Does being a Travel Nurse REALLY put more money in your pocket???

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The average starting salary of a RN is 26.50.

Travel nurses is $ 40-45.

But when you factor in travel cost to the destination, gas, having to keep paying on your apartment lease of where you left etc, is it actually more money in your pocket?

Congrats TiredMomof2.

That is a MAJOR shift "Upward_Bound" lol

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That's great to hear.

And your right, there are great perks not just the money... But the money IS real nice :)

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Here is my experience. You have to get with the right company to make more. And yes I do make quite a bit more than staff. Here is my example. I'm in norcal on assignment. Staff nurses up here make about $65-75/hr. Good money. Currently I make about $64h/hr. but less than half of that is taxed. So I am making about $500-700$ more per week after they get taxed.

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Specializes in ICU.

I have yet to see more money in my pocket. I had to take company housing, and it consumes a good portion of the pay. Gas costs and food costs aren't cheap either. I am looking at returning to a former employer, because I've made no more money at this than I did as a full-time employee. However, each traveler is different and will have a different experience. It depends on the contract, agency, and location of assignment. I can say this. On each assignment, the travel nurse is first to float (and these hospitals have no issue floating you to a floor where you're not experienced). I was floated to an oncology floor and then post-partum (I'm medical/surgical ICU). Also, as the travel nurse, you're expected to work any time they're short staffed. So plan on giving up every weekend. I've also found that we're the first to get dumped on during the night. You will also be scheduled for all the holidays.

Like I said before, it all depends on the assignment. Some people have been travelers for years and they love it.

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Why are food and gas costs higher than home? That might be expected in USVI, Hawaii, and Alaska perhaps, but not in most other locations. And yes, getting your own housing is often a significant bump.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.
Travel nurses need at least 1-2 years experience and typically have much more. They are not new grads.

This is not always the case. I knew a colleague who became a traveling nurse. He was considered a new grad with about 2 months experience. It depends on your company.

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I have yet to see more money in my pocket. I had to take company housing, and it consumes a good portion of the pay. Gas costs and food costs aren't cheap either. I am looking at returning to a former employer, because I've made no more money at this than I did as a full-time employee. However, each traveler is different and will have a different experience. It depends on the contract, agency, and location of assignment. I can say this. On each assignment, the travel nurse is first to float (and these hospitals have no issue floating you to a floor where you're not experienced). I was floated to an oncology floor and then post-partum (I'm medical/surgical ICU). Also, as the travel nurse, you're expected to work any time they're short staffed. So plan on giving up every weekend. I've also found that we're the first to get dumped on during the night. You will also be scheduled for all the holidays.

Like I said before, it all depends on the assignment. Some people have been travelers for years and they love it.

I think you got a raw deal. That's definitely not typical in my experience.

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Specializes in ICU, SICU.

This is a little off topic but- I never knew it was possible to be a travel nurse and only licensed in 2 states? I currently am licensed in two states and about to be licensed in another - so I could still potentially do travel nursing if not licensed in TONS of states??

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Sure! Even just one state. There are a lot of travelers who just do California.

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.
Regarding the post that delineated the differences between an RN and BSN as the Bachelors prepared nurse has a degree and RN takes the licensing exam in order to practice. This is not entirely accurate. While I am an RN without a Bachelors Degree, I DO have a degree in nursing, albeit an Associates Degree of Nursing (ADN).

If you are referring to my post then you are wrong. I am entirely accurate that a BSN is a degree and an RN is a license.

I'm sorry you are an RN without a Bachelor's Degree but the poster was confused about the difference between a BSN and an RN. There are also people who have MSN and PhD degrees that are also RNs but that would just confuse the issue.

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Do any of you travel nurses have kids? Do you travel with them or let them stay home with family until your assignment is over?

I have kids. I have a toddler and I just had a baby 4 months ago. My partner and I take turns staying home for 6 months. They all travel with me (for now). Once the kids start school I'll probably take shorter assignments and leave everyone at home. My partner isn't too keen on the idea of homeschooling. But we'll see. We still have some years to go.

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If you are referring to my post then you are wrong. I am entirely accurate that a BSN is a degree and an RN is a license.

I'm sorry you are an RN without a Bachelor's Degree but the poster was confused about the difference between a BSN and an RN. There are also people who have MSN and PhD degrees that are also RNs but that would just confuse the issue.

An Associate Degree of Nursing is also a degree. A diploma nurse doesn't have a degree, but is still eligible for a license. All are educational credentials, but you must still meet individual state requirements and pass a uniform test before a license can be obtained. Let's call it education and regulation how about?

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