Hawaii Contract

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I am looking at a few contracts in HI for my next job, but in the job description it reads an ominous disclaimer.

You may float between various medical and surgical units; will be required to work various shift lengths and various days.”

To those of you who have been doing this for a while, how would you interpret this? Do you think its just a catch-all disclaimer so no one can say no without breaking their contractual agreement?

I have never been to HI before and am bringing my wife and 4m old. Currently my wife and child live at a home we bought in Dallas while I stay in Houston finishing up a contract. The plan is to rent my home in Dallas out while we are away in HI. All furnished in a nice neighborhood in the city. Hoping this all works out! Thank you for reading.

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

I'm assuming that renting out your Dallas home while you're in HI jeopardizes your tax-free reimbursements and makes them taxable. But I'm not definite on that. Perhaps NedRN can clarify.

Sent from my iPad using allnurses

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Excellent observation, one that I have not thought about at all. That would definitely change my approach to this situation. Thank you for your comment.

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Yes, renting out your home means you have no home! If your home is suitable, I would recommend a "roommate". Just ensure one bedroom remains yours exclusively should you return home. This has a lot of benefits for both parties and often the market rate for a furnished home is less than an unfurnished home anyway.

There is some sort of short term vacation rental TravelTax says is available that maintains your tax home even if you rent the entire home. Take a look at his site for more details.

As far as floating goes, if the worst should happen, you will become a stronger nurse. It is easy to understand why a hospital might have boilerplate like that, and equally easy to see why you might not want to float excessively, or at all. All you can do is inquire in the interview as to their needs and practices. You can also ask your agency if you might be able to talk to any of their travelers who have been there as to real life conditions.

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My first contract had a clause saying I have to be able to work within any Parallon facility within 25 miles of the hospital I contracted with! I was worried but it was a required clause apparently. My own unit was so short staffed that I only got floated once in 13 weeks, and definitely never had to go to a different hospital.

I agree with Ned, as your recruiter, other RN's (although I feel like my first recruiter was protective of her other RN that works at the same hospital as she never put me in touch with her), and manager what the staffing is like.

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I almost took a Hawaii contract a few weeks back. My contract also mentioned floating to different floors very often, working rotation between night shift and day shift and fluctuating between 8 hour and 12 hours shifts. My recruiter said this was true of all Hawaii contracts. You mix in the low pay and you have essentially a desirable destination job where the hospital knows they can make whatever demands they want and nurses will comply. Sadly I was told it's been that way for a while there and it isn't going to change.

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I have worked several travel contracts and with everyone of them I floated to different units. I have been a float since I became a nurse and that is one of the skills DON's look for when interviewing. I am currently about to finish a 13 week assignment here in Maui, HI and I was a float. I floated to different units, not facilities though. Its a great experience.

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Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

What agency are you signed up with if you don't mind me asking? I've been thinking about Hawaii every since I vacationed there last year! :)

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Medical staffing solutions. They pay for everything. I lived in a fully furnished condo steps away from the beach

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My first contract was in HI and has a similar rotating schedule. They were kind and did not rotate me without a day or two off to adjust to a new shift and I often did not know what unit I was on until I got to work. However I didn't mind as they were all in my capabilities and I actually enjoyed getting to know the ins and outs of every unit in the small hospital. I had 8 hour shifts and did all 3 throughout my contract. It was a shame it was my first contract because none since has ever been so great. HI was the most amazing place ever.

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MsConstrued,

What agency did you go to Hawaii with?

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I have been to Hawaii several times as a traveler and this is pretty much standard...as with any travel contract for the most part.

However, when i was in Maui, they would indeed schedule you on the occasional evening shift if they needed the coverage. This wasn't the norm, but i definitely was told it was a possibility and i did work a couple night shifts.

If it's an absolute deal breaker, i would make sure before you agreed to a contract.

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