Can you take travel assignments in your home location?

NedRN · May 24, 2013

Many hospitals require travelers to live hundreds of miles away. To do otherwise would cut into the local pool available for staff. Money aside, it is better for hospitals to have permanent staff and better for good healthcare.

That said, local travel is an option in many locations. If it is from a travel company and not a local registry, yes, it will pay housing. But that is now fully taxed compensation.

If you want to go to California and work for a couple of years, you are best off going staff. Staff make far more than travelers.

shoegalRN, RN · May 25, 2013

I am with an agency that does travel and I travel locally in my area. I'm about to take a 13 week assignment that is about 30 minutes from my house in a neighboring state.

From my understanding, I won't qualify for the housing because I'm not traveling 50 miles from my home. However, the take home pay is about $1100/wk after taxes and I even qualify for a $1000 completion bonus with the option to extend.

This will be one of the agencies I will use when I travel out of state next year.

NCmcMan · May 31, 2013

Gosh, it seems like the agency is boning you though. I mean because if you think about it, they are keeping your housing money that they would otherwise pay you if you lived a little farther away. To me, it feels like they could be doing you a little better. I mean at the very least, they could toss you half of what they would be spending on your housing costs. It sounds like someone over at the agency is pocketing that cash and whistling like nobody is watching. :)

NedRN · May 31, 2013

I'm sorry, but considering you are not even an RN yet, your continued disparaging comments about what specific travelers are making is really inappropriate. You know nothing about this poster's circumstances, she could be in the Deep South (perhaps with pay in the low 20s) and will be making a pretax income of over $70,000 ($35/hr+) and living at home. Most Americans should be so fortunate to make 70K.

bagladyrn, RN · May 31, 2013

If you are in your home area you are not entitled to any tax free reimbursements. That money is intended to provide for paying for "duplicated expenses" in that you are still maintaining a tax home (different than legal residence) while paying for that elsewhere. There is no "50 mile" law. Many agencies simply use that as a convenient number. The rule is that you may receive tax free reimbursement if your contract is too far from your legal tax home for you to return after your shift without sleeping first.

For better understanding of these issues I'd suggest reading the website Travel Tax. He's well qualified and very informative.

shoegalRN, RN · May 31, 2013

Well, considering I'm already working weekends and getting paid for 36 hours each week, it's a good option for ME at this time in my life.

I don't have to worry about a housing stipend when I'm traveling LOCALLY because my current job pays my mortgage quite well.

I think I'm winning if I'm going to be making about 14K in 3 months, in addition to what I'm already making now.

So, I really don't care about the stipend considering my mortgage is paid.

This is in response to the poster who thinks I'm getting "ripped off".

NCmcMan · Jun 1, 2013

Sorry Ned, Your rite, I am not an RN yet, as I never claimed that I was. I do however know a little bit about contract negations as I have been a contractor for many years. If your looking for an argument from me, I don't care to do that, however I would appreciate if you wouldn't belittle me in front of other people next time. If you don't like the fact that I was encouraging this individual to look out for herself, I can respect that because that is your opinion as my opinion is mine. Also, in all fairness you don't really know the poster's circumstances either. She may be in California, or in her mid 50s with 20+ years of experience.

NCmcMan · Jun 1, 2013

Well, considering I'm already working weekends and getting paid for 36 hours each week, it's a good option for ME at this time in my life.
I don't have to worry about a housing stipend when I'm traveling LOCALLY because my current job pays my mortgage quite well.
I think I'm winning if I'm going to be making about 14K in 3 months, in addition to what I'm already making now.
So, I really don't care about the stipend considering my mortgage is paid.
This is in response to the poster who thinks I'm getting "ripped off".

If your happy, I am happy for you. The reason that I was initially concerned is because in the research that I have done dating back around 5 years. It seems that agencies are trying to pay less and generally take advantage of the individual nurse. I have read horror stories to this effect. I have a problem with that. I think RNs are hard working people and they deserve to be paid well, especially when they travel around the country and leave their homes and family. I personally feel that the RNs should definitely stick up for themselves and not work for cheap wages. I'm not a company man, I'm for the nurse. I didn't come from a family that had a lot of money, so everything that I am doing including taking out loans, switching from full time to part time while in school, living like a hobo because there is no money, is a lot for me. I just want to make sure the industry doesn't go to crap before I get out of school and have to start paying all this stuff back. Anyway, regardless of Ned's assumption, I truly was not trying to give you "disparaging comments", I was wanting to make sure you get what your worth. You seem like a happy person that is content. I hope you don't think less of me.

Josh

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 1, 2013

I think that everyone is trying to make the fast buck. Paying the same for smaller packages....fees and ambiguous service charges are rampant. There was a time that travel companies paid a housing/travel stipend as a part of every contract to entice nurses to travel and gets bonus income. However, like many other things in nursing (including the "shortage")...... is no more....with the plethora of nurses out there incentives, sign on bonuses, tuition forgiveness, and other incentives no longer exists.

Benefit packages have been cut, insurance coverage is less with copay and cost increased to the nurse.....I remember when having BCBS standard 80/20 with "Professional Courtesy" for scripts filled at the hospital and forgiveness on left over balances if hospitalized at your own facility.

This agency isn't "boning" anyone...they just no longer offer this incentive......they changed the rules.

The reason that I was initially concerned is because in the research that I have done dating back around 5 years. It seems that agencies are trying to pay less and generally take advantage of the individual nurse. I have read horror stories to this effect. I have a problem with that. I think RNs are hard working people and they deserve to be paid well, especially when they travel around the country and leave their homes and family. I personally feel that the RNs should definitely stick up for themselves and not work for cheap wages. I'm not a company man, I'm for the nurse. I didn't come from a family that had a lot of money, so everything that I am doing including taking out loans, switching from full time to part time while in school, living like a hobo because there is no money, is a lot for me. I just want to make sure the industry doesn't go to crap before I get out of school and have to start paying all this stuff back.

Yeah.....unfortunately.....Welcome to nursing. There has been a general downturn when the economy dumped and thousands flocked to the profession that "guaranteed jobs". Well....that just isn't the case anymore. Supply and demand. Right now there is a surplus in the supply therefore dropping the demand.....when the demand dropped so did the bonuses, salaries, and incentives.

There continues the "demand" if that is what you want to call it for experienced critical care/specialty nurses as long as you have >than 10 years in nursing,

Nursing unemployment is at an all time high....Some areas of the country have estimates of at least 47% of new grads are unemployed. Many facilities are not hiring new grads and are looking for BSN grads only....why? Because they can. Some markets have new grads job search >15 months and these grads had to move to obtain positions. I see the next financial crisis to be defaulted student loans.

A line from my favorite poem from Melodie Chenevert about nursing says it like it is.....

Being A Nurse Means…

You will never be bored.
You will always be frustrated.You will be surrounded by challenges,
So much to do and so little time. You will carry immense responsibility And limited authority.
You will step into people’s lives
And you will make a difference
Some will bless you,
Some will curse you.
You will see people at their worst
And at their best.
You will never cease to be amazed
At people’s capacity for Love, courage, and endurance.
You will experience resounding triumphs
And devastating failures.
You will cry a lot,
You will laugh a lot,
You will know what it is to be human,
And to be humane.
http://scrubsmag.com/quote-of-the-week-what-it-means-to-be-a-nurse/poem2/

Nursing is it's own entity.....it is not organized although there are nursing unions. Right now we are disposable and no longer considered assets.

Praemonitus praemunitus or forewarned is forearmed.....I wish you the best on your nursing journey :)

NedRN · Jun 1, 2013

Sorry Ned, Your rite, I am not an RN yet, as I never claimed that I was. I do however know a little bit about contract negations as I have been a contractor for many years. If your looking for an argument from me, I don't care to do that, however I would appreciate if you wouldn't belittle me in front of other people next time. If you don't like the fact that I was encouraging this individual to look out for herself, I can respect that because that is your opinion as my opinion is mine. Also, in all fairness you don't really know the poster's circumstances either. She may be in California, or in her mid 50s with 20+ years of experience.

As you have just learned, people don't like their choices disparaged. This was not even a post that invited such analysis like others you have responded to, in fact is was a response to your request for information. She looked at the options available to her locally and picked the best one for her. Travelers with broader horizons do not always choose the best pay. Nor can you possibly know that an agency is making excessive profits or taking advantage without examining their books. Sometimes an agency will pay dramatically lower than another agency on the same assignment - because they have a lower bill rate - they are not necessarily profiting from the lower pay.

Contract negotiations in another industry does not make you an expert in this one. Nor does it allow you to make value judgements about a particular traveler pay without knowing any of the circumstances, including prevailing pay in the same area. That goes for me too and even though I might be considered an expert in this field, you will not find any such value judgements about compensation in my posts. Instead (if asked) I suggest getting other quotes for a valid comparison.

Just as a data point for you, I have personally seen bill rates from hospitals ranging from $42 an hour (in Ohio) to $90 an hour (in CT). I have heard of bill rates as low as $38 an hour. Imagine dividing that bill rate into housing and payroll taxes and hourly compensation for a traveler and making agency expenses too! Yet there are nurses who accept such assignments, and hundreds of thousands of nurses in the South who make pay laughable on the West Coast. Are they being taken advantage of?

shoegalRN, RN · Jun 1, 2013

No problem and no offense taken.

In response to NcMcMan.