Difference between travel and agency??

What is the per-diem rate for Johnson City Tenn???? I recently changed travel companies. This new one Advantage RN is offering supposedly a higher hourly rate at 36 per hour. No housing, no stipend, no travel except for a gas card of $250. which is presented on their site as a promo for anyone that commits to a 13 week assignment. My interview went well and I am certain they gave me the position, however this way of negotiating the contract is "muddy"!! I expressed this concern with my recruiter and stated that I would like my wage to be quoted not under this tax advantage plan........which is available to me anyway!!!! I am waiting for her to get back with me. So.....my question is what is the going rate for a travel rn per hour , with housing paid or given a housing stipend, travel to and from assignment???? Thanks for input.

Agency is working in the area (county) you live in.Travel is usually work in a facility atleast 50 miles from where you live. Most hospitals won't hire a "traveler" if they live in the same raduis their FTE's live.

I have done both travel and local agency assignments, the difference is with local you can have a short term (8-13wk) contract or PRN/Per Diem assignments where they send you anywhere and everywhere depending on the need. With Prn/Per Diem you can be cancelled at the drop of a hat, with a local contract, if they cancel you you get paid for the hours. With travel assignments, you have to travel atleast 50miles from your home to qualify for the housing or stipend, with local contracts you don't get the stipend/housing option. I hope this isnt too confusing, I like the local contracts, because it's guaranteed hours and I get to come home every night!

It is a shame Florida is still not on the compact list. As many transients as we have I don't understand it.

very good advice here. I am tossing the idea of travel/local agency. I live in Alabama and do not really want to stay away from home 13 weeks. I thought maybe I would keep my fulltime job and work agency on weekends (may everyother weekend) My fulltime has become 2 8s and 2 12s with Friday, Saturday & Sundays off. Would agnecy work be worth it? That way I wouldn't have to work holidays and could call my own schedule? Please advise.

Yes, where is this??

The difference between a travel nurse and a agency nurse is you have a contract when working as a travel nurse, hours guaranteed, agency nurse hours not guranteed, travel nurse has better benefits.

I've been an RN for 3 1/2 years - 2 1/2 of that as a traveler/agency RN. I'm still working out all the kinks, but all in all, I hope I never have to get a "real job." Yes, agency (local per diem) work can be unreliable - you have to prepare for the down times, and traveling can have drawbacks, but for the most part, my travel assignments have been great and I have learned so much more than I would have if I'd stayed in the first hospital I worked as an RN. My biggest challenge right now is staying with one agency - it's nearly impossible and I worry about my resume showing me working for 3 different agencies already. Also, I'm still learning about what states are good to work in r/t nurse to patient ratio - I've heard horror stories from some travelers about having as many as 8 patients on a day shift. So far, I worked in MN, CA and DE and the ratio has been good - 3-5 patients/RN (usually 4). Yes, sometimes it feels like I've got the "bad" team of patients as I run around like a chicken with my head cut off while other staff sits and does nothing, but that has been rare and, actually, I've approached management with my concerns when that happens and I've always had good feedback. I've received good reviews from all my assignments and even though I'd just as soon forget the one in DE, I still learned from it - if nothing else, what not to do. I graduated from nursing school when I was 50, so travel/agency work helps me control my schedule and allows me to visit my family in CA, and work sometimes when I do, more than if I had a job in a hospital. Plus I can get the holidays off - something that won't happen in my lifetime if I take a hospital job, and have the advantage of taking time off when I need to or want to. Still working out the bugs and financially I'm not ahead yet - but that's more my fault - but I'm looking forward to my next destination and, eventually, will have this down to a science and start enjoying what I call "semi-retirement" through travel nursing. Good luck to all.

I'm currently working on transferring my license to Atlanta,GA area from OH. Can you suggest agencies from others on this forum or is naming certain agencies taboo? I also need to understand the difference between agency contracts and per diem? One is guaranteed pay-the other isn't? Also, do local agencies pay for your license endorsement fees and certification renewals such as ACLS? I am not presently working as a nurse, but want to work weekends to get my skill set back up to par.

When I traveled I had guaranteed hours. If the surgery schedule was done, all went home but the traveler. I did keep busy by prparing for next day or just general cleaning. Did go to other areas on my own to help was never made to do so.