Is this COVID-era travel money for real?? Sustainable??

[anchorRN]

I keep getting emails and ads popping up on social media that are offering crazy weekly pay rates for Travel RNs.  I am a former travel nurse (2006-2008), have 17 years of ICU experience and recently got my MSN and working full time as an FNP.  I hate my job as an NP and I am making way less than I could traveling.  I'm a single guy (no kids, etc) so moving around isn't an issue.  

Are these pay rates for real? (I've seen some offering like 6K per week), and is this pay projected to be around for a while?  I'm so far removed from when I last traveled that I don't even know which companies are reputable anymore and which offer the best benes.  As I inch towards my mid-40s I'm wondering if getting back into the travel industry vs staying an FNP would be worth my time or if these assignments are going to dry up soon.  It appears a substantial amount of money could be made.  Any insight??

[anchorRN, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

@allstarnurse1 Wow thats amazing!  It does sound like you earned it though.  I'm absolutely NOT looking to work OT, I'm over that these days LOL.  So I would say my hopes of a crisis contract will go out the window due to that fact.  But it does seem there are some 36hr/wk contracts out there (I'm sure the pay is much less), but still worth looking into imo, especially if it is a good fit for me ? Do you recommend any companies to look into?  Or those I should avoid?  TYIA!

[allstarnurse1, BSN, RN]

36 minutes ago, anchorRN said:

@allstarnurse1 Wow thats amazing!  It does sound like you earned it though.  I'm absolutely NOT looking to work OT, I'm over that these days LOL.  So I would say my hopes of a crisis contract will go out the window due to that fact.  But it does seem there are some 36hr/wk contracts out there (I'm sure the pay is much less), but still worth looking into imo, especially if it is a good fit for me ? Do you recommend any companies to look into?  Or those I should avoid?  TYIA!

I think you're right about crisis contracts and overtime. All the crisis contracts I've seen at my agency are for a minimum of 48 hours. There's a lot on my plate right now because I'm also in school for my MSN-FNP. So, yeah, nothing like working 4 days in a row, and then using my 3 days off to write the first chapter of a master's thesis. Plus, you know, moving across the country, etc. There are some TNs at my hospital that are working 60-hour crisis contracts. (Like, how?) This was my big mistake: I saw the money and didn't really think through the impact that working overtime would have on my life. My next contract will absolutely be for 3 days a week. The money is nearly as good anyway, and I can pick up if I want to.

So, as my first TN contract, I'm not ready to recommend anyone yet. Not even my agency which was mostly smooth sailing so far, but there was one major red flag that I'm not yet ready to talk about because it's still not resolved to my satisfaction.

Also, I would say the biggest challenge is what @NedRN frequently writes about: 1-day orientations, new computer systems, new organizational cultures, etc. It was definitely stressful to have to learn about the computer system in one day when the computer system was down, and then working the next day! I was definitely thrown to the wolves! And then it shocked me the next day when the nurses rolled in at 7 am "on the dot," gossipped with their friends, and then maybe came around to get their reports at 7:15 or 7:30. Like, dude, I want to go home. But it is what it is. I adapted. 

[anchorRN, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

@allstarnurse1 Yeah 60hrs/week would be a no-go for me LOL.  I'm really just looking to get out and see the country some more.  I've traveled before, am familiar with the typical "thrown to the wolves" scenario, learning computer charting in 1 day, etc.  My main concern right now is finding the right company and recruiter.  My main needs are a company that offers decent health insurance (that will let me take time off between contracts and keep that coverage), and decent life insurance. 

Interesting that you should bring up MSN-FNP.  I finished my FNP program (Eastern Kentucky University) in May 2020 and I am currently working as an FNP and I HATE MY JOB.  LOL.  Seriously its awful.  I haven't been at it quite a year yet so maybe I haven't given it enough time, but seriously I'm ready to go back to bedside, hence why I am looking at traveling again.  

[allstarnurse1, BSN, RN]

27 minutes ago, anchorRN said:

@allstarnurse1 

Interesting that you should bring up MSN-FNP.  I finished my FNP program (Eastern Kentucky University) in May 2020 and I am currently working as an FNP and I HATE MY JOB.  LOL.  Seriously its awful.  I haven't been at it quite a year yet so maybe I haven't given it enough time, but seriously I'm ready to go back to bedside, hence why I am looking at traveling again.  

Really! That is interesting! What issues are you having? Is the stress comparable? 

[anchorRN, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

@allstarnurse1 The stress really isn't comparable.  It's hard to explain, but I'll be 100% honest here - keeping up with labs, diagnostics, etc while seeing 30+ patients a day is a bit overwhelming.  And then there are those patients that you see pop up on your schedule and think NOOOOOOO WHY ARE THEY HERE???!???  The ones that come in for every ache and pain, broken fingernail, stubbed toe, etc.  And then want you to look at a spot on their back.  Then want you to write them something controlled.  I just hate it. And I'm nearly done with it.  I'm starting my travel nurse research now because I'm giving this job another 6 months and after that I'm done-zo with primary care. 

[NedRN]

3 hours ago, anchorRN said:

@NedRN Thanks again for the awesome detailed reply ? The process you described for finding more seasoned recruiters hits the nail on the head and that is exactly what I am going to do.  Makes complete sense!  Now to find a company that will let me take a month off and still keep my health insurance HAHA.  Any other advice you want to toss my way would be appreciated also!  ?

There is a lot to unpack here actually. Good health insurance costs at least $500 a month, and goes over $1,000 depending on annual deductible (usually the highest annual deductible is the best deal if your cash situation can deal with worst case scenario). That is the underlying cost of insurance, and one way or another, you are paying the full cost. I'd strongly suggest you get your own insurance, on your own state insurance exchange, or the national exchange if not (both are ObamaCare). 

Couple reasons for that: first it gives you more flexibility to easily hop agencies. Two is that most agencies have crappy insurance. Three, even if they tell you it is day one insurance, I can promise you an extended period of hassles if you go to the emergency room day two.

Excepting perhaps the large agencies, most agencies will not require you to take their insurance (loopholes in employer requirements to mandate insurance coverage). If you are still interested in opting in, ask them what the "COBRA" value of their insurance is. COBRA is a big law predating ObamaCare that protects those covered by employer's insurance and allows them to extend their current employer's insurance for 18 months. You do have to pay your employer for that coverage at actual cost (plus a 2% administration fee). That is how to find out how crappy an agency's insurance is without reading all the fine print (which is a really huge hassle to get the fine print before making a job decision). If that true cost is under $300, it is a total waste of your money. 

So you can also COBRA your staff job's insurance. Be prepared for sticker shock as it will not be high deductible. But it is you that is paying that amount in full, not your employer. If they didn't have to supply it, your other compensation would be higher.

If you find an agency with reasonably priced health insurance, and they are covered under COBRA (again, possibly not depending on how they define FTE (full time equivalence) for contract travelers), they would be required to extend that insurance after your assignment is over.

[anchorRN, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

@NedRN Yeah I was expecting crappy insurance, I remember that from before.  Luckily I am in good health and rarely go to the doctor.  I mainly just need a policy to protect me from catastrophe, which can happen to anyone.  I'm already paying $250/mo for my premium at my current job and its not the greatest of coverage.  When I was staff at the hospital I worked at prior to becoming an FNP my insurance was BOMB.  I paid a very small premium since I am single with no kids (it was free up until the last 2 years I worked there).  I miss that coverage but not the job. 

As I said above in my reply to @allstarnurse1 I am taking these next 4-5 months to find a company and a recruiter who are ideal for me.  I'm in no rush, although I do hate my FNP job.  A $500/mo health insurance premium is a tough pill to swallow, especially for someone like me who rarely uses it.  But I get it.  Even if I am offered a small premium by a travel company, I have no doubt I'm paying for it in other ways such as lower weekly pay, etc.  I'm definitely glad there are still a few people still active in this sub-forum!  I still have yet to find a forum that is super active.  That facebook group I joined is very active, but again, I prefer the anonymity of a forum, as I'm sure recruiters and companies watch these pages that have your name all over it.  Not for me. LOL

[NedRN]

3 hours ago, anchorRN said:

@allstarnurse1Do you recommend any companies to look into?  Or those I should avoid?  TYIA!

So clearly you don't want to try my procedure for finding agencies/recruiters! Fair enough. But let me give you some more caveats and other recommendations. First is that most recommending an agency is doing it for the referral bonus. You can also find many horror stories about agencies online. Take those with a grain of salt. Every single agency has such stories, and the bigger the agency, the more such stories. And every agency, even the worst of the worst, has fans. All you can really count on is having your own interactions with recruiters to see who you might trust and build a successful professional relationship with.

But if you want to hear directly from recruiters without calling them, try facebook. There are several "high pay only" pages there where you can at least get an idea of "tone" by reading their posts. That might be a good place to start finding recruiters. And email, FB, or text them for more if you must avoid hearing their voice.

You could also try Googling "travel nurse companies". I'd almost recommend skipping the first couple pages of results as those are the agencies who spend the most on marketing (which often means lower pay), but doesn't really matter. Those agencies often have good paying jobs, and depending on your recruiter, may also treat you well.

In the last twenty years, I've been asked a lot about "good" agencies. I firmly believe there is no such thing outside of some small agencies with a max of a couple recruiters including the owner. It is far easier to name bad agencies and I do that! Names fluctuate over time, but one does not. Avoid Aureus at all costs (unless you are allied health). Truly despicable practices for the last 20 years consistently. I could write ten pages on the topic, but try to Google Aureus reviews or the like - I think almost the only positive reviews will be by allied health travelers.

I'd also recommend caution with any Ohio based agency, at least those in the Cincinnati area like Trustaff. Never really heard much good about any of them. I used to say the same thing about Omaha area agencies (Aureus is the grandaddy in the Omaha area with most area agencies founded by ex-employees, but it simply doesn't hold water.

I'd also avoid Healthtrust. Primary reason is that they are owned by HCA, the for profit hospital chain big in the South, and 99% of their assignments are at HCA facilities. Absolutely horrible places to work. Even the couple facilities they manage in California are worse than average facilities in that state.

If you must work in Texas and not just visit, I still would not recommend Healthtrust. Virtually every agency has access to those same HCA assignment (although not first access) and will treat you better and usually pay better as well.

That's my short list of do not work agencies.

[NedRN]

5 minutes ago, anchorRN said:

@NedRNThat facebook group I joined is very active, but again, I prefer the anonymity of a forum, as I'm sure recruiters and companies watch these pages that have your name all over it.  Not for me. LOL

OK, so Ned is not my real name! And is not associated with my real name in any way. And yes, in the past, many travelers have been terminated for online posts. Even when not giving up their real name, ongoing issues were described so specifically than anyone from that hospital unit or agency would know who they were.

Get your catastrophe insurance fast! Trump made it legal, Biden is likely to get that reversed. Catastrophe insurance is the very definition of high deductible, but it is not going to cover long catastrophes, like a liver transplant. Has many of the same characteristics as no insurance, and in my opinion is high cost.

[anchorRN, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

3 minutes ago, NedRN said:

So clearly you don't want to try my procedure for finding agencies/recruiters! 

LOL Not true at all, I actually really like your tactic for finding seasoned recruiters.  However I don't think that asking another forum member's opinion is in any way a bad idea.  I get that there are incentives for someone recommending another traveler, but I also have been around the block once or twice and can hopefully smell a rat if thinks start sounding dicey. I'm happy that others are engaging on this discussion and will welcome anyone's advice!