$200,000 to travel to Iraq

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SCGreywolf

76 Posts

Specializes in ICU/CCU/ER/CVICU.

Yes, I work a bunch of OT. Now on staff at a hospital in the SW and working 5 nights a week. I am just about maxed on SS deductions for the year and will max in the next two paychecks. I made in excess of 150K last year as a traveler. Yes I worked a lot.....but at least I had the right to refuse. Do you really think that option exists for the nursing staff in Iraq? I did a contract for DOD in Columbia years ago and was not ever off duty. Granted I was at a FOB and not in a hospital but when I wasn't actively taking care of patients, I was on call.

I had an offer for a stint in Iraq/Afganistan last year. 260K for 8 months. Sounds fantastic, doesn't it? Trouble was, I would have been out in the warlord camps as a "Community Action Nurse". Yeah. right. Just me and my two buddies....Mr. Colt and Mr. Hechler and not a whole lot else. If you are looking for a place to make a lot of money (and be able to enjoy it), stay in the States and work travel Pick and choose your contracts wisely and you can make a bundle....and most likely not get shot or abducted. Granted you can get in a lot of trouble in most of the big cities but at least you won't be a target because of your religion. Trust me, if I thought I would make it back in one chunk, I would have gone. The public is not hearing about a lot of stuff outside the Iraqi cities and the sandbox is NOT a game.

The Wolf:paw:

SCGreywolf

76 Posts

Specializes in ICU/CCU/ER/CVICU.

Sorry, hit the button too quick. That should be 160K, not 260. Just for those with the $$$ stars in your eyes, YOU EARN EVERY DOLLAR. There's no going out for a pizza and beer, there's no "I'm sick". There's just a BIG bunch of sick and injured folks you can't even talk to. If you go, you will find out that it is the most intense time of your life. I DO guarantee that you will never, ever be the same and not always for the better.

The Wolf

bagladyrn, RN

2,286 Posts

Specializes in OB.
Yes, I work a bunch of OT. Now on staff at a hospital in the SW and working 5 nights a week. I am just about maxed on SS deductions for the year and will max in the next two paychecks. I made in excess of 150K last year as a traveler. Yes I worked a lot.....but at least I had the right to refuse. Do you really think that option exists for the nursing staff in Iraq? I did a contract for DOD in Columbia years ago and was not ever off duty. Granted I was at a FOB and not in a hospital but when I wasn't actively taking care of patients, I was on call.

I had an offer for a stint in Iraq/Afganistan last year. 260K for 8 months. Sounds fantastic, doesn't it? Trouble was, I would have been out in the warlord camps as a "Community Action Nurse". Yeah. right. Just me and my two buddies....Mr. Colt and Mr. Hechler and not a whole lot else. If you are looking for a place to make a lot of money (and be able to enjoy it), stay in the States and work travel Pick and choose your contracts wisely and you can make a bundle....and most likely not get shot or abducted. Granted you can get in a lot of trouble in most of the big cities but at least you won't be a target because of your religion. Trust me, if I thought I would make it back in one chunk, I would have gone. The public is not hearing about a lot of stuff outside the Iraqi cities and the sandbox is NOT a game.

The Wolf:paw:

Female nurses reading this should keep in mind that you are at risk because of your gender and nationality as well as religion. Factors it is impossible to disguise.

corbon

40 Posts

"Sorry, hit the button too quick. That should be 160K, not 260. Just for those with the $$$ stars in your eyes, YOU EARN EVERY DOLLAR. There's no going out for a pizza and beer, there's no "I'm sick". There's just a BIG bunch of sick and injured folks you can't even talk to. If you go, you will find out that it is the most intense time of your life. I DO guarantee that you will never, ever be the same and not always for the better."

The Wolf

Are you speculating or have you actually done an assignment there or something similar in that area? I would rather have actual facts than heresay.

d_downer

7 Posts

I was wondering how you decide what jobs to take? Is this salary of approx 100K a year typical of travel nursing? I am going to graduate soon and want to become a travel nurse (once I have some experience of course) and am curious. Also, how often are you working to make this money? Thanks! dd

SCGreywolf

76 Posts

Specializes in ICU/CCU/ER/CVICU.

Sorry, haven't posted in awhile. Travel nursing is going thru the same contractions as the rest of the economy. As soon as you get some experience under your belt start inquiring. The best salaries come from the 'emergent' staffing agencies such as Nurse Choice (my preference) and Fastaff. Usually the assignments paying the most are in the non-compact states because of the limited supply of nurses. You can view hourly pay on Nurse Choice's website but Fastaff doesn't offer this option. Both agencies usually contract for 48 hours a week and 8-13 weeks. Many of the travel agencies brag about their high pay but when all is said and done, they include your housing cost and travel, etc. Best thing I can tell you is LOOK AT THE BOTTOM LINE. Be careful of Strike nursing as the promises do not meet the talk.

As far as the overseas assignments are concerned, there are a few things to consider:

1. If you are female, stay OUT of the middle East except for Quatar and UAE. Even Saudi is getting rough.

2. Male or Female......if you are not ex-combat military, do not take assignments in Iraq or Afganistan. You have a high likelihood of not coming back. Blackwater is the company that offered me the assignment in Iraq and the only reason I considered it is because I spent 10 years in the Army as a A-team medic in combat situations. My stint in Columbia for DOD was for one year and I averaged lead flying around me about every 10-12 days. Believe me, that is not a sound I ever want to hear again. There is no dollars high enough.....I'm too old and no longer consider myself immortal. My wife would not like this old bod full of holes or additional scars.

Good luck. Travel nursing can be heaven or hell....it's what you make of it.

:paw:The Wolf

d_downer

7 Posts

Thank you soo much for the information! It's really going to help me out. I really appreciate it. I am definately not ex-combat ready, though at the time I would have been if I could have. Now though, I think I would like to keep myself in as many working pieces as possible.

SCGreywolf

76 Posts

Specializes in ICU/CCU/ER/CVICU.

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Are you speculating or have you actually done an assignment there or something similar in that area? I would rather have actual facts than heresay.

No, I never spent any time in the sandbox. I have taken contracts for DOD and the State Department and ALL of them put me in situations that I would rather have avoided. I have been in Columbia, Indonesia, a backwater part of Thailand and a short (thank goodness) stint in Pakistan. In every one of those, I have had situations that made me wonder if I would ever see the US again. Pick and choose wisely, my friend. :paw:

d_downer

7 Posts

I went to the airforce right out of high school and at my 3 year mark or so, I seriously thought of cross training into sat ops or EOD. I am glad I didn't now. :) But I had always wanted to be as close to the hot spots as I could get, but in the back of my mind, I thought I may not like it as much as I thought I would down the road. I decided to get out at my 4 year mark and have no desire to be in the hot spots now...I agree that the money isn't worth it if you don't get to come back and enjoy it.

Thanks so much!

dd

Gabriel13

25 Posts

Specializes in Emergency, home health, urgent care.

To the Wolf-

Hello! You seem to know a lot about travel nursing and where it's at currently. This is a bit tangential to the original thread, but I followed it to your posts. I'm an RN with about 18mos experience in, all ER, and worked as an ER medic for 3 years, and years more of prehospital experience. I'm interested if you could proffer some advice to me. I'm looking for travel assignments in he SW USA, specifically Arizona and the Greater Phoenix area. I've been in touch with a couple agents. What should I look and ask for in a contract, and what can I reasonably expect from it? What would be a good range to ask for in hourly pay? Where are the regions/agencies/states (in all US) that you can earn the most coin? I would much appreciate any advice you could offer me. Also, have you or anyone you know worked for the federal government's Indian Health Services? What has your (or others you know) said about the experience?

scmadm

6 Posts

I have worked a couple of short stints in the hospitals run by the IHS. The one at Rosebud, SD and the clinic at Lame Deer, MT.

The best advice I can give new nurses with BSNs is this....If you don't mind living in a remote rural setting in the US, then really consider becoming a nurse for the Public Health Service, Commission Corp and then working for the IHS. You would basically be a commissioned officer in the PHS and can work anywhere a federal nurse is needed. Beside the few nursing jobs with the FDA, most jobs I know of are with the Federal Prison system and the IHS.

Benefits:

-Tax free housing allowance

-decent base salary that goes up with every year and pay grade increase. (Google PHS Commission corp payscale)

-no overseas deployments. You can be deployed(sent) to a natural disater site like Katrina but only for 2 weeks at a time. I believe you can voluteer for longer periods if you want.

-Retire like the military does. 1/2 pay after 20years, starting when you retire, not when you reach 65-67 years old. Free healthcare also. Now...think about this....if you are 23years old now. Where will you be in 20 years? Working for the same hospital and looking forward to ANOTHER 20 years before you can retire with a $2000/month retirement that YOU have to pay for healthcare? OR work for the IHS or prison system as a CC nurse, retire and draw a $3000-4000/month retirement at age 43 with free healthcare? The CC will pay for additional degrees as well. You have to take a commission before you turn 44. I found out too late. Of course as a CC nurse you can move and transfer to any place federal nurses are used and not lose a dime or any time. You may have a harder time moving the further up the pay scale you go, but it's still doable. For more info google "PHS Commission Corp".

SCGreywolf

76 Posts

Specializes in ICU/CCU/ER/CVICU.

Sorry, Don't get on here much lately. You have the answer to your question about IHS in the post immediately following yours. As far as travel nursing is concerned, you really have to ask yourself a few questions.

1. Can you handle being away from everything you know including people for at least 4 months at a time? I know they promise that you can 'get away' but do you realize that you will be totally alone in a strange city for most likely 4 months? No resources, no late night burger runs with your bud, not even a quick beer. Think about it...that does in more travel nurses than you realize.

2. How well do you adapt to new rules? Every hospital has different rules and you will only have a day or two to learn them and be ready to change. How well do you adapt to change in yout personal environment?

There's very little satisfaction in money itself if you don't enjoy something that you are doing.

That being said, the most money for travelers (as far as I know) is being paid in the California and New York markets. I repeat that if you are willing to work and you are primarily after money, take a contract in California for 36 hours or 48 if you can get it then sign up for the daily agencies for your OT. That way, if you're totally whipped after 48 hours you just don't answer the phone. You can do it.....I made 187K in 2009, worked my butt off for 9 months now sitting back and working 3 nights a week and snowboarding and skiing a lot. Planning on spending some of the money on a trip to Madagascar and spending a month there then coming back thru Algiers, Casablanca and Corsica. Frankly I am at the age where money just flat isn't the motivator it used to be.

Can't really speak to the Arizona market except to say that usually (Lord, I hate using that word) Pheonix needs all the nurses it can get. I don't think I would take a contract there unless I was getting at least 33-36 per hour plus housing. If you want to make money, go with Fastaff or Nurse Choice and be ready to move out within a week or two. Their contracts are usually (there I go again) 8-10 weeks and the housing is Extended Stay Hotels, not apartments. If you take a contract that supplies an apartment, be prepared to be disappointed. It will be the cheapest they can find on the market....budget, don't you know,,,,,,,,,,,,

The Wolf:paw:

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