Check out my 1st contract and give me your thoughts, please ?

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I am working on my first contract. I live about 130 miles from the facility, but I was going to get a hotel 2 nights of the week.

It is Medical Surgical. Memphis TN. PRN rates here non agency are 37

My rate for this assignment is 22$ plus non tax of 180 per shift, which comes out to 37 an hour.

Should I also be getting a housing allowance on top of this or will asking take it from my rate?

This is my home area so I do not want to be labeled as hard to please, and really wouldn't mind working at this pay level, building bridges and before next contract talking about more.

I like the recruiters and the agency. Nervous about the assignment, I have done M/S in the past, but have been doing ICU.

Jobs here have not been the easiest to get, and I don't mind M/S just nervous.

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Specializes in emergency.

First things first.

You're happy with the recruiters and the agency, that goes a long way. You're getting paid as much as if you worked per diem for the hospital, not bad. And you might want keep your relationships between you and the hospital and you and your agency rosy by not asking or pushing too hard. Well... This is business, and treat it like that.

Negotiations are/should be completely acceptable when done in a non-threatening and business like manner. They made and offer to you for the job, it should be expected that you can make a reasonable counter-offer if so desired.

If I were coming from Michigan to fill this position would they offer me housing or a stipend? Yes, most likely. Should you ask for $500 a week for housing (what they might offer me) probably not, but it wouldn't hurt to ask for $100/wk for your hotel.

Agencies like all business have a lot of things they can offer that might not be exactly what you want but cover your needs in some way. Example; you want some housing covered. It may be your agencies policy not to cover/offer housing if you are not traveling more than 200 miles from your home (purely hypothetical). Could they give you something else; gas cards, memberships, discounts?

And... For the most part, if it is an expense for your travel job and it is not compensated for by your agency, it is usually able to be deducted or written off your year end taxes.

Good luck

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Thank you.

If I get a hotel in the area can I deduct that as an expense?

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Specializes in emergency.

Yes. Unless the IRS has rules about distance from "home".

Generally most/all of your expenses that you incur for travel to and from that job, expenses for getting that job, and expenses maintaining that job (certifications not covered by employer/agency), are partially or completely deductible if you are a traveler.

The usual things that would (almost never) be deductible are uniforms, shoes, equipment. Those are things needed for any job regardless if you travel or not.

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The IRS does have rules about business expenses, but distance is not the criteria. If work requirements necessitate an overnight stay or sleep period, that makes it deductible (or allowable to receive tax free "reimbursements"). Overnight stays could be due to call needs, or because it is too far to commute (could be only 10 miles over a snowy mountain pass - distance is immaterial as long as it is not reasonable to commute).

The thing is that you cannot double dip. That untaxed of $180 per shift includes housing. You are expected to use that money for housing and per diem. You can use that money anyway you like, and anything you don't spend is yours to keep without claiming it as income. If you can document expenses that exceed the untaxed amount you get, the difference is deductible.

Housing and per diems (called M&IE or meals and incidental expenses by the IRS) are treated differently. You will have to prove with receipts your actual housing costs to deduct an amount great than the agency gives you. If they don't give you a per diem, you can deduct that for every day you are away from home. You can Google the GSA per diem rate for your work area, or use IRS Publication 1542 (you do better with 1542).

The vast majority of travelers do better by maximizing the tax free amount from agencies versus deducting expenses themselves. Even if you already itemize, you still have thresholds to meet to deduct business expenses. Usually not worth it.

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Thank you very much. Excellent information. When I renew/ or next assignment are these numbers low, right on, or above average?

Next assignment will be renewal with same hospital in ICU or it will be in Nashville.

Off to look up the information provided.

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The only way to get that answered accurately is to get offers from other agencies for the same area. Since you have renewed it is irrelevant for that hospital now. But shop around for your next assignment.

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What hospital will you be at? I am from Memphis and can give you some insight.

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What hospital will you be at? I am from Memphis and can give you some insight.

St Francis on Park.

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