Dialysis Travel Nurse salaries

NurseRies, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2013

Hello...I'm about to start travel nursing in dialysis. I've been told to ask for at least 40 an hr since I have more than 6 years chronic experience and 2 years acute experience. Does anyone know if that is about right? Or do you get more if you don't take housing? What types of things should I ask for on my contract? Thanks for your help :)

40-hr is very vague when it comes to traveling. It sounds like you need to get some more facts about how travel nurses are paid. Your base rate may be $25/hr, but when you factor in that you're getting free rent plus $300/ week tax free for food and gas, it adds up a little differently. I think most travel nurses base rate or hourly rate is between $20-30. In my experiences, after talking to all the major dialysis travel nursing agency players, you will not make much more then $25/hr base rate. But when you factor in the tax free reimbursements, you should try to get $32 an hour. I have met many other dialysis travelers with 20 years experience and they have told me they don't make more then me (with only 3 years dialysis). You can try to negotiate, but I think you are going I be disappointed with your paycheck. I know I was.

Now if you work a lot of overtime, it can e much better. But as I always tell all the nurses that are interested in travel-- don't make money the reason for traveling because you will hate your choices. Of course it's decent, but I think it was rather disappointing when it comes to pay.