How to compare pay without signing up

NedRN · Jul 29, 2017

Decent health nsurance is going to cost you $400 to $800 a month. It is all the same pot of money from a fixed hourly bill rate so the details on who pays is completely irrelevant. Same applies as staff, but the costs are less transparent.

Yes, you have to shop around. Come on, you do do that for every major and many minor financial decisions you make, right? Shouldn't be the slightest question in your head.

There are around 400 agencies that do travel. Inexhaustible supply. Unlikely that you would work past the most common 100, but that is more than enough agencies to find recruiters will to share real assignments (with at least the city name) and the compensation. Then you will know for sure by that time if they are worth signing up with fully.

There are other ways to go. It is not that difficult to create a professional portfolio with everything an agency could want and email it to them. Boom. You are done.

But you don't even have to go that far. All they really need is your work history, a skills checklist (the one page ones you can download free on PanTravelers are far superior to any agency ones), and two written references (unless your references really don't mind being called three times a day every time you contact a new agency).

Once your contact info is out there, you have lost control. Those agencies, even the ones you yell at and tell never to call you again, will call and email you forever. Blocking specific numbers and email addresses is only temporary.

This is why you don't sign up for resume sites or "one application" sites. You lose control.

So here is yet one more strategy. Use disposable phone numbers and change regularly. Hassle of course and you have to keep updating your chosen agencies You can keep a perm number and email for friends and family. Even this system is not totally foolproof. And if you chooses the full information dump method, your info and social is much more likely to be hacked the more places it resides.

Choose the method you prefer. Personally, if I call a new agency, I'm going to use caller ID blocking until I'm sure I'm going to work with that recruiter further.

San Diego has a sun tax. The laws of supply and demand work really well for travel nationally (whereas they are distorted for local permanent staff). Lots of travelers want to go to San Diego, this the supply exceeds demand and the bill rates go down. If you want to chase money versus the beach, try California's Central Valley. High bill rates (cause it is not a desirable location) combined with housing costs that are half or less than San Diego's and you have a recipe for large bank account growth. But no beach.

Wolf at the Door, BSN · Jul 30, 2017

Facebook gypsy nurse groups will help you see what companies are offering for various cities.

And STAY AWAY from AMN. Its very clear to me based on that pay package that is who you are with.

blueskies1, BSN · Jul 30, 2017

Thanks for your feedback. I'm looking through all kinds of boards, joined gypsy and the Facebook group to try to learn as much as I can. My other dilemma is that I'm a mother/baby nurse wanting a specific location and shift so my options are limited with agencies.

Argo · Jul 30, 2017

I ised AMN for a year and had a good recruiter. I had no issues and they were great to learn the flow of traveling with.

NedRN · Jul 30, 2017

I have no problem recommending or referring travelers to AMN, particularly new travelers, and those in smaller specialties. Large agencies have their place, and with more travelers than any other agency, AMN is clearly doing something right. More travelers also mean more disgruntled travelers (you cannot please everyone) thus you can find more complaints about larger agencies online.

Wolf at the Door, BSN · Jul 31, 2017

Thanks for your feedback. I'm looking through all kinds of boards, joined gypsy and the Facebook group to try to learn as much as I can. My other dilemma is that I'm a mother/baby nurse wanting a specific location and shift so my options are limited with agencies.

You're welcome. As a MB RN you can't be picky. Those needs are very limited. Personally I would want to work the night shift when doing MB as a travel RN. I rather do the admission than the discharges. If I still worked L&D I would work nights for sure. I might pick up some hours doing MB nights in the near future.

Wolf at the Door, BSN · Jul 31, 2017

You can roll with AMN if you want to. I think they are better for nurses with travel experience who know how to vocalize their needs.

blueskies1, BSN · Jul 31, 2017

You're welcome. As a MB RN you can't be picky. Those needs are very limited. Personally I would want to work the night shift when doing MB as a travel RN. I rather do the admission than the discharges. If I still worked L&D I would work nights for sure. I might pick up some hours doing MB nights in the near future.

Oh I wish I could do nights, I've been rotating for the last couple years and nights are really hard for me. Just can't seem to get used to them.

jive turkey · Aug 7, 2017

I'm a new traveler possibly going to the San Diego area. The pay offered seems low and I've read the only way to see if you're getting a fair deal is to compare the offer with other agencies.
I'm wondering how I can do that without signing up for a bunch of agencies and doing all the skills check, references, ect that they require. Will agencies give a pay rate without hassling a traveler for info?
And if I decided to get insurance through the agency should I expect a big decrease in take home pay?
My offer for San Diego is:
$22/hr pay rate x 36 hours/week = $792/week gross / $620/week net after taxes
(I should be getting 1.5 pay after 8hrs so I'm guessing $22 is the blended pay making it even less per hour)
$35/day meals per diem (nontaxable) x 7 days/week = $245/week
+ $3075/mo housing subsidy (nontaxable) = $710/week
$620 + $245 + $710 = $1575/week take home after taxes
+ travel reimbursement
No insurance and no guaranteed shifts
Thanks!

Provided you were willing to rent a room rather than short term lease, 6,300 take home q 4 wks ain't all bad if the beach/SD experience is more important to you than money. But I wouldn't touch a contract that doesn't guarantee hrs. When it's time to cancel shifts guess who's gonna get cut first. You may as well go staff at that point.