Have you ever been seduced into going Staff?

[Bluebolt]

So I'm on my 7th contract now and I'm out on the west coast. Silicon Valley to be specific at Stanford University Hospital. For the first time I'm actually seeing that financially and benefits wise the staff nurses have it better than I do as a traveler! The workload is what I would call "country club nursing" and the pay is astronomical, benefits include the hospital paying for you to annually take a trip wherever you want (up to $2500 cost) as long as you complete some type of CEU there. I have co-workers who took a yoga-cruise that counted, trips to Paris, etc. $70 to $80/hr is their normal RN pay.

They are offering me a full time slot and for the first time ever I'm considering doing the unthinkable and going staff again! I never thought I could be seduced into that staff role as an RN again.

Have any of the rest of you ever been convinced to go staff when you were traveling and did you regret it? What were your reasons to give up traveling and go permanent?

And don't tell me it was because of true love, I just had a good breakfast that I'd like to keep down.

[NedRN]

Well, love is a big incentive! I could live happily anywhere with a significant other, but California would be nice on top of that.

I'm an unusual traveler I admit, but the best I figure, the financial benefits of staff in California are about a wash for me. The only reason I'd be tempted is the climate. The workload for an OR RN is the same anywhere in the country.

While I like the Peninsula a lot, Stanford doesn't tempt me. Santa Cruz on the other hand... I'd be OK in Southern CA too, I went to nursing school there. Money is not quite as good as Northern CA though.

[Argo]

At 80 or even 90/hour as staff it would not be as financially worth while after you consider the tax incentives and permanent coats of living there. If my wife really wanted to stay I'd do it. If the job markets were drying up I'd do it. If it paid significantly more I'd do it.

[Argo]

Even with that I only plan to travel for a few years to save some extra money and buy a house in cash. After I have enough saved up my wife and I will decide where we want to get a settle down and retire type of home/condo. If there isn't a decent hospital around I will probably still do a contract or two a year as long as I can. If there is a decent hospital around I'll likely work there pt or prn.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

That pay and benefits along with such an easy job that you call it "country club nursing" does sound very tempting. Heck if you don't want the job I'll take it.

Seriously though, will the cost of living there make the phenomenal pay and benefits still seem so great? You've probably been there long enough by now to decide if it is worth it to you to put down roots there.