How long is this going to last?

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Specializes in Mental Health.

Sorry if I didn't scroll through far enough to find another thread, but what is everyone's thought on how long these ridiculous contract rates are going to last? I couldn't resist taking a local travel gig after seeing the rates and being told "as much overtime as you want". LOL 

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My guess is a minimum year longer. Long term staff shortages seem inevitable and while not a slam dunk, should raise staff pay as well. Of course, the rules of supply and demand do not apply directly to staff pay as it does for travelers.

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Specializes in PACU.

The hospitals are not going to let nurses be out of their control for long, read this:.

February, the American Hospital Association called on the Federal Trade commission to examine temporary staffing agencies' pay practices and prices for travel nurses, noting that some had tripled their rates for travel nurses. 

"Such outrageous rate hikes appear to be naked attempts to exploit the pandemic by charging supracompetitive prices to desperate hospitals," AHA General Counsel Melinda R. Hatton wrote to Rebecca Slaughter, acting FTC chair. "While the nurse staffing agency industry too often blames hospitals for driving up the rates, the fact is that hospitals are in dire need of nursing staff to care for their patients and have little choice but to pay the rates demanded and refrain from complaining publicly for fear of being cut off from the supply of travel nurses by staffing agencies that set the prices." 

The California Hospital Association on Sept. 15 put forth a similar request, asking California Attorney General Rob Bonta to investigate travel nurse companies for anticompetitive pricing. The association noted that "skyrocketing prices" affect hospitals in poorer communities and communities of color the most because they are less likely to be able to afford the high rates.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

There is no telling, so enjoy it while you can.

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Specializes in Corrections, Surgical.

Hopefully the rates last for at least another year or 2. While I do not like what Covid has done to healthcare it has made a lot of nurses realize their worth. Some left to travel to get paid what they felt they deserved working in a pandemic and some left the profession all together. For all the work that is demanded why are nurses pay so low? Even experienced nurses pay is crap. I made the same amount at a PRN job with a nurse that had 10+ years as an RN. But I agree to enjoy it while it last. I do know that when the rates are falling to 1-2k I won't do beside anymore. 

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2 hours ago, bluescrubs said:

For all the work that is demanded why are nurses pay so low?

Primarily a lack of unions. As with a lot of the work force. For nurses there are clear compensation differences between unionized areas and the rest of the country.

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Specializes in 11 YRS ER RN, 6 YRS Travel RN, New Grad AG-ACNP.

Kruical just posted crisis needs again for TX this AM. Favorites is posting crisis needs for CA today. While I'm not happy about COVID, with each new variant, crisis rates will be around to stay.

I'm personally taking a local travel assignment for $115/hr $172.50 OT. I'm a TX resident so no Kruical (this time around) and if I didn't have the local gig lined up, I'd been on a plane to CA.

My goal for this time around is to invest in crypo and hopefully retire from bedside by the year's end. 

 

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