I'm stressed...someone help!

Specialties Travel

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Specializes in postpartum,well baby nursery, L and D.

So I have been talking to lots of different recruiters and each one seems to be giving me a higher or lower pay rate per hr but then some will give me more for travel reimbursement etc....and I am having a hard time picking one agency. Plus I dont know if the rates they are giving me is lower than what i should get as a traveler. Most companies offered me between 28-31 per hr and then some offered me as low as 26-27 per hr. I have one year of RN experience as a Labor and delivery nurse and two yrs post partum exp as an LPN. I want to travel to phoenix, AZ.

Anyway, I guess I want to know, when they quote you an hourly rate is it flexible usually and do they usually just offer you the lowest you could make and see if you will settle for it? I don't want to be too pushy if the rates are comparable to what I should be making.

If anyone can help me out Id really appreciate it!! I am confused about lots of things like for example some companies say i will get 1000 for travel reimbursement and that it is NOT taxable....so in the end of yr when it comes to the part where it is says, "additional income earned" i'd have to put this amount in and I'd get taxed at the end of the year if not right away...so how can it be not taxable??

I'd love to talk to someone over PM or even over the phone if you have lots of experience with traveling...I just need some good advice. Please email me if you can help me out through this process. THANKS!

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Come to the chat room and vent with us nurses there LIVE. Every wednesday night! Silika

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Travel expenses are not earned income. They never show up as earned income and are never declared as such. Suggest that you speak with a tax advisor on this and the other questions about travel that you have posted about in other threads.

Now about the pay rates:

Each agency can set what they wish to pay, and have so much to work with per contract in terms of housing, utilities, etc. Depending on what you need will also make a difference in what you will get paid. If you need furniture as well as linens, dishes, etc., then the rate will be more that is taken from what they have to work with. If you already have linens, tv, dishes, etc., then that money will go to you.

Have any of the agencies actually given you an idea of the facility? Be aware that for travel in L and D, most facilities are wanting about five years of experience due to liability issues. One year is usually not enough for L and D, more than likely you will be on Post Partum. At least that is the way that it has always been in that market in the past, and in all of Arizona.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, PACU, ACT, Forensic Nursing.

Try Banner Health for Az, I understand they are paying well for travel nursing using their own agency. I have a friend who tells me they are paying more per hour and have good housing benefits. It can't hurt to ask.

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Specializes in postpartum,well baby nursery, L and D.

majadu- so banner health in AZ has their own travel agency? Do you know the website? Thanks.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, PACU, ACT, Forensic Nursing.

Banner Health is a Health Care system, like HCA, Tenet etc. However, they have facilities in AZ, Co, Ca, AK as far as I know. My friend works for them and can go anywhere in the system as a traveler. Insurance, housing, travel expense etc. She told me to check our Bannerhealth.com. Good Luck

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You could make a graph to compare things!

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Specializes in Peds, ER/Trauma.
Travel expenses are not earned income. They never show up as earned income and are never declared as such. Suggest that you speak with a tax advisor on this and the other questions about travel that you have posted about in other threads.

Travel income is not earned income, ONLY if you will be maintaining a "tax home" (maintaining a home or apartment in your home state). By maintaining a tax home, any travel expenses or money your company spends on your housing is not taxed, BUT, if you will not be paying rent or a mortgage in your home state, then any travel money and any money your company spends on your housing is considered taxable income.

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If you have that many offers from that many companies, I would make a chart and compare them like previously suggested. You also could decide what is most important to you and make that one criterion the deal breaker with each agency. Otherwise, you have to make a choice, and start trying out the different companies to see which you like to work with. Good luck to you.

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