Computer Conversion Pay-Nurse Choice

NedRN · May 25, 2013

Free private housing is code for in addition to your hourly. The travel pay will be based on actual costs like a plane flight (ask if it includes rental car reimbursement), or limited by your distance from the job at 56.5 cents a mile each way (that is the IRS rate, agency rate may be less) to a maximum of $1,300 round trip. Insurance option day one is code for you pay extra for that.

Nurse Choice is an American Mobile brand. Monday is a holiday by the way.

The number of nurses required is most of what is driving the compensation here. But the client is probably demanding quality travelers. The time before start means that you will be competing with a lot of other travelers most likely, and of course the ones with better profiles are going to be selected. While you have a specialty that is relatively hard to find, if you haven't traveled before, you may not get in and not find that out until the last minute. You should certainly should ask about that, and if they will pay for your Indiana licensure either way (including verification fees). Obviously you will not get the sign on bonus if you don't start, and it probably isn't really a sign on bonus (you won't get it the first week). In fact, you may not get it or the travel if you don't complete the assignment so find out when they are reimbursed so you can properly evaluate the risk/reward equation.

mustang_convt · May 25, 2013

Thank you so much for sharing your experience!!! I specifically asked about the Monday thing because I wondered why administrative staff would be "in" on a holiday but they confirmed Monday was ok even with it being a holiday-I was surprised too! Do you think they ONLY offer housing or do you think a stipend would be offered on top of the $40 hourly if you don't take their housing? Do you know how far away from your tax home it has to be to be a tax-free stipend?

I haven't gotten my heart set on this job at all as I assumed it would be pretty competitive. I'm a great LDRP nurse but I looked up the hospital (St. Mary's in Evansville. All accredited and Magnet status) and I'm sure they are only going to accept the "best of the best." And while I'm confident in my skills I don't blame them if they don't want someone on her first contract.

I live in Indiana and my entire practice as an RN (4 yrs RN, 2 yrs SN) has been here. I have been looking at contracts in California now that my license (finally) went through there when this little gem popped across my email. How awesome would that be if I were able to start my first contract only 5 hours away from home in my home state and the compensation looked great too!!!

Again, thanks for the clarification. I love this website!

NedRN · May 25, 2013

Almost always agencies will offer a stipend in lieu of supplied housing. For reasons unknown to me, some agencies offer less than they pay for housing. In any case, it won't be much in Indiana. Living in Indiana, you are not going to get much for travel. You may be able to talk them into a taxable bonus of a similar amount (for it to be the same with the employer's share of payroll taxes, it will have to start at 10% less before taxes).

The IRS has no rules about distance although some agencies will say you are eligible with some arbitrary distance (often 50 miles) for their purposes. But the traveler is the one who will suffer in an audit, not the agency. Basically what the IRS says is that you are eligible for M&IE (not mentioned in your offer, but almost certainly will be part of your pay) and lodging if a rest period (sleep) is reasonably required to meet the job requirements. If you can commute, no matter the distance, you are not eligible for tax-free treatment.

You are fine living 5 hours away for tax purposes. Theoretically, you would owe taxes on days you return home on the reimbursements for those days. I think you will find that you won't go home that often, just too far away - unless you are really tight with your family. But since you are considering California, perhaps that is not so mandatory to be home most of the week.

If you do this assignment successfully, your work history will be much more appealing to future travel hospital managers.

mustang_convt · May 25, 2013

Thanks Ned! I have read your replies in other threads and you are always though row and polite. Ive learned a lot from reading your replies to other people's questions. Are you some Admin on the site or just a previous or current recruiter whop knows his business? Ot a travel nurse who has made all the mistakes the hard way and is trying to help others from experiencing the worst travel nursing has to give??? At any rate-I appreciate it. Im trying not to get my hopes up and get in my head Im going to Cali-But man Id be excited to stay in Indiana!

NedRN · May 25, 2013

Travel nurse 18 years. 9 years ago I started my own agency to cut out the middleman (I don't recruit). I've always been curious (OK, snoopy). So I know the business from all sides. I also contribute content to PanTravelers, the non-profit travelers association. I was also a heavy contributor to the other big travel nurse forum (host issues, I've been given the boot). So I moved over here - just wish there was more traffic.

V-Neck T-Shirt · Jun 1, 2013

Mustang:

I'm originally from Indy, but I've been traveling on the west coast for about a year now. Today I received an offer for the assignment you posted about, and if my dates-off requests are approved, I'll be starting in August. My recruiter says it's 48 hours/week guaranteed. I've never consistently worked 4 days/week before, so I'm a little nervous. But I'll be excited to be back on days after a year of working nights.

RNcorazon · Jun 13, 2013

V-Neck T-Shirt

do you know the hospital in indiana and the area? I may also go for this one but I am curious about the area and the tipe of housing we can get. I know nurse choice place the nurses in extended stays, does not provide transport and last time I did worked 5 days in raw/ for 2 weeks. i took home about 6k. so, it was not too bad.

V-Neck T-Shirt · Jun 14, 2013

Nope, I've never worked in Indiana outside of my home city of Indianapolis. I ended up passing on this assignment, as it looked like they weren't going to be able to be able to grant my time-off requests, but my recruiter to me the housing was going to be extended stay.