Welcome to Travel Nurse Guide
Travel Nursing Arizona Article
This is a selection made from among articles on Travel Nursing Arizona. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for future reading, click here.
from:
Finding the Right Travel Nursing Placement Agency
By Janet Fikany
Travel nursing is becoming one of our nations fastest growing professions, and its no surprise. If you love seeing new places and enjoy exciting new experiences that evoke the feeling of taking an extended vacation, then the career of a traveling nurse might be just what the doctor ordered! Travel nursing enables many people to stay on vacation for two to six months in free luxury accommodations while earning high hourly wages at the same time.
Yet despite all these advantages, many nurses describe to me that theyve shied away from the traveling profession. Why? Because bad experiences with placement agencies have left them with nothing but a negative impression. Theyve been underpaid or lacked benefits, and I cant tell you how many nurses have complained to me about inadequate housing or recruiters who were unkind, uncaring, and just plain unavailable. The sad result is that nurses end up jumping from one agency to the next, always in search of the perfect package thats never there.
In this light, choosing the right staffing agency requires a nurse to consider everything that is offered. Some nurses emphasize pay as their top priority. Others require an excellent benefits package. Many travel RNs are location-specific and want to experience the lifestyle in the countrys hot spots. Career flexibility is often a pivotal factor, along with customer service. The bottom line is, your agency choice depends largely upon one of the four following criteria.
SALARY
No question about it, there are some agencies that offer more money than others. So the first thing to remember is that agencies may base salaries upon things like location availability, need-to-fill assignments, and cost of living.
Some agencies must offer noticeably higher rates if they expect to fill certain assignments where nurse-to-patient ratios are very low, or where a facility has extreme patient needs. If youre a nurse who is attracted by very high dollars, be alert for a potentially desperate situation you might be entering, and the workload it could bring. You may make more money, but youll earn every dollar and more.
Location also factors into salary. The California bay area and many larger east coast cities definitely offer more lucrative pay rates. Its also much more expensive to live in those places, so recognize the relationship that exists between salary dollars and cost of living. Ive seen nurses return from Hawaii saying they had a great vacation and made a lot of friendsbut their purses were lighter, not heavier from the experience. You might get less money in an exotic location and come back with more money from a not-so-exotic location. My point is, your criteria will determine your priorities.
BENEFITS
What some companies may lack in salary, they make up for with benefits. Many agencies offer benefits programs that revolve around monetary bonuses or discounted luxury housing; and I have even observed a trend with several newer companies that offer entirely free housing to all their nurses. Take note, however, that those agencies may not ante up the really high salaries. Its a trade-off, so they compensate you with benefits to save you daily, monthly, and annual expenses. Every nurse should be aware of what benefits they need the most, and then ask their recruiters to assist in developing a package that is tailored to their individual needs.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
To many traveling nurses, customer service and aid are the most important attributes a placement agency possesses. If you called ten agencies and only talked with one live recruiter, its probably best to narrow it down to the agency where individual placement specialists were easily available. After all, if youre ready to proceed with a new assignment youll want an agency that can make it happen fast and has recruiters available who already understand your criteria. In fact, your criteria may change from one assignment to another, so customer service is paramount. Determine what you want and then find out which agencies can make it happen.
FEATURED LOCATIONS AND HOT SPOTS
While for some nurses, salary, benefits, and career flexibility might be the number-one interest, many others just want the obviousto travel and see the world. If youre an adventurer who cares more about the travel experience than the money, then youll need an agency that can offer you the locations you want.
Not every agency can send you just anywhere. Figure out where you want to go, and then call around to discover who can send you there.
A travel nursing career is absolutely one of the best, most rewarding choices any nurse can make, but its important to select a company who will partner with you every step of the way. Before you jump in, do your homework and research all the best placement agencies. Finding the agency that fits your unique wants and needs will drastically increase your chances of success and happiness in your career.
Janet Fikany is a "Placement Diva" for HealthCare Staffing Network. For travel nursing advice, please visit HSN online at http://www.hcstaffingnetwork.com, or call Janet toll free at 1-877-385-3097.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janet_Fikany
http://EzineArticles.com/?Finding-the-Right-Travel-Nursing-Placement-Agency&id=22231
Travel Nursing Arizona Specific links
Travel Nursing Arizona News
The School Desegregation Case You Don't Know - WISC Madison
 WISC Madison | The School Desegregation Case You Don't Know WISC Madison Their stay in Arizona was only about six months, Felícita said in a 1975 interview with Ayala. "My father, he had a hot foot," she said. "He wanted to travel...so he came to California." The Gómez patriarch got a job with the railroad that brought the ... |
People in action - Inside Tucson Business
People in action Inside Tucson Business Anne Gassmann Rosenfeld, Ph.D., RN, CNS, FAHA, FAAN, recently joined the University of Arizona College of Nursing as associate dean for research. She most recently was associate dean for research, innovation and translation at the Oregon Health and ... |
New staff at Dingmans Medical Center - Pike County Courier
 Pike County Courier | New staff at Dingmans Medical Center Pike County Courier She then opted for the challenge of travel nursing, finding herself stationed in hospitals and clinics all over the country from Washington to South Carolina; from Arizona to Alaska. She was placed in equally varied settings in each station including ... |
Seldom Disappointed by Tony Hillerman - Paste Magazine
 Paste Magazine | Seldom Disappointed by Tony Hillerman Paste Magazine When you're full, try sitting out under the cottonwood trees in the abiding quiet and reading a good book until the high-plateau Arizona light fades in the West. No book? Well, you can buy one in the Thunderbird's gift shop. |
Coming up on CNN - CNN (blog)
Coming up on CNN CNN (blog) Their stay in Arizona was only about six months, Felícita said in a 1975 interview with Ayala. “My father, he had a hot foot,” she said. “He wanted to travel…so he came to California.” The Gómez patriarch got a job with the railroad that brought the ... |
Sedona International Film Festival - About - Cities & Towns
Sedona International Film Festival About - Cities & Towns By Judy Hedding, About.com Guide February 2, 2012 Several Arizona films and filmmakers are represented among the 145 official selections of the 2012 Sedona International Film Festival. Twelve films with Arizona ties will be screened at four locations ... |
Pine, Strawberry are the best kept secrets in Arizona - Payson Roundup
Pine, Strawberry are the best kept secrets in Arizona Payson Roundup When you travel to Arizona's high country this year, don't miss the picturesque villages in the mountains hidden in the sea of ponderosa pines, 15 miles north of Payson on State Route 87. Make sure you have Strawberry and Pine on your radar. |
Wings' Howard to miss next two games - Montreal Gazette
Wings' Howard to miss next two games Montreal Gazette Howard injured his finger in Thursday's win over the Vancouver Canucks and is expected to miss games Saturday in Edmonton and Monday in Glendale, Arizona, against Phoenix. “The good news is it's his stick hand, and it's the tip of the finger,” Wings ... |
Phoenix Coyotes' Gilbert Brule hoping change of scenery pays off - Tucson Citizen
Phoenix Coyotes' Gilbert Brule hoping change of scenery pays off Tucson Citizen 20, 2012, under Arizona Republic News When little boys on backyard rinks dream of a career in the NHL, they imagine slipping on a sweater in the first round of the draft, scoring goals at will and having their mug plastered on the latest hockey video ... |
KSWT: Local News, Weather, Sports Yuma, AZ El Centro Imperial Valley, CA $16 ... - KSWT-TV
KSWT: Local News, Weather, Sports Yuma, AZ El Centro Imperial Valley, CA $16 ... KSWT-TV In one case, an Arlington travel nurse came home in September to find her locks changed and two TVs missing, according to a police report. Authorities say Anthony Brown came to the front door and told her that he had claimed the home and she was ... |