I think recruiter lied

[8-ball, BSN]

Scratch that I know she lied. So here is the deal trying to find a place for next assignment, talking to multiple recruiters (7 to be exact) one of them told me of a place I wanted to go that had crisis rates and quoted me $42/hr plus stipend (That's high for southeast) This is in Ky. I jumped on this since it would get me near home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I have a nephew in the military and he has off this year for Christmas, so I really want to see him because I may not see him for quite some time after this year (heading west after Dec). I asked the recruiter if this was a blended rate and she said no. She also said she was working on getting the housing higher since it was on the low side. All of these things sound good like she is really working for me. Also of note I have friends at this facility who tell me that they have so much overtime they are offering regular staff $30/hr bonus for any extra shifts, so I was counting on picking up extra shifts with that high overtime rate.

So then I get my contract and it was not at all like was discussed.

$21/hr taxed

$59/day meals

$89/day housing

So I call and of course my recruiter will be out of the office for a few days but I talked to a lady who said she was covering, she said this was how she got me more in housing. When you say you are trying to get more for housing it isn't supposed to be at a sacrifice to the other numbers. I explained how I was looking for OT so I prefer the other contract I was quoted verbally. She said she would change it back...I get new contract

$30.75/hr taxed

$59/day meals

Blended together =$42.22

$1350/month housing

Again I had asked a week ago if the rate was blended and was told NO. I want what I was promised but at this point I don't think I am gonna get it. However the contract is still great for the area but I was really hoping for more. I don't know if walking away to prove my point would help anything or if they would even notice. But I am not happy. The OT would still be great though. I used the pan travelers calculator and using the numbers I was quoted verbally $42/taxed then $245 meals and $1350 housing I am losing about $12/hr gross. However comparing the 2 actual contract offers above I see what she was doing...giving me about $4K more in housing through the length of the contract would be good except I want OT so I am losing money. My main gripe is I asked if it was blended and was told NO!!

So what would you do? Take the current contract? I did ask one of my other recruiters if she could resubmitt me instead of my other one (her company is getting the hospital and other company is losing it) but I wanted to make sure I am not gonna lose face with the hospital first. I have worked here before so they know me.

[NedRN]

Blended originally meant factoring overtime in California with the base rate to come up with a combined base rate. Now it is common to mean total hourly pay with all compensation included. So your recruiter may have simply thought you meant the original meaning, even though the assignment was not in California. It seems unlikely she was deliberately lying no matter the reason for her response (why did you never ask her what she meant?) as that will always come out later to just this emotional impact and the good chance you will bail.

Entirely your choice about taking the assignment. Involving another agency reduces the odds of getting the assignment though. Seems like a straightforward analysis over personal pluses and minuses for you which include location, pay, and a lack of trust. I'm not sure how other opinions will affect that analysis unless you simply pick the opinions that reinforce what you want to do anyway.

[8-ball, BSN]

I never knew the original reason for the term blended only what it currently means to most travelers. Therefore I didn't know to ask her for clarification. As I said I will likely be taking the contract despite what happened but I still feel as though I was cheated in some way. Being friends with the manager there I am tempted to find out what the bill rate is. I don't know if the nurse managers have that info though.

[Argo]

Never good to start out feeling cheated.

Personally i would take higher stipend, lower hourly for your base 40 hours then negotiate a separate OT rate then add that bonus rate to that.

[8-ball, BSN]

Never good to start out feeling cheated.

Personally i would take higher stipend, lower hourly for your base 40 hours then negotiate a separate OT rate then add that bonus rate to that.

Funny that you mention that, I just got off the phone with her and mentioned how I was feeling and that is exactly the compromise we came to. I had them increase my OT rate to 2x rather than 1.5x so now I am at $61.50/hr for OT. I feel good about things now. Thanks everyone for the advise.