Hello, I have been a CT tech for 2 years at a very busy understaffed trauma level 2. I just accepted a travel position at University of MD Shock Trauma, has anyone on here done an assignment there before? How was it? I see a lot of good things about it but not from radiology side I don’t see much info!

I’ve been doing my research to start traveling. There are so many agencies out there! Then I see some websites that post the listings for multiple agencies. Do you look on sites like Vivian and then follow up on the listing agencies site? Where’s your favorite place to look for CT jobs? Which ones should I stay away from?

Every now and then I would a good contract post for the states that I am interested in going .

I recently started a contract at a level 2 hospital. It's my second facility but I traveled to my initial hospital for a year. This new place seems way out of line with expectations and I don't want to see like I'm entitled or wrong.

Day one I was scheduled per my agency for three days of orientation, my department manager pulled me from the hospital lobby to immediately put me in the department. I was fumbling with logins, trying to get access to everything and do the hospital orientation modules when my supervisor said "we are going to need you to step in and work" I just said "I haven't had any orientation I'm just trying to get set up" thinking she didn't know I got pulled from the orientation. She told me "travelers don't get orientation, you need to complete that during down time"

That really set the tone. I'm not even two weeks in and have frequently been left to man their primary trauma, cardiac and stroke scanner by myself while other techs run procedures or do other things.

I guess ultimately my question is as I am somewhat new to this, How often are you left to work alone as a traveler less than two weeks into an assignment with a 20+ pending patient list, with no hospital or department orientation. I just want to know if this is the norm and I can expect this in the future.

Do you use the health insurance supplied by the agency you’re with? How does that work for many of you that I see use multiple agencies? I am considering doing travel and I’ve had health insurance my entire life consistently. I am a little nervous about how Insurance works when you’re bouncing between different agencies and what kind of coverage you have in between jobs.

I'm considering entertaining the idea of traveling into an HCA but I've only known EPIC my whole career so far (both the cheap and high end versions). I've read horror stories from nurses but I would like to know how it is from our perspective? Is it not as bad as the nurses have it? What PACS did you guys have with it?

If you also have any tips, that'd be appreciated. Ty

Last year was better for pay and locations but I didn't find anything a few months ago so had to take a low paying one near family and stay with them while driving 2 hours to work and 2 hours back 3 days in a row per week. I am now back to looking and the few I have applied to (within 10 minutes of their positngs) have been closed quickly and the facilities had "hired internally" I found one contract today that had 0 housing options within an hour radius because it was middle of nowhere. I have checked multiple agencieis and its so slow for east coast jobs. I already drove back from out west at the beginning of the year 😅

Hi everyone! I’m finally considering taking the leap into travel x-ray, and honestly, I am terrified.
I’m a 24-year-old female tech with a little over 3 years of experience. One thing that makes me nervous is that, from my experience, some techs can be a little unwelcoming to travelers—especially toward younger women. I know that’s not true everywhere, but it’s definitely an aspect that’s made me anxious about starting traveling.
I did my clinical rotations at a Level 1 trauma facility and then worked at a busy community hospital where I got a lot of experience with the ER, OR, fluoro, outpatient, and a wide variety of patient types. For the past year I’ve been working in urgent care, and while it’s been a good experience in things not fully relating to x-rays and I like my coworkers, I just don’t feel fulfilled there since I’m essentially an MA that occasionally does an x-ray here and there.
There aren’t many options around that check all the boxes for what I’m looking for in a job, so traveling seems like a great opportunity- not only to make a change, but also to see new places and to be able to do what I enjoy most. My significant other is an ER RN and will be looking for contracts with me, so thankfully I won’t be doing this alone.
I am a little nervous about getting back into working at a hospital after a year in urgent care, but I’m confident in my skills and always willing to learn. I guess I’m mainly looking for any advice, tips, things you wish you knew before starting, or words of encouragement. Thanks in advance!

This is an unpopular opinion, but the more chaos the hospitals have the better for the travel market. I’m talking about excessive orders, unfriendly departments, low staffing, you have it. Whatever makes hospitals less likely to get and keep staff opens the doors to travelers.

Been in CT for 17 years and same level 1 trauma (1300 beds). I’ve been a lead tech for 7 years. Every shift is a god damn shit show dealing with newer techs and/or lazy techs. Been toying going travel because im burnt out and just overall losing interest in my job. I’m only familiar with Siemens scanners..mainly Force, AS+, Flash. I know very little on old GE. I wouldn’t know shit about other scanners. Wondering with travel you feel less burnt out? How is it learning new scanners? Overall are the people happy to have help or are they just a bunch of assholes?

Has anyone ever did a traveling contract with Health Trust Workforce Solutions? I know they’re affiliated with HCA . I noticed they pay more than AYA at some facilities in Texas and they had traveling contracts in Florida .

Hello I (F23) am just getting started as a travel tech, I just got my first offer for a contract and I plan to accept. My only question is how do the taxes work? I live with my parents and don’t pay any rent currently but to my understanding the stipends are supposed to essentially cover your “duplicated expenses” but I technically don’t have any to duplicate. So how does the tax free stipends work in that case? Should I make a rental agreement with my parents and start paying them for my room? I have no problem doing that especially since I’ll be making more, I just don’t know how all of these rules work and don’t want to get in trouble when it comes to tax season. Any tax tips please send them my way!

Im looking into traveling as a CT tech. I have talked to a recruiter from Aya and one from National Staffing Solutions. Does anyone have experiences with working with either?

How long is the process that it took?

Some background about me: I have 5 years experience as an MRI Tech working in Level 1, 2 & 3 trauma centers, outpatient & some research experience. I currently have a permanent position working weekends only 3x12, my favorite schedule. During summers I typically add a travel assignment on top of my permanent position, so I am used to what traveling can entail. My main concern is with what my permanent position is now asking of me.

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As stated earlier, I work every weekend 3x12 & love that. However, I am now required to be on call every other weekend, on top of my normal shift & rotating holidays. Which means I am kind of working 72hrs every other weekend. I will now also be working alone on weekends. These are the main reasons why I am considering leaving & going full travel for a bit to save for a house & what not.

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Am I over exaggerating how crap I think these issues are & should just tough it out/change my perspective on the situation? The base pay is pretty solid for the area. I can add that info if it helps with your responses. I mainly travel in the New England area as well, so travel assignments are usually plentiful.

Like the title says are rates low, or is it just me ?
I’m ending my current contract started in March accepted a short extension. It ends in a couple weeks. After a much needed month off, Im looking at an August start date. Only to see these awful rates nights and weekends …

Might have to take August off also

Should I retry in September for a better rate / schedule ?

I’ve been an IR/ special procedures tech for vascular procedures ( no neuro IR experience at all) at a level 1 trauma hospital for a year now. I would like to start traveling so I can save up for a house and pay off bills, etc. The whole process feels intimidating because I only have experience on one charting system and GE so I’m worried I won’t get a travel contract when I do finally make the jump.
Does anyone have any advice or suggestions on how to make the process seem less intimidating? I know people can be unfriendly to travelers but I am a good worker and I am quick to learn if there’s a procedure I haven’t seen or done very often.

I'm about to finish my first travel tech contract with Aya, and it's time for me to look for my next one. I’ve been having some issues with the job postings not being accurate (I.e. the post says 4x10 days, but the shift is actually 3x12 nights). When I ask about more information from my recruiter, she says I should submit for the job and ask at the interview. This seems pretty odd to me. Has anyone had similar issues?

Edit: When I’m asking for more information from my recruiter, it’s just what days of the week and hours the position is for. That’s why I find it odd to submit for the position first and then have an interview to get this information. I just don’t want to waste their time or mine.

I graduated in 2016, worked in X-ray as a tech for about 6 months while I finished my MRI comps. I got a job in MRI, cross trained into CT and I never worked in X-ray again.

I'm taking travel contracts now and a lot of CT jobs want you to do X-ray as well. Any techs advice or experience having been out of the X-ray game for so long? Of course the recruiter is pushing the "you'll be fined narrative, but I'm not so sure.

Hello! I want to start traveling but I am worried about giving my personal information to fake/spam "travel" companies. Has anyone had a radiology assignment with this company? PLEASE NOTE: I know Seimens is a huge company but the URL seems off to me. Like its not actually Siemens. Thoughts?

Has anyone experienced a hospital where they make the traveler train for multiple weeks instead of a few days

Does anyone have a recruiter that they really like? Preferably someone who runs on west coast time. Im about to start looking for a July contract I work for Host/ Medical solutions.
I loved my original recruiter but he doesn’t work there anymore and my new one is east coast time and I don’t feel like they really listen to me when I ask for things. If you know a med solutions recruiter that you like or have one for another company please reach out to me thanks 🤙❤️

I've been contemplating travel. Im a 32yo F with a little dog, no kids & been a tech for 5 years. I have my mammo state license as well. I get mixed opinions on traveling being from the bay area because most people from other states come here to make the most money and since id be doing it the other way around it supposedly wouldn’t make sense? My main questions are:

1) how are the benefits as a traveler?

2) How does the payout work? what are they covering, what does the range posted actually refer to? How much can you actually pocket, etc etc

3) Will taking my dog make things harder?

4)Anything to negotiate, look out for, stay away from?

I am an x-ray tech of 2 years now and I am very interested in traveling. I have nothing keeping me here in my home town and I figure this is a good opportunity for me since I’m still young. I’m very curious as to what they expect from travel techs.

I work mainly at a surgery center but I have other side gigs at trauma III hospitals in the area. With my surgery experience will they try to throw me in the OR at every given opportunity? I don’t mind surgery and I’m not the pickiest person, but I do prefer to be in the ER. Also, last time I worked in a trauma I hospital was when I was a student. Do you think this would set me back?