There are companies out there that seem to think very little of travel nurses.  They think we are "bandaids"- a poor temporary fix to a problem.  Here is the link to the company CRAP that I am refering to:  http://www.wehavenurses.com

( I learned about this on Delphi Forums   www.delphiforums.com )

Here is a little taste of it:

Unfortunately, hospitals have begun increasingly using the services of traveling nurses to make up for their low staffing levels.  Using traveling nurses is like putting band aids on bullet wounds, it isn't a feasible solution.  Your staff is probably resentful that they are being paid less than traveling nurses.  They may even be leaving you already to be a traveling nurse.  You are sending the wrong signals to your current RN staff if you want to retain them.   If you are an HR professional and interested in keeping your job, you need to put an end to this ASAP!

They give the impression that nurses going Per Diem and Agency are "bad".  That they only do it for the $$.  SO WHAT IS BAD ABOUT THAT???  Do other professions not make career changes to increase income and to better provide for their families?  SURE they do!! So why are nurses getting crap for the same thing? 

Nurses have been underpaid and underappreciated for too long.  Now there are opportunities coming up, such as travel, per diem, agency, etc. that offer more of what we need.... MONEY TO PAY BILLS AND PROVIDE FOR OUR FAMILIES!!  Any company that thinks we are wrong for that CAN KISS MY ASS!   I started out as a new grad with a BSN making a pathetic $12.50/hr back in 1998.  HOW SAD IS THAT!!  Poeple working on the assembly lines with, at the most, a high school education was making $15-18/hr and only working on machines.  I WAS SAVING LIVES FOR A LIVING AND GOT SQUAT!  But, it was my calling and that was what I was meant to do. 

It is high time that nurses start to get the pay they deserve! 

Nursing is ever changing, always stressful, completely exhausting and when you do all that for only enough pennies to break even... THAT BURNS YOU OUT!!  It isn't just the long hours, double shifts, Code Blue's, etc.  It is having to do all of that for little to nothing!  You sacrife yourself, your time, time you could spend with your family and sometimes your sanity... and all for PENNIES!  And any extra you make in overtime all goes to "Uncle Sam"... he gets a HUGE cut of it!

I say to this company... if you want to see what causes a nurse to burn out... be a nurse first!  We can survive all of the above things if we know something good will come of it.  If we know our sacrifices will afford new clothes for our kids, food for our table, a bit of recreation on one of our few days off... then we can better deal with it.

I suggest to you... don't work for this company or any of its affiliates.  Check with your hospital and make sure they do not use this company!

Comments welcome:  inhimamen@yahoo.com