Is this common?????

Thank you everyone for the wonderful response. Very much appreciated. I'm glad these type of forums are available. I'm definately dropping that company from my list. This particular recruiter continued to reply, "I'm trying not to scare you but give you some facts that others won't tell you", well she did a pretty good job of discouraging me from becoming a traveler. I'm getting closer and closer to signing with a company and stepping out on my quest of becoming a travel nurse. But I wanted to start off with a small assignment to get my feet wet.

I had heard so many great and not so great things about traveling and this recruiter just threw a monkey wrench into the whole thing. It just didn't sound right to what she was saying. It made it sound as if the hospitals have so much power over a travelers schedule. But what I was getting from other travelers was not the case. I couldn't imagine being told that I wasn't needed for that nights shift but would have to come back the next day if needed and would have no say in it. I was definately having second thoughts.

As far as the tax free stipend question I had(sorry for the confusion)...my plans are to move from my current state and relocate to a permanent residence in another state, therefore accepting a stipend instead of company housing. I was told by this same recruiter that if I could prove that I was maintaining two households (my previous residence and the relocated residence) that the money that I received from the stipend would be tax free, but if I could not prove the maintance of two households than the money that I receive from my stipend would be taxed. But that there were was of getting around this. After hearing all of this, I think to save myself from the headache I would just submit my new address.

I was also told that anytime I take a break in between assignments (i.e completion of a 13 week contract, then taking 2 weeks off and beginning another assignment) the two weeks that I take off will be deducted from my stipend and therefore I will only receive a portion of it. But if I take my 2 or 1 week vacation/break in between the 13 weeks (i.e requesting time off during week 12 and resuming) then I will still be eligible for the entire stipend.

And now that I know that I won't be on call, I can plan for my days off with no worries.

Thank you once again, everyone