Is this a fair offer?

[royaso]

I have the following possible offer in CA. The travel expense is built in as a stipend.

Tell me if it looks reasonable, or should I negotiate?

Thanks!

Opportunity Information –

Opportunity Specialty – Telemetry

Opportunity Shift – 7A to 7P – (3) 12 hour shifts per week

Opportunity Hours – 36

Opportunity Start Date – 11/27/2017

Pay Information –

Taxable Base: $18.00/hour

Taxable Overtime: $27.00/hour

Lodging: $173/day - $33.64/hour

M&IE: $50/day - $9.72/hour

Total average hourly: $64.36/hour

Weekly Gross: $2,317

[NedRN]

Is this offer confirmed by a hospital interview? Do you have other offers? Other offers would be a sound foundation basis for any negotiation.

[LisaNICUrn, BSN]

I think the OT rate is very low. Like NedRN said, the best way to gauge if an offer is reasonable is if you have offers from different companies. I learned the hard way to have a couple different, at least 3, quote you and give you the #'s for the same hospital before you are even submitted to them. That way you know if that particular company is going to give you the best rates. The hospital will pay any of those companies the same amount of money so it's just whether you are getting the money or the company. Good luck. I'd be interested to see the difference if you check out other companies though. Keep us updated.

[royaso]

I haven't been submitted to the hospital, yet. Once that is done, we will interview.

Thank you for your great advice!

[royaso]

Hmmm! What do you suggest I should expect for OT?

Thanks for the advice.

[NedRN]

That OT rate is likely after 8 hours on a 12 hour shift but I haven't done the math on your shift. Your rate after 40 should be at least $50 an hour and your "double time" rate after 12 hours should be at least $75.

But all of that is irrelevant for your first assignment. You want a successfully completed first assignment for your resume and your own well being. Then you can focus on money.

Will you achieve a good first assignment from a random assignment and a random recruiter? Maybe, but the odds are not good. You are asking the wrong questions. The most important factor in your career success is your communication with your recruiter. You should ideally talk to a dozen or so and pick the best 3 to 5 recruiters to work further with - the ones you click with and believe to be honest. By the time you talk to a dozen, you should be able to tell who is talking straight and has your best interests at heart. Going to a high paying first assignment is unlikely to be in your best interest. Ask yourself why such an assignment would choose you over someone with actual proven travel experience.

[royaso]

This will be my second travel assignment, but it is the first one in CA. The first was 13 weeks in Houston and went very well.

Thanks again.

[NedRN]

You will like CA better than TX I suspect. Far more worker protections baked into legislation by assertive and strong nursing unions here. Which translates to some of the best working conditions for nurses anywhere with mandated staffing ratios. Paradise! Although it doesn't make that much difference in the operating room for me.