Cali Local Assignment Questions

NephroBSN, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2006

Hi everyone in travel land. I,m considering doing local travel assignments within the next month and very concerned with the rates and choosing the best agency for locals.I've been nursing now for 8yrs in Med/Sur-Tele and working 12hour shifts making 33.00 an hr, bringing home around 3000/month.Can I make more working the same shift 3 days a week?When I read some of the post some nurse say they only make 30-33 and hour.If I can only make that I might as well stay where I am.Are there some other benifits that they offer that you can bring home more money like waiving all benifits?also help on the best agency to do local assignments and what to negotiate.What agencies staff County Hospitals and what agencies staff the smaller non teaching hospitals?Readylink calls me evey now and then and offers me take home around $440 a shift after taxes, is that the norm for all agencies or does something sound wrong with that. PLEASE HELP!

First of all if I don't give you one shred of good advice here other than STAY FAR FAR FAR AWAY FROM READYLINK you'll still be ahead of the game.. Some people replace the L with a D.. Ok..

Not sure what you mean by local travel. Do you mean agency work.

They are different. Travelers make money because they leave a low paying area for a higher paying area. We also reap the benifit of MI & I deductions.

But to be a true traveler you must have a tax home and be working away from that tax home. You must be far enough away from your tax home that you need to rest ( i.e. sleep overnight or overday) and not go home after your shift.

Again STAY AWAY FROM READYLINK.

Good luck.

RN Mc Neese · Apr 3, 2006

To NephroBSN, what is MI & I deductions? So you are saying that I will make more money if I took an assignment out of state?

NephroBSN, BSN, RN · Apr 4, 2006

To NephroBSN, what is MI & I deductions? So you are saying that I will make more money if I took an assignment out of state?

Sorry I misspelled it.. It's M&EI

Meals Entertainemnt and Incidentals.

Every day I am away from my legit tax home I can deduct between 30-40 a day for meals etc. I have to itemize and I do because I have a condo with a mortgage. And at the end of the year the deduction is 50%.

So if I am gone for 300 days X 30 that equals $9000 on my itemized deductions.

If you live in Southern Cali you could go to the Bay area or NO Cali.

As long as you have to rest and can't go home you can get the deductions.

You can also deduct your mileage to and from work as you are on a travel assignment. You can't deduct that when you work at home.

Good luck

suzanne4, RN · Apr 5, 2006

Do not do a local travel contract, you want a per diem contract. Otherwise, you are going to get hit with a big tax bill at the end of the year on the stipend that you get, because it will not be tax-free. Travel assignments only pay if you are out of your area, and maintain a tax base somewhere else. If you are local, you are much better off with per diem.

Or check out some of the per diem rates at some of the local hospitals. They are quite lucrative at the moment. Especially UCLA, etc.

RN Mc Neese · Apr 6, 2006

Suzanne,when you do perdiem work at other hospitals,do they give an orientation.Do you know what UCLA perdiem rates are? What other hospitals can you think of that have good rates.Thanks for your info.Your response has really helped me to make my decision.

suzanne4, RN · Apr 6, 2006

If you do per diem for the facility, and are paid by them; then yes, you are their employee and get an orientation. But you are also expected to have experience under your belt, so that you do not need a full orientation.

Last that I heard, it was around $50 for the ICU, not sure if that is all shifts, or just nights. But some where around there. That is per one of their nurses, have not looked it up myself.

NephroBSN, BSN, RN · Apr 6, 2006

Suzanne,when you do perdiem work at other hospitals,do they give an orientation.Do you know what UCLA perdiem rates are? What other hospitals can you think of that have good rates.Thanks for your info.Your response has really helped me to make my decision.

I don't know the link. I don't believe I have it but you might google for per diem rates at various hospitals in cali..

Sorry I can't be of more help.