Looking to travel in CA, Questions?

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i am a new nurse that is almost done with my first year of nursing. i am contemplating traveling just to enjoy other places and to make lots of money. my questions are just the basics, but are directed towards california. right now i am a tele/mof nurse. i just recently got another full time job as rn in a jail, looking to make some serious money and pay off all my bills. here are some of my questions:

1) i currently make about 32/hr at both jobs, not bad, but if i am to travel to california, what type of pay can be expected, i just live in the state next door, so would look to come home on weekends time to time just a short drive away. i would like to make in the 45-50/hr range if that is possible (more would even be better). where i work, there is no state tax, what can i expect from cali tax. if i can make more then what i make with two jobs and work half as much, why not.

2) cost of living, do most companies cover your living expenses?

3) type of nursing, i am looking into correctional nursing as well as tele, is there good opportunity for that?

4) i have also heard somewhere that in california, hours worked over 8 hours is time and a half, is this true.

in other words here is kind of what i am looking for in hopes that it is out there. want to find work that have 8-13 week contracts with possible renewals and completion bonuses, living expenses covered, 12hrs shifts, night or day with 3-maybe 4 days a week, take home of close to 8000.00 of more a month. i really would like to check out the bay area like monterey, santa cruz, even sacramento would be ok, but would be willing to check out other places in california. i really just want to get a head with the house i just bought and would maybe like to later on actually buy a house in cali also and enjoy what nursing has to offer. i won't lie, money is a huge motivator for me at this time in my life, i am looking for that big check, i am a young single guy looking to get ahead. just looking for some input, any info would be great. this is all new for me and love hearing about people personal experiences and how it may relate to me, those travel companies really don't answer much and leave you wondering. any info would be appreciated in my quest to maybe pursue traveling. thanks again.

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You seem like you know what you want out of a travel assignment - I am not sure that you could make $45-50/hr as a travel nurse....You might be able to....The travel company bids on the contracts and then has to pay for your housing, insurance and other benefits that you get out of that money. The time and a half after 8 hours in California is true as far as I know. As for you other questions, you might be better off talking to a recruiter and seeing if what the company offers can work for your needs. The only other way that I see to make a large amount of money in a short amount of time is to work a strike. Sorry I could not help you more - for general travel information, see the thread entitied helpful hints for nurse travelers.

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From My Own Personal Ca Travel Experience On Average You Take Home @ $6000/month Ona Travel Assignment. You May Be Able To Take Home A Bit Moe If You Are Willing To Take The Stipend And Find Your Own Housing. Your Best Bet In My Opinion Would Be To Take A Per Diem Job. In General Northern Ca Pays Higher Than Southern. San Francisco Area Pays The Highest. Per Diem Pay Rates Range $55-$70/hr. Most Hospitals Require 8 Shifts Per Month (most Are 12 Hours) Which Includes 2 Weekend Shifts Per Month. Time And A Half After 4 Hours Double Time After Fifth Day (if You Choose To Work All Days In A Row (i Plan On Doing This)...you Can Expect To Bring Home @ $8,000/month Working This Way...if You Are Willing Andable To Pick Up Double Shifts You Can Bring Home More...you Also Get Half Of Base Pay For Being On Call Which Some Facilitites Require...after Working In Ca For Over A Year As A Traveler I've Learned This Is The Best Way To Make The Most Money...alot Of Travelers Are Doing This Instead Of Traveling Because You Can Make So Much More. Hope This Helps!

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From My Own Personal Ca Travel Experience On Average You Take Home @ $6000/month Ona Travel Assignment. You May Be Able To Take Home A Bit Moe If You Are Willing To Take The Stipend And Find Your Own Housing. Your Best Bet In My Opinion Would Be To Take A Per Diem Job. In General Northern Ca Pays Higher Than Southern. San Francisco Area Pays The Highest. Per Diem Pay Rates Range $55-$70/hr. Most Hospitals Require 8 Shifts Per Month (most Are 12 Hours) Which Includes 2 Weekend Shifts Per Month. Time And A Half After 4 Hours Double Time After Fifth Day (if You Choose To Work All Days In A Row (i Plan On Doing This)...you Can Expect To Bring Home @ $8,000/month Working This Way...if You Are Willing Andable To Pick Up Double Shifts You Can Bring Home More...you Also Get Half Of Base Pay For Being On Call Which Some Facilitites Require...after Working In Ca For Over A Year As A Traveler I've Learned This Is The Best Way To Make The Most Money...alot Of Travelers Are Doing This Instead Of Traveling Because You Can Make So Much More. Hope This Helps!

Thanks so much for this input, It is definitly catching my attention. This sure helps. If i can get a hospital to scedule me ahead of time, this would be great. I have a few more questions with what you bought up.

1) Do most hospitals schedule you a head of time, I wouldn't mind doing the five days a week thing? Is it pretty easy to do this and are most hospitals willing?

2) Do they require two whole weedends a month or just 2 weekend days a month?

3) I have a question about the 4th twelve hour shift in a week, when you hit the 40hr mark in a week on this day, is it 1.5 time pay for 4 hours, then double the next 4 hours? Are you getting paid double time on the 5th day you are working or actually on the 6th day.

4) How is the sacramento area for these type of jobs, i live in reno, nv, so the nor cal is not far from where i live? how is the pay in Sacramento?

5) I have no idea about california taxs, but the $8000 take home, is that proable woring the 5 days in a row and at night all while single, or is it more then that on the night shifts.

Thanks again, This is looking like a great way to make money, i would mind working 7 days on and 7 day off, ever heard of any per diems doing this. Let me know if there is anything else i may need to know.

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I Don't Know If I Can Answer All Of Your Questions But I'll Try...most Hospitals Will Ask For Your Availability And Schedule You When They Are Working On The Schedule...from What I Understand About My Friends And Other Nurses Who Are Working Per Diem They Work Their 8 Day Stretches All At Once And Alot Of Them Are Pulling Double Shifts Because The Hospitals Need Them...i'm Not Sure What Most Hospitals Consider A Weekend...in Oh One Sat Or Sun Per Month Covers My Weekend Worked...from What I've Been Told Double Time Doesn'r Kick In Until After Your Fifth Day In A Row Worked (which Would Start On The 6th Day)...i'm Not Real Clear On When The Double Time Starts Everyone Is Telling Me On The Sixth Day In A Row Because You Are Already Getting Time And A Half After First 8 Hours...i Think Sacramento Pays On The Lower End Of The Per Diem Scale (more In The $50 Range) Everyone I Know Works In S.f. Area Because They Pay The Most...i Claim Married 4 On My Taxes And They Take Out 20%...i Think You Anyone Can Claim Up To 10 On Their W-4 But I Would Be Afraid Of Owing Too Much At The End Of The Year Because On Taxes You Have To Claim What You Actually Are Which Would Be Unmarried 1 (right?)...ther Is A Shift Differential Paid It's Usually Between $1-$4 Depending On Which Facility You Work...again All The Per Diems I Know And Have Talked To Work Their Days Straight In A Row And Have Never Had A Problem Doing This To Maximize Their Take Home Pay...sorry I Couldn't Answer Everything...just Interview With A Few Places And See What They Have To Say And Then You Can Better Decide What You Can And Can't Do As Far As Your Schedule

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Hi,

If you are looking to just make money and not see Cali, right now, try a travel company and work in Reno, NV. You can make 36-38/hr. Don't let them give you 35/hr like they did me. haha. PLUS they will give you a stipended (for housing, utilities, and insurance) and you can live in your own housing. No state income in NV. Cali is 6%.

Michelle

I'm in Reno now (for the next few weeks) on a travel assignment. Where do you work?

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Hi,

Try a travel company and work in Reno, NV. You can make 36-38/hr. Don't let them give you 35/hr like they did me. haha. PLUS they will give you a stipended (for housing, utilities, and insurance) and you can live in your own housing. No state income in NV. Cali is 6%.

Michelle

I'm in Reno now (for the next few weeks) on a travel assignment. Where do you work?

Do travel companies allow you to travel in your own home town? If they can pay for my martgage here and 37/hr, very tempting. What type of contracts did you get here in reno, just curious, how long, how many days a week. I works at saints

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I work 36/hrs a week for 13 weeks. I could work more. I just dont want to. I could sign up for longer, but I want to go somewhere else. Yes you can travel in your own home town. I dont know how much your morgage is but I suspect the stipened is over a 1000/mo. You will be federally taxed on it (despite what your recruiter will tell you) because you aren't so many miles away from home, but it will still come out better for you and you get to stay at home.

Michelle

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Thanks Michelle,

Something i will definetly look into, I just got another full time job, so will be working 2 full time jobs here in a week, i still have til the end of this year til i finish my actual first year of nursing. LOL, my motgage is a bit more then 1000, but the stipend will help. Do you get bonuses for resigning and is it possible to get more then 38 an hour, just curious. Also, can you like contract yourself to like work 5 days a week and stuff like that. I know at mu hospital, if you pick up a 4th shift in a week, they pay double, not sure if travelers get this. I will look into it, thanks again guys, all very helpful.

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The better you are at negociating the more you will get. I'm not that good at it. The more you agree to work in your contract the more you will make. If you want double time for each 4th or 5th shift assignment, ask for it. Whatever they agree too, make sure it is in the contract, or it doesn't mean anything. Especially since you are where you will travel too, you have the time to negociate. I believe the stipended should be 1400/mo. When I do the math with my housing and such, that is about what it is. Make sure you submit to MANY travel companies. My first travel assignment I had just under a year of RN, but I was a LPN before that. Good luck.

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Specializes in ED/Trauma.

Why not just sign on with a CA hospital rather than using an agency?.Basically cut out the middle man..

I did a travel assignment initially to scope out the area. Once it was over I got a job at another local hospital. $57/hr for 3-11 shift + full benefits and accrued vacation time. The 1.5 after 8hrs and double time after 12hrs applies. But didn't on my travel assignment..

Also have a friend who did the same,he works 6x12hr shifts,then 8 days off. He then flys home for the 8 days.

Maybe this kind of arrangement could work for you.

Remember,agencies are interested in making money for THEMSELVES.

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I would also like to travel early next year. I'm definitely looking at Cali. I was hoping to work 2 assignments to maximize profits. I'm hoping to pull in at least $14k/mo. take home working 6 12's per week.

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