Decisions, Decisions---What to do???

[loricatus]

I will be leaving my staff position and begin traveling next month. I haven't settled on a company as of yet because my first assignment has to be in a specific area of the country (family issues involved). I have found what appears to be a good company and recruiter (for what little I know about this) that has direct contracts close to where I want to be. First decision is on a company/recruiter. Should I apply at one comapny, or more than one so my subsequent choices in travel locations are broader?

Next decision I have to make:

Job #1 has a 36 or 48 hour guarantee, day shift, a little farther of a commute and pays $5.00 more per hour than all the other positions in the area. I know this ED and actually worked for this place's parent hospital, making me quite aware of the reasons they need to pay a higher rate. The hospital is a pit, the management stinks (this was 3 years ago and I am betting it hasn't changed) and I wouldn't want to be in that neighborhood for a night shift. But, it's only 13 weeks and would leave me with much less of a pay cut from my current staff position.

Job #2 has an ED I am very familiar with. It is a night position (which I find very difficult to do because of the reason I have to travel to this location, in the first place), pays $5.00 less per hour, does not have the potential for the high patient to nurse ratio that #1 has, is an equal commute in distance as #1, has some nurses and guards there that I know (or did know 3 years ago), is in a nicer neighborhood and very near a 24 hour vet that used to take care of my dogs. One of my dogs recently went into status epilepticus while I was at work and was rushed to an emergency vet 20 minutes away. He was just started on phenobarb and needs to be monitored closely for the next month or so. His $1500.00 vet bill maxed out our last credit card and recent unexpected expenses (together with not being fully paid for all the hours I have been working at my staff position) has left me with no extra cash. I would be able to work something out with the vet center where he could night board while I worked if I took job #2; but, I would be making at least $210.00 per week less and may not be able to afford the boarding (something like doggy day care at night). With job #1, I would be home at night to watch him and would be able to get a relative to look in on him (at no cost) while I am at work during the day. Also, job #2 does not have guaranteed hours as does #1.

It would really help to get some opinions about this.

I have never traveled before and think I am viewing the jobs as staff would. Please let me know if you get this feel from this post.

Thanks in advance.

[Medic15251]

I would take job number 1. You must have been making quite a bit to be taking a cut in pay to travel. I can understand wanting to take care of your pet and I hope he does well on the new medicine. It sounds like you are familiar with this hospital and don't like some of the issues with it. The great thing about travel nursing is you don't have to get involved with the hospital politics. You are a temporary worker. Just show up, be friendly, and do your job then go home. May I ask where this assignment is and what they are offering? Myself and others on this board can tell you if it is a fair offer. Are they offering to pay overtime if you take the guaranteed 48 hours a week?

[loricatus]

I would take job number 1. You must have been making quite a bit to be taking a cut in pay to travel. I can understand wanting to take care of your pet and I hope he does well on the new medicine. It sounds like you are familiar with this hospital and don't like some of the issues with it. The great thing about travel nursing is you don't have to get involved with the hospital politics. You are a temporary worker. Just show up, be friendly, and do your job then go home. May I ask where this assignment is and what they are offering? Myself and others on this board can tell you if it is a fair offer. Are they offering to pay overtime if you take the guaranteed 48 hours a week?

Thanks so much for the advise. If I am able to stay out of the politics, job #1 may be bearable. Do you find that with travel nursing, in general, the staff to be tolerant of the travelers, or do travels have to put up with more nastiness from other nurses? I know where I am now, I get along very well with the travelers-better than with many of the regular staff. Or, is it that it just doesn't matter (mindset, speaking) because the focus is your assignment for the day and you are only going to be there a limited time, anyway?

The assignments are in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. The pay for job #2 is $27.00/hour [nights] (which is what other companies have been quoting me as the average rate there, for at least 4 other positions). #2 is $32.00/hour [day or night position]. The travel company recruiter I think I am settling on is the only one to have this higher paying position (another company quoted me $27.00/hour for the same place (#1), but only for nights). This includes a travel allowance, furnished 1 bedroom apartment with washer/dryer & all utilitities including phone and cable (no housewares, linens, etc.), pet deposit paid, PPO medical BC/BS, no completion bonus (she said that they don't do that because it comes out of the hourly rate of pay for the companies that provide it, unless the hospital is paying it to them), no vacation or sick days, time and a half over 40 hours, time and a half for holidays observed by the hospital; and, the ability to take on per diem jobs with a large comapany they recently bought out. The per diem jobs would be at a higher rate of pay than the travel pay and once I reached 40 hours for the week (travel or per diem job) I would be paid time and one half. She advised me to take a 36 hour guarantee and per diem for the extra day, since the hourly rate, and thus the time and a half rate, would be higher-making a higher income than if I were to do the 48hours in the travel position. There is no tax advantage plan, since I want to keep a higher amount of taxed income to go toward my 401K and social security benefits (I'm at the age where I have to start planning for retirement). Oh, I almost forgot-If I take a housing stipend of around $1350.00 per month (untaxed), paid weekly, they will also add $1.00/hour to my hourly rate.

Sooooo..........Does it sound OK?

PS: My hourly rate now [NYC] is $35.98/h (shift & BSN differential included); but, I know travelers get $30.00/hour here (housing included) with one major company (I'll call CC) or $42.00/h included is the housing allowance, a per diem and the bonus (this is with a local company that begins with a L).

[bagladyrn, RN]

I'd say job # 1 ( the shift and pay you want) sounds better. Remember that as a traveler you don't need to get involved in any of the politics or gossip at the hospital and you can let a whole lot of stuff roll right off your back when you remind yourself it's only for 13 weeks.

[Medic15251]

Do you find that with travel nursing, in general, the staff to be tolerant of the travelers, or do travels have to put up with more nastiness from other nurses? I know where I am now, I get along very well with the travelers-better than with many of the regular staff. Or, is it that it just doesn't matter (mindset, speaking) because the focus is your assignment for the day and you are only going to be there a limited time, anyway?

I would say it's all in your attitude and how you approach it. From your post you seem like a logical and caring person. I think considering that travel nurses are used primarily for a staff shortage in a unit, most would welcome your presence. Some people you'll never be able to please (you know the type). That's when you think to yourself, I am being compensated well and I'm only here for a few more weeks!

I can understand about retirement being a consideration. What type of a match are you getting for your 401k? My company does a 50% match up to 7% of the salary.

I'm not sure about texas pay, but the quotes seem reasonable. It's good you are shopping companies so to speak. I've found that once you establish yourself with a company and do a good job, you can usually negotiate your contract next time. There is considerable room to negotiate. The worst they can do is say no.

Are you maintaining a home in your current location?

[loricatus]

I would say it's all in your attitude and how you approach it. From your post you seem like a logical and caring person. I think considering that travel nurses are used primarily for a staff shortage in a unit, most would welcome your presence. Some people you'll never be able to please (you know the type). That's when you think to yourself, I am being compensated well and I'm only here for a few more weeks!

I can understand about retirement being a consideration. What type of a match are you getting for your 401k? My company does a 50% match up to 7% of the salary.

I'm not sure about texas pay, but the quotes seem reasonable. It's good you are shopping companies so to speak. I've found that once you establish yourself with a company and do a good job, you can usually negotiate your contract next time. There is considerable room to negotiate. The worst they can do is say no.

Are you maintaining a home in your current location?

Yes, I'd be maintaining a home so I can get the housing stipend tax free.

The company I am talking to does a 401k 75% match, up to 8% starting on the second assignment.

Also, thanks for putting the differences between travel nursing and staff in perspective. I have always hated the politics, even where I am now & can probably get by remembering that it is going to be temporary. Anyway, if they try to give me garbage while I'm there, I can remind them that I expected it and am being well compensated to put up with it (much more than they are).