Hawaii contract details - Opinions needed please!

Specialties Travel

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Specializes in Multi-disciplines.

The following is an email I got from my recruiter in regards to a contract position in Oahu, HI. The numbers aren't looking too attractive to me. Orientation pay at $14 hour?! What?! Am I missing something here? I have never had to take a pay cut for orientation days. :uhoh21: Is that just me?!

I have submitted your resume and credentials for a Med/Surg 3-month contract assignment at Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu! If they are interested in speaking with you, I will let you know in the next couple days. If you are eventually accepted, your assignment will start on May 29th.

The general details of your compensation package will be: Rate of pay: $28/hr day shift; $31/hr nights. Orientation for 2-days paid at $14/hr. Housing and per diem expense reimbursement at $10.00/hr. Travel expense reimbursement: $750 upon arrival and $750 upon completion.

The housing and expense is paid if you find your own housing. It equates to $360 per week, for example, if you work 36 hours (more if you work more hours). Most people find that more than adequate. If the company finds housing for you, the the hourly amount ($10) would be less.

Share your thoughts please. This would be my second travel assignment. Thanks guys! I appreciate any and all input. Take cares.

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i know i just got started in this business but that doesnt sound good to me for hawaii. its a high standard of living there. 360 for housing a week is a joke.

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Specializes in ER, Nursing Education.

Yea I'm not sure what the rates are either, but I get MUCH more per week for housing alone, it's always a flat rate and never based on how many hours you work. The location would be amazing I'm sure but I would look more into it before accepting.

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If you believe you cannot get housing for the stipend amount, let the agency provide the housing and don't worry!

There are many contracts in which the hospital pays zero or a lowered amount for a certain number of orientation hours to the travel company. The agency has a couple of options. One is to reduce your hourly rate just for those hours. The other way is to reduce your hourly rate for the entire contract to compensate for those two days.

I much prefer the first method. Your actual clinical rate will be higher, and if there is any overtime, you will come out ahead. But psychologically, it feels unfair so many agencies don't do it even though it benefits most travelers. If you prefer a flat rate for the entire assignment, you can always request it - they might be willing. It will be a lower rate than you were quoted, but you can always run the numbers for yourself and see which one is to your benefit over the entire assignment.

Just for a rationalization, during your hospital orientation you will have no nursing duties or responsibilities. Orientation is usually dead dull, but I usually learn something of interest I retain. So you are being paid to learn. Something of a switch from school. Feeble rationalizations I know, but hey, Hawaii!

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My friend just got a travel opp for Hawaii.....$42/hr plus housing.

The following is an email I got from my recruiter in regards to a contract position in Oahu, HI. The numbers aren't looking too attractive to me. Orientation pay at $14 hour?! What?! Am I missing something here? I have never had to take a pay cut for orientation days. :uhoh21: Is that just me?!I have submitted your resume and credentials for a Med/Surg 3-month contract assignment at Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu! If they are interested in speaking with you, I will let you know in the next couple days. If you are eventually accepted, your assignment will start on May 29th. The general details of your compensation package will be: Rate of pay: $28/hr day shift; $31/hr nights. Orientation for 2-days paid at $14/hr. Housing and per diem expense reimbursement at $10.00/hr. Travel expense reimbursement: $750 upon arrival and $750 upon completion. The housing and expense is paid if you find your own housing. It equates to $360 per week, for example, if you work 36 hours (more if you work more hours). Most people find that more than adequate. If the company finds housing for you, the the hourly amount ($10) would be less. Share your thoughts please. This would be my second travel assignment. Thanks guys! I appreciate any and all input. Take cares.
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Specializes in ER.

I'd like to know which companies submitted these two offers. What a difference!

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Specializes in Multi-disciplines.

Thanks for your input. I always like a second, or third pair of eyes to glance over what I've got in front of me when it comes to assignments. PaulaFlexRn, is your friend getting $42/hour PLUS the living stipend? Or does that include the living stipend? Also, what company is she with? And which hospital is she going to be working at? The contract that was provided for me was through Kahu Malama. If I were to work day shift and find housing on my own, then my pay would be $38/hour. But the housing is crazy! One bedroom apts in Honolulu run for $1400+ and that doesn't factor in if it's furnished and it being a short-term lease. I really want to spend my summer in Hawaii though. hehe :)

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It was $42/hr plus housing....as in they find and pay for housing.Being that I just came back from vaca...on Oahu, cost of living (other than rent) is not bad. Cost of gas was only $4.30.but the island isn't big. I went from Ford Island to anywhere in about 45 min.I was researching craigs's list and noticed the prices.... I will ask her and see what company she is working for....

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Specializes in Burnout & Resiliency Coaching for Nurses.

Who are you traveling with? My recruiters act like there are never assignments in Hawaii.

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Hi there all! I'm currently in hawaii ( big island ) on a travel assignment that I started beginning of february and keep extending so now I'm here till end of July possibly longer. My hourly rate is low ( not $14 ) and you want your hourly low because it's taxed and my stipend is awesome. I found my own housing and yes things are more pricey but im making decent money. I don't think I can PM yet because I just signed up when I saw this post but my orientation rate was not any different from my regular hrly pay

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These are quite dissonant amounts of $$$! I wonder what the differences in the experience of the RN's? Specialty (med-surge vs?)? How's the licensing procedure in HI?

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Specializes in ICU.

The sunshine states typically pay less (Hawaii & Florida). Its really not agency fault as the hospitals have really cut back on what they pay for travel nursing.

If you don't have any rent/mortgage and can just pick-up and go - I would take Hawaii assignment as its unique opportunity to see pretty interesting place even if money isn't great.

Hawaii typically is stronger in post-op Cardiac ICU. Just be careful as I have known some nurses who went out there and actually lost money as they traveled around.

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