California, and travel nursing and pay...

tawill5 · Oct 2, 2004

Does anyone know or have heard that agency nurses in california are making like 20, 30, 40 thousand a month for 30 days? Is this true, I have heard this in texas, louisiana and georgia, so is this a rumor or is it true? Is so, what agency, I heard maybe of 2 (am I allowed to name them), please let me know if you know this to be true. Thanks

I am considering obtaining a travel assignment in CA. Please let me know the names of the agencies. We both could do the research to see if it is true. Traveling from Louisiana, this would be ideal! Please PM me if you would like.

Thanks!!

jemb · Oct 2, 2004

You might make that if you worked 16 hour shifts 30 days straight!

Do the math: 8 hr X $40 (high pay - specialty unit, no benefits)= $320

4 hr x $60 (time and a half) = $240

4 hr x $80 (double time) = $320

That comes to $880/ shift.

If you can keep that pace up for 30 days straight and not lose your license, you'd make a bundle.

I haven't heard of anyone actually doing it, though. Wouldn't trust an agency that allowed it!

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2004

I have a Calif. license, sign me up! Since beginning to travel I have heard all kinds of rumors. I guess if you worked a strike and it lasted a month, you might make that much, but not likely even under strike conditions. Calif pays somewhat better, have a friend in Bakersfield making $38/hr and double for overtime with a travel company, gets $1500 housing stipend and good benefits. Nowhere close to what you heard tho.

Sheri257 · Oct 2, 2004

Click on this chart, which features some of the pay rates negotiated by the California Nurses Association. Granted, it's union pay ... not travel or registry ... but, perhaps it might put provide some perspective on these rumors.

fergus51 · Oct 2, 2004

That's total bull. Unless you are working a strike in an area you risk getting shot 7 days a week for the whole month, I doubt it.

RN4Hope · Oct 2, 2004

Okay here is the deal, my friend recently said that her friend is travel nurse in calif, san francisco, she said this agency paid her, 1st week straight pay, 2nd week time and half, 3rd week double time, and q wk after double time, here's the deal 48 hours are guaranteed q week, so here's the math at night 50. plus because agency pays more than the hospital (i think washington hospital in freemont pays something pays 50 a night), so 48 h is at 50.00, well once she exceeds 48 q thing is double time, so if you think about you could make 30 k plus if you worked 16 straight for 6 days, which would probably kill you, but, she only does this for 2 months a year, and does not work otherwise, let me know what you think....Plus there are some companies that guarantee you 60 hours and if you don't work that 60 perhaps only 40 they pay you the other 20. So it is not just a rumor, to all you naysayers...That is if one could possibly do the 6 -16 for 30 days.

jemb · Oct 2, 2004

"my friend recently said that her friend is.." Ever play 'telephone' when you were a kid?

Actually, this could be true with one of the strikebreaker agencies. I've had them call to try to recruit me with promises of $5000/wk, but I never got the details because I wasn't interested.

As I stated before, I wouldn't trust any agency that booked a nurse to work overtime every day. Not safe!

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Oct 2, 2004

Okay here is the deal, my friend recently said that her friend is travel nurse in calif, san francisco, she said this agency paid her, 1st week straight pay, 2nd week time and half, 3rd week double time, and q wk after double time, here's the deal 48 hours are guaranteed q week, so here's the math at night 50. plus because agency pays more than the hospital (i think washington hospital in freemont pays something pays 50 a night), so 48 h is at 50.00, well once she exceeds 48 q thing is double time, so if you think about you could make 30 k plus if you worked 16 straight for 6 days, which would probably kill you, but, she only does this for 2 months a year, and does not work otherwise, let me know what you think....Plus there are some companies that guarantee you 60 hours and if you don't work that 60 perhaps only 40 they pay you the other 20. So it is not just a rumor, to all you naysayers...That is if one could possibly do the 6 -16 for 30 days.

Well, SHE might live through it, but what about her patients? 6 16s a week?? I wouldn't want someone working hours like that for MY nurse!! Would you?

That 60 hour guarantee only guarantees your pay if you work less due to being called off. In situations like that you are almost never called off!!

natasha700 · Oct 2, 2004

I had a friend who did a strike not in Califonia and she cleared around 4k a week so that is not unheard of during a strike. But just for regular traveling, I don't think so! Although currently w/me I am working a 6 week contract for 43$ and hour and I am not complaining!

tawill5 · Oct 2, 2004

I had a friend who did a strike not in Califonia and she cleared around 4k a week so that is not unheard of during a strike. But just for regular traveling, I don't think so! Although currently w/me I am working a 6 week contract for 43$ and hour and I am not complaining!

Hi, Nat700,

It sounds like you have a great arrangement with your agency. What is the name of the agency? I am interested in taking a Cali contract. Six weeks would be great. Does the agency offer graduating rates after the first 8 hours at 43 dollars? How about overtime? I am interested in working as much as I safely can. PM me if you would like to!

(By the way, are you working a strike, or is this a regular travel assignment?)

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2004

I am currently traveling in Az. I wanted to work extra but the hospital I am with tries very hard to NOT allow travelers to work overtime because if the huge expense. They will hire more travelers or use agency rather than let us work OT. So I am working agency to pick up the extra. I have even thought about trying to do 2 travel contracts in the same city. It can be done, and pocket the living expenses from the second company. Of course, all you would do is work, sleep and then do laundry on your day off, but I could do it for a short while. 12 hour shifts are OK, but I KNOW I could not work 16 hour shifts for 7 in a row, much less 30, not even in my younger days. I want to be alive to cash my checks, and would like to leave my patients alive at the end of my shift!