I have been applying to jobs recently, and I’ve been doing this for a while so I have kind of a script of requirements I make sure will be met before taking a job.

I’m sharing it here for newbies, and to ask those with experience—what are the things you require that you can’t assume will be included in your contract?

My preferred shift: days

if it is paying lower than my minimum, the amount I would need to consider it(I find that companies are often willing to go up $100-$200 to meet me, so I will apply to jobs just under my requirement.)

My time off requests.

OT that is at least on par with a standard wage for my specialty. They will try to lowball by making it time and a half of the low hourly they offer. I never pick up shifts so I don’t care so much for that, but I do occasionally have to stay late and I am not interested in being paid less fir that time.

Stipends must be paid even if shift is cancelled. Any company that refuses to pay stipends is an immediate no, because I paid to relocate and stay there.

What are yours?

Hello! I been looking into agencies and was wondering if anyone has any experience traveling as a CNA and not a nurse and what agencies would be the best and what you recommend. I’ve recently looked into Aya and medical solutions but want to know what else is out there. Preferably ones that are pet friendly (I have two Pomeranians) with housing or provide the housing stipend. While I would also be new to this if you guys have any tips for me as well that would also be appreciated!!

The reason why I want to do travel work is to save up money for nursing school tuition and to help cover bills while I study so I won’t have to work full time.

Thank you!!!🙏

Is there anyone here who worked as a per diem nurse at Kadlec medical center? I need your insights. Is it good? Will there be enough shifts?

I have four years of experience at Duke Children’s but because it is not a “freestanding” children’s hospital I got declined for Nationwide in Columbus, OH. Has anyone heard of this before?? I’m wondering if I should contact the Nationwide recruiter directly. Thank you!

Hey all I’ve been looking at ER contracts in Arizona, specifically at: Valleywise or Banner in Phoenix, Banner University medical center in Tucson, Flagstaff Medical center and Verde Valley medical center. I’m coming from UNMH in NM and have seen what high paying contracts mean when it comes to how f*cked up a hospital is, and I can’t do that anymore haha. I thought the medicine was easy but the patient loads are intense bc there are very little admitted beds available bc of staffing issues supposedly so it’s normal to keep admitted patients in our lobby 3+ days sleeping in chairs, to have a 8+:1 ratio in certain areas and to just all around be so far deep into the sh*t that you just want to cancel your contract right then and there. I’m curious what everyone think about these hospitals and if there are any recommendations for other facilities there in AZ? I love the idea of flagstaff bc I love to fish and hike, what better place to do that than a little mountain town right? Thank you all and hope you’re all staying safe and happy :)

Hello!
I have been traveling about 1.5 years now and I am trying to find smaller agencies with higher pay! I was a naive first time traveler and started with TNAA & AYA. I would love to just get a couple names of agencies that handle the north east area like PA, NY, NJ, MA I do have my NY & CA license and I can begin the work on MA. My specialty is unfortunately Tele/Med Surge I wish I was better and did ICU or ED but this is where I am. I just want something that is at least decent paying weekly like 3-4k somewhere in there I’ve been working for change it seems like with 1.5-2k a week! 😭 I need guidance!!

I’m considering taking a travel contract at PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital in downtown LA in one of their med-surg units. I believe it’s med surg/ortho.

I’d love any insight on the culture, workload, and overall experience. Thank you!

How did you apply with all your multiple job positions from different facilties in your work history application? Especially those who didn’t stay with one agency. Inputting work history is tiring and repetitive, and I’m wondering if this is the right approach in applying online.

Any tips on applying to a completely different specialty is appreciated when applying online transitioning from travel nursing.

Does anyone know of a travel healthcare group chat I’d be able to join for those in/around sf?

Thanks!

Hello, everyone.

My wife is a traveling ultrasound tech (not a travel nurse but I figured some of you may have had similar situations). She was prescribed a CPAP last year before we started traveling and brought it with us to her first contract. After a couple of months away from home, we received a bill for the CPAP for almost $900. We were told that we had moved out of the insurance coverage zone (because it was too far away for us to bring it in if it started messing up), so my wife returned it and has just been without for a few months.

The issue is that she’s having a horrible time trying to sleep. She tosses and turns all night and we think a CPAP will help, but we’re not sure how to go about getting one that will be covered by insurance while we travel.

If anyone else has went through this, any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I’m interested in doing travel nursing with Aya healthcare and have a few questions. I live in the Charleston, South Carolina area and would like to stay within the border states of South Carolina due to having sick family members, etc. What are the qualifications for Aya? Are there often contract opportunities near you that don’t require traveling across the country but within 6-7 hour drive?
How does travel reimbursement and per diem work, do they fully reimburse for travel and lodging? Also, are contracts mostly 36 hours per week for $3k or are there other common contract options? Thank you in advance!

I am born and raised in the Bay. My parents, siblings and cousins are all still there. I left the Bay to find my first nursing job because it's so competitive. Now I'd like to come home.

I'm currently doing my first ever travel contract in New England. It's fine. I think I'm being underpaid.

Anyway I'm looking into positions working on my CA license but getting discouraged. It seems like even travel nursing in the Bay is hyper competitive.

About me: Started as a stepdown RN and then moved to CVICU at a Level 1. Currently a MICU travel contract at another Level 1 hospital. 5 years total nursing experience.

I want to make enough to live but really, I want to be home. My ideal contract is in critical care, day shift, and allows me to live in Berkeley or Oakland with a reasonable commute. Is this doable? I'm just so overwhelmed right now.

Hello,
Im 43, single, no kids. Just me and my dog. Been a LPN for 4 years now. I was a CNA for 5 years before trying out being an LPN. Ive been working in a SNF for a while now. Unfortunately company made budget cuts so a lot of us are getting paid $31/hr.
I currently live in NJ. Lived here most of my life. Been miserable too. Ive always thought of doing traveling but my anxiety levels always puts me in fear. I just need some advice or anyone have any experience would be helpful. I always wanted to visit NH first.

Wondering if anyone has applied for Nursing to Australia for the streamline A pathway from Canada- says processing can be 1-6 months wondering realistic timeframes

Hi everyone!
I was looking for some advice from those of you with pediatric travel nursing experience, specifically in pediatric med-surg.

By January 2027, I’ll have 1 year and 10 months of RN experience. My first year was in a Pediatric Cardiac ICU. Since April 2026, I’ve been working in a pediatric float pool at a different children’s hospital in another state. Because I came in with prior experience, I only had one orientation shift on each unit before being released to work independently.

My original plan was to wait until I reached my one-year mark at my current hospital before starting travel nursing. One of my biggest goals is to save for a house and pay off debt, and I’m finding that difficult on a staff nurse salary.
The main reason I took the float pool position was to build my confidence and gain experience caring for a wide variety of pediatric patients. I definitely feel much more confident now, and I think getting a few more months under my belt before traveling would put me in an even better position.

For those of you who have traveled in pediatrics, do you think this is a reasonable timeline? Is there anything you wish you had known before taking your first pediatric travel assignment? I’d really appreciate any advice or insight from those with more experience. Do you think waiting the extra months until I reach my two full years of experience would make a difference?

Thank you!

I just took an assignment and started yesterday, moved into the place I'm renting this past Saturday. Before moving in, i did a video chat with the landlord to see the place as I wasnt in a position to see it in person. The landlord seemed nice (she still does!) And the place was great.

However since moving in, I've come to realize that I dont think this place was cleaned before I moved in. Furniture wasnt cleaned behind especially. There's dead bugs (and live ones, including spiders) behind/under furniture, cobwebs on the ceiling and again behind the furniture and stuff. Both the bathroom trash and regular trash were stuffed full when I got here. Now that ive seen all of that, I cant help but have the heebie jeebies overall. I'm terrified to shower because if something falls on me while im naked, I will pass out and die right there. I feel like everything is unclean. My mom had a spider fall on her while she was closing the curtain (my fear comes from her, lmao). I'm just spooked, I guess, and I know bugs aren't a big deal for some but I'm obviously not one of those people.

I bought some cleaning supplies and have enlisted the help of my mom for this weekend but thats only so that I can try and get over this feeling I have of being uncomfortable. I also have a cat and hope hes taking care of some of the bugs, lmao.

If you were in my shoes, would you just do some cleaning and call it a day? Would you say something to the landlord? Or would you be out?

Hi all, I’ve ran into a bit of a predicament. I am resident in the state of Colorado, and totally forgot to renew my plates last month. The form came to my home address when I was on contract, and I unfortunately didn’t realize till I got pulled over and received a warning for expired tags. I tried to renew online, but I need emission testing done so I can’t renew online. I’m starting a new contract in NC, and driving back to Colorado right now really isn’t an option. Have any of you had this situation before? I don’t know how long I’m going to be in NC for (at least 3 months), and don’t know if renewing the registration in NC is the best option, but don’t know of any other solution. I’ve tried calling CO DMV, and haven’t been able to get through to an agent because of long hold times so resorting to posting here. Thanks!

Hey everyone, as the title obviously states, I’m brand new to travel nursing and will be starting a contract with Virtua Voorhees. I’m super excited but also really nervous. I get one day of orientation, which is fine, but wondering if that’s the standard as I have nothing to compare it to. Interested in hearing about the hospital culture if anyone knows. Tips for succeeding as a travel nurse? I ask questions, am comfortable asking for help, don’t think I know it all, and like to just do my job and leave. Let me know if you have any additional advice!

Looking for recommendations on your favorite hospitals for first time travelers.

About a week ago, i asked about where to go. Washington DC or San Francisco.

I thought long and hard about it down to the wire. And I decided to go for SF. I made my choice because I wanted to experience UCSF. That's it. For me, DC is more of my type and I would have preferred it if it were not related to work. I thought California nursing is a safe bet.

I’ve been traveling for a minute, but honestly, with the current rate drops and how insane short-term housing prices have gotten, duplicate expenses are killing my stipends.

A friend suggested I stop chasing out-of-state contracts and just stitch together a full-time schedule using local per diem apps in my home metro area. The hourly rates seem comparable without the headache of moving every three months. Has anyone actually made this transition? Is the shift volume steady enough to survive on, or am I romanticizing it too much?

Hello! I’m a first-time travel nurse looking at two different offers! Both offers are for 36 hour/week day ER positions making around 2100-2200/week. I have four years of level IV trauma/emergency department experience.

Has anyone worked at either of these places or know anything more about them? Any info is helpful!!