First time traveler looking for are with highest pays and most available overtime

k_cole21 · Oct 10, 2005

To Reply to your original question....Many companies do not allow the OT for travelers. Fastaff & On Assignment are two that I know that have contracts with 48-60 hour guarentees. Now Fastaff markets themselves as a crisis staffing agency. Their assignments are usually hard work....not many cush jobs. They work you hard and the pay is $35-$44 an hour. Time & a half after 40....(CA time & a half after 8 hours a day double time after 12hours a day). Their assignments are usually 2-8 weeks. So you can go make a butt load of money in a short amount of time. They do their housing a little differnt than other companies....you max out @ $250 a week. It's hard to find a descent hotel for that amount. Therefore I did accept the housing they provide. My last shift of the week....my 12 shift on my 5th day is a $720 day.....

The other company, On Assignment, seems pretty good. It seems they have less short term assignments but you can get a 4-8 week assignment if you are lucky. They do provide "private" housing, rental car on most assignments and travel money. However, you should talk to your recruiter about moving your money around. That rental car can be another $5 bucks an hour if don't really need it. You can decrease your hourly pay if you are taking the housing stipend....get more tax free money that way. A good way to find your own housing is to look in the paper of the place you are going to. Many people offer furnished apartments - all bills paid - at a much cheaper rate than what your company will charge you for housing.

Now with Traveling....talking money is a must. This is a business where it is ok to discuss those things b/c we are traveling to make money. I love what I do & want to get paid the most money for what I do. There is nothing wrong with that. Also discuss similar positions with different companies. The company you really want to work for will usually match their competetor rather than loose you......

Okay! I'm sure you all are tired of this post by now.

WindwardOahuRN, RN · Oct 10, 2005

To Reply to your original question....Many companies do not allow the OT for travelers. Fastaff & On Assignment are two that I know that have contracts with 48-60 hour guarentees. Now Fastaff markets themselves as a crisis staffing agency.
Fastaff is widely known as the "cover travel company" for US Nursing, a company that provides nurses during job actions.
In other words---they provide scabs when union nurses go out on strike.
Don't expect to be welcomed with open arms by union nurses if you work for Fastaff, especially if you show up in a union hospital near contract time.

cjones98 · Oct 10, 2005

I have been traveling for 7 years. I have traveled with many different companies and I think I know them all. I am what is considered a seasoned traveler. So first, let me tell you what I know. If you are not making the equivelant of $47-$52.00 hour then you are getting gyped! If they are giving you "FREE" housing you are really paying for it. Those agencies that give "FREE housing" are usually only paying $29.00 - $32.00 an hour. If you were making $32.00 an hour you would only be taking home approximately $291.84 for a 12 hour shift. You should be taking home $375 or more per SHIFT!!! I average take home after taxes of $423.00 per 12 hour shift. I would rather see that money in my pocket. WHen I work I work for straight take home money, then if I work extra shifts I am pocketing all that money, it's not going to my "housing". I also want benefits like insurance and 401K, but not everyone needs that. I would never do anything but travel nursing. I earn over $100,000 per year doing this and work when I want to work, and where I want to work. And, I am respected by my company and treated very well. But, then I do know the ropes. I am not dazzled by phoney fringes that come out of my paycheck. I am happy with the company I am with now.

I'm new to this game and my husband and I are hoping to start traveling within the month, If you don't mind me asking what company are you with. I want to earn big money over the next 9months to a year, I'm not sure who to go with, to get the best rates and benefits.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Oct 10, 2005

RNlovinit's post is dated: 11-27-2001

I don't think she's a member here anymore.

I'm a traveler and the only nurses I know who make in the 40's per hr do so because they have a free place to stay in a city, or provide and pay for their own housing, utilities, and housewares when they travel.

Most travelers make in the mid to low 30's per hr.

WindwardOahuRN, RN · Oct 10, 2005

I'm new to this game and my husband and I are hoping to start traveling within the month, If you don't mind me asking what company are you with. I want to earn big money over the next 9months to a year, I'm not sure who to go with, to get the best rates and benefits.

I don't do travel nursing but, as a critical care RN in Hawaii, I work with a lot of travel nurses.

Some of the best nurses I have worked with are from Cross Country.

If you're interested in working in Hawaii, local companies are Altres, Kahu Malama, and Specialty Nursing.

The Fastaff company is reviled by most nurses in Hawaii. They are associated with the US Nursing company and supply scab nurses during job actions. IME, many of their nurses have little experience. They require one year experience before hire. After working with some of their nurses, I have to question whether they even meet that minimal requirement.

k_cole21 · Oct 10, 2005

To Reply to your original question....Many companies do not allow the OT for travelers. Fastaff & On Assignment are two that I know that have contracts with 48-60 hour guarentees. Now Fastaff markets themselves as a crisis staffing agency.
Fastaff is widely known as the "cover travel company" for US Nursing, a company that provides nurses during job actions.
In other words---they provide scabs when union nurses go out on strike.
Don't expect to be welcomed with open arms by union nurses if you work for Fastaff, especially if you show up in a union hospital near contract time.
Like I said....Fastaff is know for providing crisis coverage....Yes they do stikes but they have many assignments that are not strikes just hospitals with a desparate need for staffing. I don't do strikes & I've traveled with Fastaff. I'm actually a great hospital right now....They just needed nurses. Their volume doubled due to a free standing birthing center closing. It's not a union hospital either.

k_cole21 · Oct 10, 2005

I don't do travel nursing but, as a critical care RN in Hawaii, I work with a lot of travel nurses.
Some of the best nurses I have worked with are from Cross Country.
If you're interested in working in Hawaii, local companies are Altres, Kahu Malama, and Specialty Nursing.
The Fastaff company is reviled by most nurses in Hawaii. They are associated with the US Nursing company and supply scab nurses during job actions. IME, many of their nurses have little experience. They require one year experience before hire. After working with some of their nurses, I have to question whether they even meet that minimal requirement.

Fastaff is not the only company that provides bad nurses. Most companies only require 1 year of experience to travel......Maybe I'm just blind to the rep that Fastaff has.

WindwardOahuRN, RN · Oct 10, 2005

Like I said....Fastaff is know for providing crisis coverage....Yes they do stikes but they have many assignments that are not strikes just hospitals with a desparate need for staffing. I don't do strikes & I've traveled with Fastaff. I'm actually a great hospital right now....They just needed nurses. Their volume doubled due to a free standing birthing center closing. It's not a union hospital either.
"Yes they do strikes" says enough for me. They remain what they are---a travel company owned by US Nursing, the premier provider of scab nurses. The nurses working for Fastaff very often are just waiting for an opportunity to work strike coverage.True, there may be some who are naive enough to believe otherwise, but having lived through a job action and seen this US Nursing/Fastaff connection up close and personal, I have no respect for either Fastaff or the nurses who choose to work with the company.There are plenty of other travel companies out there. Why go with one that is KNOWN for working job actions, if you have a choice? Unless, of course, you're interested in crossing picket lines.

k_cole21 · Oct 10, 2005

"Yes they do strikes" says enough for me. They remain what they are---a travel company owned by US Nursing, the premier provider of scab nurses. The nurses working for Fastaff very often are just waiting for an opportunity to work strike coverage.True, there may be some who are naive enough to believe otherwise, but having lived through a job action and seen this US Nursing/Fastaff connection up close and personal, I have no respect for either Fastaff or the nurses who choose to work with the company.There are plenty of other travel companies out there. Why go with one that is KNOWN for working job actions, if you have a choice? Unless, of course, you're interested in crossing picket lines.
You know....I'm working for a company with a crappy rep (which I just realized how crappy this rep is). The original poster asked about companies making the most money w/ short term assignments. I told her what I know. If the money means that much to her to do strikes...so be it. I don't do strikes, I'm not interested in strikes. Fastaff happened to have a position 1 hour from home making twice as much as I make @ home. This is the 1st time I've worked for them. It's nice to know what others think of the company. Now I know. However, for you to say have no respect for a nurse who works for this company is a judgement from someone with a very a narrow mind.... We're not all in it with the intentions to go do strikes.

WindwardOahuRN, RN · Oct 10, 2005

You know....I'm working for a company with a crappy rep (which I just realized how crappy this rep is). The original poster asked about companies making the most money w/ short term assignments. I told her what I know. If the money means that much to her to do strikes...so be it. I don't do strikes, I'm not interested in strikes. Fastaff happened to have a position 1 hour from home making twice as much as I make @ home. This is the 1st time I've worked for them. It's nice to know what others think of the company. Now I know. However, for you to say have no respect for a nurse who works for this company is a judgement from someone with a very a narrow mind.... We're not all in it with the intentions to go do strikes.
I realize that some nurses who work for Fastaff are unaware of the company's connections to scab nursing. I suppose I was a bit too harsh in my statement and I apologize.I guess I meant to say that I have no respect for a nurse who KNOWINGLY works for a company that participates in such activity.Often, when contract negotiations are nearing and the hospital involved senses that there may be some problems, they contact US Nursing/Fastaff and load their hospitals with "travel nurses" who can be converted to scabs at a moment's notice if necessary. The nurses working in these hospitals are well aware of the practice, which is why Fastaff nurses are often not warmly welcomed.

k_cole21 · Oct 10, 2005

I realize that some nurses who work for Fastaff are unaware of the company's connections to scab nursing. I suppose I was a bit too harsh in my statement and I apologize.I guess I meant to say that I have no respect for a nurse who KNOWINGLY works for a company that participates in such activity.Often, when contract negotiations are nearing and the hospital involved senses that there may be some problems, they contact US Nursing/Fastaff and load their hospitals with "travel nurses" who can be converted to scabs at a moment's notice if necessary. The nurses working in these hospitals are well aware of the practice, which is why Fastaff nurses are often not warmly welcomed.
Well thanks for the info. I was unaware of their reputation as I stated before. I'll take that in to consideration when I look for my next assignment.

cjones98 · Oct 11, 2005

Yeah I will to. Thanks guy for all the info! What do you all know about NursesRX? Good? Bad? OK?