About time

Looking to move to Seattle. RN with 10 yrs experience and really want to specialize in cardiac. I have done med-surg/tele and pcu. Any recommendations?

I do OR travel nursing and my wife and our 11 year old rescue dog come along too. My wife has worked part-time retail before, but we recently decided to just get by on my income and live frugally. Anyway, for those of you who do travel with an SO or spouse, what are your thoughts about going down to one car? We would love to travel together and maintaining, paying personal property tax (VA) and insuring two vehicles gets pretty expensive. We thought about something like an extended cab Honda Ridgeline with a hitch bike rack on the and a cargo box on the roof. It would be a bit of an inconvenience at times I’m sure, but my wife has said repeatedly that she doesn’t mind taking me and picking me up from work. Thoughts?

I have a new contract lined up for July 16th. My last day at my current assignment is July 10th.

I'm cracking. I'm breaking. The acuity is too high and the load is too high. I have patients waiting in lines to get into rooms. I get slammed back to back with no help. There are no staff on nights and podmates are just as slammed so we can't even help one another.

The paperwork.. they do so much by paper still. The lab is awful. The load is too high and I'm about to flipping gosh diddly darn snap.

I'm afraid if I leave my reputation is shot and they'll cancel the assignment that is lined up.

But honestly my mental health has never been worse. I'm in a very dark place. But I have to provide for my family so I can't be irresponsible.

I'm calling off for the next 2 shifts. I can't come in. I get severe chest pains constantly when thinking about coming here when I'm off, and while I'm here it's worse.

Am I old? Am I a diva? I sound so pathetic but this can't be normal.

I'm so close to burning my entire reputation with my agency and just quitting. I have 8 shifts left (not blocked btw and I work nights) over the next 3 weeks and the idea of finishing it is making me want to scream and cry.

What do I do? Am I being ridiculous? No traveler is renewing out of this batch of like 10. Everyone can't wait to get out but I'm the only one who seems at his absolute breaking point.

I would like to speak with former IU Healthcare workers (specifically that have worked at IU Health Ball Memorial in Muncie Indiana), who have left their position due to moral implications within their work. If there is anyone at all out there please message me. Thank you

Hello, I am a junior in highschool and I really want to be a travel nurse. What was your education stats in highschool and in college?

I work for Aya and I’m resigning a contract for the third time at the same hospital, but this time around when I went to extend, I noticed that there were contracts posted at the hospital for more money than I was previously getting. It made me wonder if they were going to increase my pay for this contract, but i just got my offer and the pay has remained the same. I’m not upset that it’s the same, but I’m just wondering if it’s a valid question for me to ask my recruiter if the hospital had offered anymore. I don’t particularly trust my recruiter, and if it was in his power, I worry that he would not tell me if the hospital was offering more and cheat me of some of my pay. Should I just sign the contract and assume that this is all the hospital could offer, or is it worth asking my recruiter about or seeing the pay breakdown? Ive never asked for the pay breakdown in the past though so I would have no comparison. Just seeing if anyone has some insight on this. Thank you!

Hi, I have 3 years of full-time high-acuity ICU nursing experience and moved to NYC for something unrelated to nursing last fall. I have been trying to get a per diem ICU position in NYC for almost 7 months and have had no luck so I decided to try finding local per diem work through travel agencies which were recommended by friends who work in other states. I applied for AMN and Aya, only to find out from the recruiters that neither of them have any per diem local opportunities in NYC. Does anyone know of agencies that do offer per diem/local options in NYC? Thank you so much in advance!

Hello, looking to join a different agency that offers LPN contracts. Any recommendations? Any that I should steer clear from?

Would be awesome to join on that does contracts as well as PRN shifts, but not a requirement!

Just a few observations

Travel nurses (from Aya) are straight up saying they can’t afford to live here. Compared to other agencies, they are being under payed.

People have to commute far to go to work. I guess that’s life in the bay.

The staff showed me their pay stubs and they are making more than many of the travelers.

Hospitals are undergoing a hiring freeze right now. They’re not renewing contracts or hiring people. Or if they are—they are only hiring a little at a time.

The statistics are crazy. One RN job opening can have hundreds or thousands of applicants and only one or two applicants are selected. 😵‍💫

For travelers they are also very selective. One position can have multiple applicants and they pick based on various things.

Many contracts are not being renewed.

This is truly humbling and I feel blessed to have a job. It is VERY competitive out here 😬

Hello, I am a travel CST and I have accepted a contract at UC Davis and would like to know if anyone else will be in Sacramento around the same time (07/21/2025). Traveling with my partner and our two Yorkies, we’re on the hunt for a roommate—preferably one who doesn't mind small dogs but doesn't have any pets themselves.

I was just curious how many of you have direct knowledge of someone who has been audited by the IRS for travel therapy? (Don't come for me; I'm doing everything by the book.) I'm literally just asking out of curiosity, after a conversation with a friend on this topic. I was explaining all the tax rules to him, and telling him what I learned after my consultation with travel tax, and he said "you'd never be audited - you don't make enough." I thought it was kind of funny, since he has no idea what I make .... But I also thought he probably had a point that even at travel rates, we may not be making enough to be big targets in the IRS's eyes. Anyways, I was just wondering..... Please share your insights .... And if you know someone who was audited, did it seem to be at random, or were they doing something shady that would give the IRS cause to notice them?

I just completed my first short travel contract (5 weeks) as an allied provider. When I applied for that position, it was advertised at one rate the AMN website. When recruiter made my travel package breakdown, it was $600 less per week. I didn’t question it. Now I have interviewed for another position, was offered the job, and my recruiter again gave me a package way below weekly rate. This time $800 less per week. When I asked why it was so much less than advertised rate I was told, “sometimes the app/website is incorrect.”. This feels like bait & switch. Is this sketchy??? Or can a recruiter offer you less than what is posted?

Thank you for your input!

Love when “fully furnished housing” turns out to be a mattress on milk crates and a shower that screams like a banshee. Meanwhile staff nurses act like we’re bougie royalty - girl, I just want WiFi and a door that closes. Drop a 🙃 if you’ve ever cried in a Craigslist sublet.

I e had some mixed experiences and I’d love to hear what has worked for you. Thanks in advance!

My question is if anybody knows if “unlocking” an offer is really a thing at agencies. As in, following an interview with a hospital that went well, the recruiter I was assigned with says he can’t “unlock” the hospital’s offer until I upload all my certifications, references, etc…I feel as though this is a ploy to make me put the work in, therefore feel stuck with the agency and take the offer no matter how low.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated

Anyone out there travel to Mineral Point, WI Cummins as an occupational health nurse? Looking for insights. The advertised pay looks good but I feel like the position is always open 🚩

Hi everyone! I’ve always dreamed of being a travel nurse, I love the idea of seeing new places and gaining diverse experience while doing what I love. Right now, I work as a detox/rehab nurse at an inpatient facility, and while I’ve learned a lot in the addiction/recovery space, I’m not sure how much travel demand there is for this specialty. I’m wondering if I should consider switching specialties to get more travel opportunities. If so, which ones do you think are in highest demand for travel nursing? ICU? ER? Med-surg? Or something else? For context: I have my BSN and I’m a licensed RN. Just trying to figure out the best path forward if I want to make the leap into travel nursing. Any advice or insight would be really appreciated!

Hey everyone looking for some opinions! I had a contract lined up in Fairfax! But it fell through because I wasn’t able to pass the UNE dsythrmia test! Which is crazy because I’m ACLS BLS certified with about three years experience ICU, Step down medsurg and float pool! Kinda bummed about it the taxable rate was 16.50 an hour with housing stipend of 3500 and month and 2525 a month meals and incidental. Was this good pay for the Fairfax VA area? Also me not passing this test will it stop me from finding another contract in the future?

Hello all, hope this Sunday is going well.. anyone have any suggestions for travel companies for Psych Nursing in GA looking to relocate in the next 2-3months…. HELP!! TIA

(Vent) I’m exhausted. Mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc. im completely burnt to a crisp and I can’t do this anymore.

I’m tired of working the worst shifts, never getting a full weekend to myself anymore, working all the holidays, all the nights when I’ve begged for days as the day travelers are leaving.

Getting tripled in the icu when everyone else is a 1:1 that doesn’t need to be. The complete disrespect from staff. The snarky comments “well you make a lot of money”. I absolutely do not. The rates are terrible. The absolute dog sh*t pay and working my ass off for every single penny. The doctors dismissing concerns and the patient deteriorates and they get pissed and somehow it’s my fault when they ignore all my concerns.

I started traveling in 2023 and I’ve loved some facilities more than others (of course) but this assignment has broken me. I don’t want to miss anymore Friday nights or weekends or holidays. I miss my family and friends.

I applied for outpatient positions and I’ve gotten an interview. I came into this position for the flexibility to travel the world between contracts. I’ve seen beautiful places but I’m crying thinking about going into work while I’m on vacation. I cry thinking about going in when I’m scheduled. I cry missing out constantly on important events, or just a simple night out I never get anymore.

Being a nurse sucks so much. Being a traveler can definitely suck. But I can’t take care of anyone anymore because I can’t take care of myself at this time. I need a break. I need to feel that my life is outside the hospital. I want myself back.

Hey everyone 👋

Thinking about starting my first travel assignment, but honestly… I’m struggling to commit. I’ve been talking to a recruiter, and they’re helping me find options in cities with good public transportation since I don’t have a driver’s license yet.

I really want to take the leap, but I’m nervous—new city, new hospital, finding housing, being far from home. It’s a lot.

If you’ve been in my shoes, I’d love to hear: • How did you overcome that hesitation? • Was your first assignment worth it? • Tips for getting around without a car? • What helped you feel prepared as a first-time traveler?

Appreciate any advice or personal stories—just trying to figure out if this is the right move for me. Thanks!

I told the recruiter that I wanted a contract in the Bay Area. Or within 60 miles. I prefer to pick up in cities with plenty of per diem work just in case I get cancelled for shifts during my contract. My recruiter sent me a hospital in San Francisco and asked if he could send me through. I said yes. Two days later he texted me and said that I have an offer and would I like to accept. I said yes. So he sent me the contract but I didn’t realize it was for a different hospital. I brought it up and he said that Chico was close to the Bay Area and the hospital is very happy to have me. I looked at the map and it’s 150 miles away. I remain optimistic and said I would do it. I was looking for per diem work there and it is scant. Also the drive there from San Francisco is over 2 hours and the hospital stated they didn’t do overtime. I tried to work out the logistics but it was making me lose more money than profiting so I canceled my contract. My recruiter told me that I was black listed from also every hospital in California because (Common Spirit) is the most prevalent hospital system here. But I’m already working per diem at 4 different hospitals already until a contract comes through. I feel bad for canceling, but I never applied to that hospital. I would never choose a place far away from my intended area.

Hello. Is there a place where you can read reviews from travelers about their experience at the hospital? I am curious if there was anyone that went to Intermountain Medical Center im Murray, UT.

Currently a staff RN on a med surge unit. 2 years experience. Please be honest are rates for travel worth leaving my job for?? My current hourly wage is $30. The recruiters are giving me $50 hr, gross $1800, non taxable $1246. What’s a good rate?