Nurses Helping Nurses
allnurses Network: Central | Jobs | Books | Newsletter
allnurses: A Nursing Community for Nurses
Home General News Blogs Articles Students Region Specialty Degrees F.A.Q.
Travel Nursing /

1st contract



Did You Know?
allnurses is the largest community for nurses on the web. We now have over 385,884 members! Join today to network with other nurses, laugh, share, and much more.

Jun 28, 2008 12:39 PM

1st contract


Was just wondering what the "average" is for how far out everyone signs a contract? This is my first time and i am completing all the paperwork with intellistaff. It is taking FOREVER for the Illinois background check!!!! I would like to leave last week july/beg. of august. I am getting nervous and wondering if i should already have a contract by now to leave at this start date?? Is it normal to sign with only a couple weeks notice?

thanks
nervous in illinois......


Share: Submit Thread to Facebook Submit Thread to Twitter Submit Thread to Technorati Submit Thread to Google Submit Thread to Reddit

Search Tags
None
Top

 
Advertisement
Sponsored Links
 
Reply
5 Comments
No. 1
from bagladyrn
Old Jul 01, 2008, 02:26 PM

Default Re: 1st contract
Originally Posted by trinitygrad07 View Post
Was just wondering what the "average" is for how far out everyone signs a contract? This is my first time and i am completing all the paperwork with intellistaff. It is taking FOREVER for the Illinois background check!!!! I would like to leave last week july/beg. of august. I am getting nervous and wondering if i should already have a contract by now to leave at this start date?? Is it normal to sign with only a couple weeks notice?

thanks
nervous in illinois......
I generally start looking for my next contract about 6 - 8 weeks out. I may not have a contract until 4 weeks out, occassionally it has been as little as 2-3 weeks before the start date.
Many hospitals won't contract much further out than about 4 weeks unless it is a set, anticipated need such as seasonal population increases (as in FL) or a nurse going out on maternity leave. Often they seem to be hoping that the "perfect nurse" will walk in and beg to be hired right up until the last moment, then they want to call someone on Friday to start Monday. (Hard when you are halfway across the country).
Top
 
No. 2
from 2makemore
Old Jul 05, 2008, 04:45 PM

Default Re: 1st contract
Help! I have a contract the recruiter sent to me today and as I read my contract and your posts this contract feels wrong. I am being offered $9.50 per hour (what!?) and vehicle stipend $3400, housing stipend $6750, per diem $4410. for transportation to and from $1000 for a 13 week contract in Albuquerque and the "expense report" says "I agree to keep all necessary documentation and receipts as required by the IRS and return any excess advances given to me( excess is defined as advances not spent for the purposes above). I think this is going to cost me a lot of money, especially since gas is $4.00/ gallon and my gas cost one way would be 450.00! I have never traveled before and would like to but not with this contract. Can you guide me?:
Top
 
No. 3
from bagladyrn
Old Jul 05, 2008, 09:26 PM

Default Re: 1st contract
Originally Posted by 2makemore View Post
Help! I have a contract the recruiter sent to me today and as I read my contract and your posts this contract feels wrong. I am being offered $9.50 per hour (what!?) and vehicle stipend $3400, housing stipend $6750, per diem $4410. for transportation to and from $1000 for a 13 week contract in Albuquerque and the "expense report" says "I agree to keep all necessary documentation and receipts as required by the IRS and return any excess advances given to me( excess is defined as advances not spent for the purposes above). I think this is going to cost me a lot of money, especially since gas is $4.00/ gallon and my gas cost one way would be 450.00! I have never traveled before and would like to but not with this contract. Can you guide me?:
I wish someone had made a smiley with big red flags going up all over it! No way would I ever take a contract like that! Lot's of reasons why. I'm getting ready to leave for work now but will come back later and go into detail, if someone else doesn't do it first. Hoping that TravelTax is out there to grab this one also.
Top

1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 4
from bagladyrn
Old Jul 06, 2008, 02:06 AM

Default Re: 1st contract
Okay - back again for a few minutes to expand on my above answer. First of all, that hourly rate is so far from the average pay rate for RNs that it would be very obvious as an attempt to avoid taxes if reviewed by the IRS. Those other amounts are higher than what should be considered usual expenses for that area - that's why they are making you sign that clause - so any penalties are on you! Now, if you took that contract at that rate and worked any overtime, what do you see that your payrate would be? Looks like $13.75/hr (time-and-a-half of your $9.50 payrate). If you are injured on the job, what rate do you think your workman's comp would be based on? That's right - $9.50/hr. Go for a loan and again, what payrate is their decision going to be based on? You've got it - $9.50.
This might be a good deal - but for the agency - NOT for you!
You are smart to question this efore signing anything.
Top

2 Readers Gave Kudos
 
No. 5
from 2makemore
Old Jul 06, 2008, 01:18 PM

Default Re: 1st contract
I told the recruiter I would not sign this contract and he countered with another offer but it just does not feel right so I told him exactly what I wanted ."Travel 2166 . 84 + lodging 400 . 00+ per diem@49.00/day x 6 days travel 294.00 total round trip travel 2860 . 84 if I drive .
{or you can provide a round trip air ticket and rental car : expeida price SRQto ABQdelta $432 . 50 + 3873 . rental car}
wages @34 . 00/ hour 16 , 380 . 00 per diem 4459 . 00
vehicle allowance 2426 . 97 if i drive

license reimbursement $200 . 00
free private apt to include cable , phone and all utilities 6825 . 00
Total compensation if I drive $33151.81 and if I fly $32169.50

I know your company will still make money, just not as much.

Deal or no deal?" I probably won't get the contract but I won't get screwed either. !
Top
 
Reply




Thread Tools


Who's Online
400 members
3,784 guests
4,184

15

Doctors-in-short-supply-responsibilities-for-nurses-may-expa...

8

Less regular sleep for ICU nurses may lead to errors

16

Nurse sends unused medical supplies to needy nations

24

Premature Births Are Fueling Higher Rates of Infant...

6

MRSA Strain Linked to High Death Rates

25

RI hospital fined $150,000 in 5th wrong-site surgery since...

64

Nursing: One of the 6 Thriving Jobs that are Here to Stay???

90

Dad Fights Hospital to Keep Baby on Life Support

12

A nurse can dream...about awesome nursing

17

California Nursing Situation - CINHC's plan to help New...



7

Why am I doing this, anyway?

0

Nurse Heal Thyself

7

My Papa, why I am the nurse I am today.

15

I made it through

11

An angel's gaze

13

A Sister Never Forgets

16

Ruby's Marbles

29

What Do Operating Room Nurses Do?

14

My Little Old Jedi

17

I love this job......

23

"I hear voices"

17

Preventing FRUTI (Foley Related Urinary Tract Infection) in...

23

Error and Attitude

10

It's Just a Shower

6

Searching for the Purpose





Currently Reading This Page: 1 (0 members & 1 guests)

Interested in the hottest topics of the week? Subscribe to the Nurse-zine Newsletter.
Enter email address: