was full of endless information for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lappir Posted October 17, 2018 Report Share Posted October 17, 2018 My first Travel Nurse assignment was in 1989. I have traveled for the majority of my career. The best company is the one you feel you can trust, but it's like buying a used car, except you usually don't get to see the face of the person trying to sell you on what you want to buy. Seek the advise of your professional tax adviser before banking on any additional tax free money. The tax laws are ever changing and are certainly not CLEAR in their interpretation. My thought is the only people who benefit from the low taxable pay rate and high "non-taxed" payments are the companies that promote them. They are not required to pay their share of the income taxes that are taken out of your paycheck. I am not a Tax Professional though. I will continue to travel until I am no longer able to work. Many places have asked me to stay on staff, but none have made me the offer I cannot refuse and doubt that they ever will, it would take a lot. Feel free to private message me with specific questions. Rod Quote White 2000/2010Volvo VNL 770 with 7' Drom box with opposing doors, JOST slider hitch. 600 HP Cummins Signature 18 Speed three pedal auto shift. 1999 Isuzu VehiCross retired to a sticks and bricks garage. Brought out of storage the summer of 2022 2022 Jeep Wrangler Sport S Two door hard top. 2007 Honda GL 1800 2013 Space Craft Mfg S420 Custom built Toyhauler The Gold Volvo is still running and being emptied in July. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cooper Posted September 10, 2019 Report Share Posted September 10, 2019 With patience, you can wait when you are ready to travel with your wife. In the meantime, you can do the preparatory phase Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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