How to be a travel nurse

[MistyDawnRN06, BSN, RN]

Okay, since I've had a positive experience with travel nursing, my friends are thinking about jumping on the band-wagon. Here's the advice I'm giving them. Tell me if it sounds legitimate or if there's things I should change:

To be a travel nurse, you have to go in with the right attitude. You are there to fill a need. Expect to work hard, and expect to be flexible. There are days when you will get the crappy assignment. You will always be floated first. You may have a week or two when you get the terrible schedule. It happens . . . just like with a staff job!

Here's how the process works:

You decide you want to travel nurse.

Choose a state and apply for a license 3 months in advance.

Start contacting travel nursing companies. I recommend working with 2 or 3 recruiters only - more is too many! They will have you apply to the company and complete a skills checklist. Go ahead and do it.

Let each recruiter know that you are working with others and that they do not have permission to submit your file until you choose a position to apply for.

Let the recruiter know specifically what you are looking for - ICU job, days position, need certain days off, etc. Make sure you have your thoughts ready. Think about the length of your contract as well. Generally the minimum is 13 weeks.

Once you find a position that sounds reasonable, now you negotiate for money. This is where having more than one recruiter works for you. You have to know that working for a travel company is like working for a used car company... you have to negotiate for everything and it never hurts to ask for money/benefits - they can only say no.

Ask for a starting bonus, ask for a completion bonus, ask for increased travel reinbursement, ask for a higher hourly rate, ask for a per diem allowance for meals and incidentals. Make sure you know what your housing benefit will be and make sure that you receive any overage (If you are accepting their housing, otherwise make sure it is a fair housing stipend for the area you are looking to live in - look at average rent prices on one-bedroom or studio housing.)

Once you've worked out the money, now you let the recruiter submit your application for the job. Make sure the recruiter sets up your phone interviews for you so that you aren't surprised. When you interview, ask about required skills, environment, patient ratio, uniform need, and any other questions you may have. Ask the interviewer what the hospital's policy is on floating travelers, what the policy is on calling off travelers, what the hospital's policy is for hours for travelers (are they guaranteed), and ask what the hospital's policy is for if you get deathly sick - will they let you make up the hours later?

Realize as a traveler that you do not have sick days, you do not have paid vacation, and if you don't work, you don't get paid. If you get called off and can't make up the hours, you may have to pay money back to the travel company for your housing - your housing benefit is only for if you are working the contracted hours.

Just do your best to be friendly and flexible with the interview. Never burn your bridges. You don't accept the position from the nurse manager. If the interviewer likes you, the recruiter will get word and that is where you will be offered the position from and where you will accept from.

Expect to have one day of hospital orientation, and two days of unit orientation and then be prepared to be off and running.

One of the biggest things I've learned is once on the unit, just keep on the down-low about the level of medicine you've worked at. Every hospital thinks that they are the best and you will find that Shands is generally more advanced than everyone!

Be honest. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

You will need to have all of your titres drawn before you travel, so get started on that. You will need a recent PPD. You will need a physical. Have copies of everything and keep copies of everything! You may need a color-blindness test also, depends on the facility.

You will be able to move into the housing 2 days before your assignment starts and you have to move out 2 days after the end of your assignment.

You will have a furnished apartment, but you will need to provide everything other than furniture - all kitchen items, all linens, all appliances, TV, etc.

The travel company will pay for your utilities but be prepared to pay for internet, phone, and cable.

Verbal contracts are binding, so be careful and make sure that you are committing to the assignment that you want!

Invest in AAA. Most travel companies reimburse for it.

Don't be afraid to do things alone.

Get an accountant. . . . the taxes are confusing!

Also remember when packing, less is more! You'll find that you need a lot less than you actually want to bring (or think you need!)

The company isn't supposed to house you more than a 30 minute commute away from your assignment, so just be aware of where hospitals are located - they might be in bad areas.

The travel companies for the most part do not reimburse for licenses.

Each State Board of Nursing will have different requirements, so just look at their websites.

Overall, most of the companies are the same - generally the same pay rates with the same benefits, etc. It all comes down to your recruiter. If your recruiter is a good communicator, doesn't push you into things, and really listens to your wants and needs, your assignment will go well.

When you think about the money you're making, calculate a grand total for the assignment: housing + hourly rate + insurance + travel reimbursement + bonus. It works out to be more than you think. Don't get totally dismayed when you see a relatively unimpressive hourly rate. But don't under-value yourself!! The big mis-conception seems to be that travelers make the big bucks. We really don't . . . That or I've been doing this wrong!! I mean we make good money, just not the big figures people think!

Also, if you have a certain place in mind, jobs come open at a moment's notice, so don't get dismayed if they don't have what you want right away. Once your recruiter knows what you want, they can hunt for the right assignment for you. Don't be surprised if you book an assignment 3 weeks before you're supposed to be there. There really isn't a lot of lead time from interview and sign time to the start of a contract.

And remember that if it's not in your contract, it doesn't exist, so make sure you work out any details that you are worried about before you sign. Only want to float to other ICUs - make sure you discuss that. Don't want to do inter-facility floating - contract it. Don't want your patient ratio higher than 2:1 - get it in writing. Need vacation time - contract it. Your contract is golden!

In the end, just remember that you and your skills are the product, and your company should work hard to keep you and keep you happy. Without you, they are nil! Some of them like to make you think it's the other way around.

[jmb410s]

That is an excellent post, I think you touched everthing.

I can not think of anythng you left out.

All travel nurse companies are not the same though. Some are ALOT better than others. That is why you go with 2-3 and ask other travelers who are they with.

Jeremy

p.s. I have been a traveler for 18 months on 4 soon to be 5 different assignments:D

[gofast!]

What an excellent and informative post!

I will keep it handy as a reference if and when I do set out to travel!!!

[DeDe245]

Although this is a very thorough post I found several inaccuracies.

All companies are not the same. Although many share the same assignments they also have different assignments too with different

pay rates, benefits, housing etc.

A verbal contract is not binding. This is a psychological trick to get you not to consider the written contract and get you locked in mentally to the assignment.

The written contract needs to cover all agreements made on housing, other reimbursements, overtime, floating, unit worked,

The more specific items covered the better.Make sure it is not one-sided as well.

Once the contracted is negotiated and adjusted to please all parties only then can you make an informed agreement that is binding. There is no way you could do this verbally. Even if you said you agreed or I like it until you get the formal document you haven't even finished negotiating all the terms.

There will always be things in the contract that weren't discussed. So slow down do your research and consider every possibility. You will Thank yourself immensely you did every contract.

Another thing is the assumption cable, phone and internet are not covered.

Not true. Everything is up for negotiation. Many apartments not just extended stays come with everything. I've had several like this.

Do your own research too on housing...you may find a better deal and then ask the company to use that housing instead.

No don't assume you have to go the Housing Stipend route and put everything in your own name.

Another thing is you don't have to fill out applications to find out jobs available although many recruiters want you to.

There are around or more than 300 Companies. There is a Nursing shortage. The Nurse is in demand so act like it and negotiate and market yourself via email to definitely more than 3 recruiters. I don't mean be a Prima Donna although many recruiters may call you that for wanting utilities and/or cable covered or negotiating. Let them.

These are people that are experienced at getting the nurse at the lowest price possible but still retain their loyalty.

They do this by becoming your "friend". Perpetuating the myths and assumption of Travel Nursing. Many of which you can find in Healthcare Traveler Magazine Articles :). They are very subtle and between the lines.

Yet they are effective in clouding your judgement.

The latest scare tactic is using the economy as an excuse to get you to accept lower pay. Don't buy it.

Sorry to attack this article but I'm not going to sit here let another wanna be Traveler get duped into the same assumptions.

Becareful where you get your information from, research it, test it, keep testing it, challenge it.

I've heard experienced Nurses and even Nurses that have been Traveling repeat same myths. Experience does not always = Travel Smarts.

Yes you need to be flexible to some degree but not a door mat. It's an easy Trap to get in for Nurses because we are Caregivers.

On the unit be a hard worker and a team player. On Negotiation and Finding Contracts be a business person which requires some finesse not just demanding everything which can backfire.

Be friendly with your recruiters but don't think of them as your friend. If you sign an contract with no negotiating and all smiles and no give and take I guarantee that someone else got a better deal before during or after you on the same assignment.

DeDe

[OBRN1994]

I've decided in the last week to make the plunge into travel nursing. I love to travel, and do so extensively- but have never "worked" during travel. I've been contacted by 2 recruiters whose companies offer very different benefits. One gives licensure reimbursement, and the other doesn't. One has the Tax Advantage Plan that gives a very low hourly wage, then "blends" your salary with M&I benefits. I am staying clear of this type of salary, as I would like to retire within the next 10 yrs and don't want my SS benefits calculated by this ridiculous amount. It also appears that it can be a red flag for the IRS- I would prefer not to be audited for a couple hundred dollars a week! Looks like it's really being pushed by some of these larger companies- as it saves them on payroll taxes.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to finding out what's available for the earning!

[DeDe245]

Tax Advantage does not set you up for an audit

Unless of course you don't have a permanent tax home (a place you own, rent or buying)

Unless of course if the company is paying way below the lowest pay rate for the area on the taxable portion and shifting the rest to the non-taxable portion called per diem or reimbursements for Meals & Incidentals + Lodging.

If you qualify it can mean much more money in your pocket than if you deducted those same things.

That money you can then invest in your 401K or IRA which = more money for retirement.

True, Companies are pushing it but the truth is just about all companies have always offered it on the Lodging portion.

If you are not paying taxes on the lodging you receive or the housing stipend you receive without qualifying for "Tax Advantage" (having permanent tax home) that can set you up for an audit just as well.

That's why companies have you sign a statement declaring a permanent address although they do little to properly advise you of the ramifications and neither does the form.

To be honest alot of companies even bigger ones are abusing the tax advantage with ridiculously low taxable pay rates (probably anything below $18/hr for RN). I've seen as low as $12/hr taxable.

Many though are conservative with it.

I've seen it used to confuse people too in thinking they are making more but a few simple calculations can spot that quickly.

DeDe

[OBRN1994]

It was a ridiculously low base rate, I believe enough to send a red flag.

Since I've never done this before, perhaps you could give me some pointers with negotiations. (I almost feel as if I was given this quote because I told the recruiter that I hadn't spoken to any other agency) At what point do you negotiate the salary? Even with the stipends and per diem, the pay is less than I am currently making. I would still have my home expenses, so really don't want to take a cut in pay. The position is L&D in Boston, at a hospital that pays the highest in the area. The housing stipend was quoted @$2000 which seems really low for that area.

Anyway- I will keep looking and applying, but want to know when to "negotiate" without being "pushy".

Thanks in advance

[julzhere]

I've done 5 travel assignments - 3 local, so I took the housing stipend, one where I lived with family (took the stipend) and just one where I got the apartment. My apartment came with everything. There was a delay in getting the furniture, so I arrived before it did by a few hours. However, I went to the grocery store and when I got back I had a fully furnished apartment, including dishes, pots, pans, etc., all the kitchen things I needed. A small sample of about 6 different cleaning necessities, TV, linens, vacuum, broom, mop, pail, laundry basket - everything. Some food samples - popcorn, coffee, cookies, etc. I only needed a few personal things - small containers for food, things like that that I've kept and will use the next time I travel. You shouldn't have to provide all that and I would only work for an agency that does. I also had a washer and dryer in the apartment. A BIG MUST HAVE!!! This company also reimbursed me for my license, because I got it to work this assignment for them. Yes, they are all alike in many ways, but when you get to know "the system," getting more and more perks is what it's all about. If they want you - they'll give it to you or pay you for it.

[YellowBoneRN]

I have a question about travel. I am going to be moving next year. I currently live in Texas. I need to get relocation expenses in a bad way. I will need to be totally compensated for that such as moving company from Texas to whereever. I will need storage step up there or either leave my stuff here not sure.

I may end up anywhere not sure where I will be going yet. Maybe east coast maybe up north. Maybe even here in Texas possibly Phoenix. Anyhow, my most important thing is getting there moving wise and getting set up.

Any recommendations?