Frustrated!

Maybe I'm missing something or just in a lower-paying area of the country, but $32/hr is somewhere near average here.

Are you sure you're not translating that into $32 Canadian? Our $32 might be closer to your $57.

No actually, it is 32 per hour average at Irvine Medical Center. AND it translates to about 36 canadian dollars.

I have had one interview with Irvine Regional Medical Center $32 per hour average for 12 hour shift for ER!!! Why are they paying soooo low! I am soooo frustrated the travel companies are unwilling to bend for anything! No sign on bonus either! AH! THE only good thing is that it is a day shift contract.

Venting was much needed and this is toned down!!! :angryfire :angryfire

Actually, that is about an average rate for travel nurse contracts right now. I know there are a lot of "rumors" about travel nurses making huge money out there, but they have about as much truth as most rumors! Occasionally one may see contracts with significantly higher rates, but there is alway a reason - hard to fill position, bad/dangerous location, strike work or the unit itself is a disaster. (Or the company may be quoting an inflated rate by rolling the money paid out for housing,etc. into the quoted rate.). Overly large completion bonuses are usually an indication that either the hospital has trouble keeping the nurses there for 13 weeks or they have no intention of paying it - for example by finding a way to terminate your contract after about 11 weeks!

Actually, that is about an average rate for travel nurse contracts right now. I know there are a lot of "rumors" about travel nurses making huge money out there, but they have about as much truth as most rumors! Occasionally one may see contracts with significantly higher rates, but there is alway a reason - hard to fill position, bad/dangerous location, strike work or the unit itself is a disaster. (Or the company may be quoting an inflated rate by rolling the money paid out for housing,etc. into the quoted rate.). Overly large completion bonuses are usually an indication that either the hospital has trouble keeping the nurses there for 13 weeks or they have no intention of paying it - for example by finding a way to terminate your contract after about 11 weeks!

baglady, your post is right on the money!

I have been reading on another site that travel nurses are feeling very stagnant and under-appreciated right now. No big bonus, no juicy incentives, not a lot of choices where to go unless you are a speciality nurse, like Or or Cvicu. Anyone care to comment?

Some may feel that way, but I really haven't found that to be true. I've been traveling for over 10 years now and have seen my rates rise steadily and have never yet left an assignment without the next one already lined up. I've never really let bonuses affect my decision to take a job or not, since as I said above they can be pretty "iffy" anyway. I base my decision on the job description, interview, and basic pay rate. Everything else is just "gravy"!