Alaskan Winter Travelers Gig 6mo

JiveTurkey11 · May 23, 2014

hello? is this mic on {[tap tap tap}]

.boy...tough crowd 2nite

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · May 23, 2014

remember that nurses work shift work and may not answer immediately thread moved for best response

NedRN · May 23, 2014

"Strike hopping" is more likely going to cost you regular work than make extra money. When you include all compensation (including housing), most travel jobs anywhere pay between $40 and $50 an hour, or 80 to 100K a year without any overtime. Nothing special about Alaska (I've not heard of anyone scoring that much for just a few months), although staff pay is certainly good. If you are chasing money, working for a "rapid response" agency such as Fastaff with many 48 hour guaranteed hour contracts (and often can work 7 days if desired) is the way to go.

Truckee · May 30, 2014

Ned, I'm calling you out on your opinion of covering strikes.

First off, I like you. You helped me get into traveling more than anyone. Your posts are helpful and to the point.

But... If I am working per diem and have 2 weeks with nothing planned filling in/crossing lines/working a strike, pays better than sitting at home. Secondly, if I were working a full or part time job and had the flexibility to take time off to cover a strike it would still pay handsomely.

I have followed strike nursing for the past 2 years, they are extremely inconsistent these days. I would bet that anyone that wanted to work in these situations would see those inconsistencies and plan accordingly.

You can make money doing strikes.

You won't make much money doing only strikes.

You have to have a plan when not working strikes.

I know the history of unions, and every worker today is reaping the benefits of a union; I thank those that went before me.

Truckee · May 30, 2014

You can make $100,000/yr in Alaska, without a doubt. Over 2-3 13 week assignments, probably not. You want to work over the winter in Alaska, it's brutal, I have done it and am still doing it. You can make 100K in California also, I have friends that are doing it.

There are pro's and con's for every situation.

NedRN · May 30, 2014

Let me repeat what I said Truckee, you may have misinterpreted it: "Strike hopping" is more likely to cost you regular work than earn extra money.

This is a travel forum, and that is an opinion for travelers. Travelers gross between $20,000 and $25,000 for every three month assignment typically. If you miss one assignment because you were hanging out for a strike paying a fabulous $4,000 for three days work, you have lost money, not earned extra. And for the most part, strikes are seldom even that lucrative in real life. Most cancel, and earn nothing, and ones that do go for a couple days usually pay in real life far less than even $4,000. Only in the very rare long term strikes can you come out ahead.

In my experience, and I have gone to several strikes, most of the "strike hoppers" are from the South and have full-time staff jobs. For them, it is really extra money, and good money. What is really amazing to witness at the end of the action is all the positioning and crying about flights home so they don't miss their scheduled shift and get sanctioned by their hospital.

For that group, strikes are a financial win. No doubt if they hit a long term strike, they will just quit and make as much in a couple of months as they do all year in the low paid South. For travelers, waiting and hoping for the big one is not a winning career move. It is like investing in the lottery rather than bank accounts or stocks. Not smart. Sure, when you hit a small 3 day strike and are well paid, it feels like you are winning, just as you do when you win $100 in the lottery, after several years of "investing". But you are not ahead. Slow and sure is the way to accumulate wealth.

That is just a plain and simple financial equation. It doesn't even consider the ethical/moral baggage that comes with working strikes.

Tony2001 · Aug 19, 2014

Yes, there is money to be made in Anchorage Alaska. Alaska Regional Hospital or Providence Hospital are wonderful facilities. Give Nursing Recruitment in HR a call and ask what they offer. Some travelers are making 80 an hour. Summer is June July and August. Fall comes and goes fast, October usually begins the snow. I hope this helps. KK

Tony2001 · Aug 19, 2014

If anyone is planning to come to Anchorage Alaska there is a great place to rent. This couple has a fully furnished, six bedroom house that they rent only to traveling nurses. They pay the utilities and the location is perfect for working at Alaska Regional Hosptial.

NedRN · Aug 19, 2014

Yes, there is money to be made in Anchorage Alaska. Alaska Regional Hospital or Providence Hospital are wonderful facilities. Give Nursing Recruitment in HR a call and ask what they offer. Some travelers are making 80 an hour. Summer is June July and August. Fall comes and goes fast, October usually begins the snow. I hope this helps. KK

$80 an hour? Color me skeptical. It is possible for the bill rate to be that high for some in demand specialties (like cath lab or L&D), but not traveler pay through. Depending on what you are calling travelers of course. But it is too high for nurses, too low for physicians in AK. Think about supply and demand. If you could make $80 an hour anywhere in this country, don't you think nurses would be lined up for such work? Then the rate would drop since needs are filled.

Even in SF, while senior staff nurses can make that much or more on some hours (like a holiday weekend night shift), their base rate is not that high, $60's at best. And guess what, even in expensive to live SF, staff jobs are very hard to come by. Traveler jobs are somewhat easier in SF, but assignments pay a lot less than staff and there is still a long line of travelers applying there.

Flygaze · Aug 19, 2014

You can make $100,000/yr in Alaska, without a doubt. Over 2-3 13 week assignments, probably not. You want to work over the winter in Alaska, it's brutal, I have done it and am still doing it. You can make 100K in California also, I have friends that are doing it.
There are pro's and con's for every situation.

Is going to Alaska for a first assignment a good idea? I'm planning on traveling for the first time this October and want a positive initial experience (and subsequent ones as well). What's there to do in Alaska during the winter and how cold and snowy does it really get? I've only lived in Georgia where winter temperature range between 10'-60'. How is the driving condition? Truckee, does your agency provide you with a rental car or can you walk/trudge through the snow to work?

raindrop · Aug 20, 2014

I know someone who did an assignment a couple of winters ago in Alaska. She said you can rent a snowmobile for a day to get around on days off and this is how she got her grocery shopping done, errands, etc . On work days, she took the bus.