Landed a great job... Now what?

[ruralccnurse]

So after quite a while looking, I just got offered a position I'm really happy with. It's a 13 week ICU contract at a regional hospital in a fairly rural area. I am familiar with the hospital chain so the computer charting will be no problem, and they use the same pyxis, pumps, vents and all that that I'm use to.The thing is, I told my recruiter I wanted day shift from the beginning when we started talking about assignments. The way he phrased this one, I thought it was day shift. During the phone interview with the manager I found out that it's nights. Given the fact that every other aspect of this assignment is perfect, that wasn't a deal breaker for me. The other thing is that they want me there Thursday (10/25) and I gave them an available date of 11/1. This will be a pretty darn big inconvenience for me, but I could do it. I'm suppose to talk to my recruiter first thing in the morning and let him know if I can do it. The pay package they are offering amounts to $1460 take home a week with me providing housing. I also have my own insurance. I was wondering, given the above circumstances would it be fair for me to ask for a little more money? Say $2 an hour more? I haven't even seen a contract yet so it's not like I'm changing my mind after I signed it. What other things should I ask about? I'm planning on staying in an extended stay hotel that has special pricing for travelers from my company, any advice there? No children or pets coming with me...Also, the unit I'm going to has a very specific dress code and I don't have any scrubs that meet the requirements. On such short notice I can buy a set or two at WalMart (no local scrub shops!) but then will the hotel accept a delivery for me if I order some more?Any other words of wisdom would be appreciated as well...Sorry about formatting and typos, I'm on my phone.

[NedRN]

In the last few months, I've notice completion bonuses are advertised much more frequently for specialties in demand. But they are not the norm yet, that is for sure. As travel continues to boom, we will see much more frequent small completion bonuses such as $500 or $1,000. But this is simply redistributing money from other parts of your pay package, not really an increase the way a larger bonus (usually a pass through bonus from the desperate hospital) is. Smarter travelers ask for those bonuses to be rolled into their hourly ($500 is a dollar an hour roughly) - less risk if the assignment is cancelled, and higher OT. But bonuses are psychologically appealing (like foolish tax refunds of your own money) and entice a lot of travelers who let emotions overtake simple math.

[NCmcMan]

ya, but if you gotta pay for the housing thats a thousand a month. That starts to eat at 40 really quick..

[NCmcMan]

In the last few months, I've notice completion bonuses are advertised much more frequently for specialties in demand. But they are not the norm yet, that is for sure. As travel continues to boom, we will see much more frequent small completion bonuses such as $500 or $1,000. But this is simply redistributing money from other parts of your pay package, not really an increase the way a larger bonus (usually a pass through bonus from the desperate hospital) is. Smarter travelers ask for those bonuses to be rolled into their hourly ($500 is a dollar an hour roughly) - less risk if the assignment is cancelled, and higher OT. But bonuses are psychologically appealing (like foolish tax refunds of your own money) and entice a lot of travelers who let emotions overtake simple math.

500-1000 Thats quite disappointing. Maybe I was reading wrong, or things have changed, but I've read where some places you get 4-6k after assignment. Maybe as people quit going into nursing so much because of all the crappy treatment, and the shortage becomes even higher, it will get back to that (if it ever really was). What do you think?

[NedRN]

Again, it is simply redistribution of the same pot of money. Completion bonuses don't change your total pay, and can even reduce it if you pick up a lot of OT. There are some technical reasons why some hospitals pay pass-through bonuses, but it too ultimately is artificial. For example, it was very common in Arizona when their hospital association engaged in price-fixing. No one would go for the rates offered, so hospitals paid pass through bonuses to bring pay back up to market rate. Several Arizona hospitals routinely got rid of travelers in the last week of the contract and didn't pay the completion bonus.

Waiting for contracts with bonuses is kind of like trying to work only strikes. It is a money losing career strategy. Better to work steady and consistently to make money.

[nurserecruiteradvoca]

as a recruiter it is my job that u understand the details of any job u arew submitted to BEFORE u are submitted. also if u want day shift your best bet is to be as cozy as possible with ur manager get to know the day7 staff and make urself as indespensible as possibly. many of my travelers have changed to day shift after proving themselves on the night shift. good lucki