Low offer??

NedRN · Sep 10, 2014

So there is more to travel than just numbers. Is this a real offer, have you been interviewed and the hospital wants you? How great is your desire to work in San Francisco? Or bag a big name hospital to improve your resume? How important is making top dollar?

You have to weigh these factors and these are personal decisions. I might suggest that money on your first assignment is not the most important variable. You want to get a successful assignment on your resume and you will be more competitive for subsequent assignments.

If you have already been submitted and are chasing money, your are already doing things wrong. You should have shopped agencies for the best pay first and only then allowed your profile to be submitted by the winner. If you have been submitted already, if you want this assignment, you are stuck with this agency and your negotiating strength is low.

As far as housing goes, you will likely be better off letting the agency provide housing this time. Looking for housing in one of the most expensive markets in the country and one with a very low supply will not be a fun way to begin traveling. You want to enjoy San Francisco, not curse it!

dankat · Sep 10, 2014

So there is more to travel than just numbers. Is this a real offer, have you been interviewed and the hospital wants you? How great is your desire to work in San Francisco? Or bag a big name hospital to improve your resume? How important is making top dollar?
You have to weigh these factors and these are personal decisions. I might suggest that money on your first assignment is not the most important variable. You want to get a successful assignment on your resume and you will be more competitive for subsequent assignments.
If you have already been submitted and are chasing money, your are already doing things wrong. You should have shopped agencies for the best pay first and only then allowed your profile to be submitted by the winner. If you have been submitted already, if you want this assignment, you are stuck with this agency and your negotiating strength is low.
As far as housing goes, you will likely be better off letting the agency provide housing this time. Looking for housing in one of the most expensive markets in the country and one with a very low supply will not be a fun way to begin traveling. You want to enjoy San Francisco, not curse it!

thanks NedRN!

Actually pay is a big part for me. I do want experiences but I am also looking to make more than I do now working overtime and PRN. I know I will be but I just don't want to be low balled.

Luckily, from reading this thread, I knew some of the tricky lingo and stressed to both companies I am not to be submitted until I give the word and both were respectful.

I think ink in gonna wait it out for more winter contracts to come through so I have more of a variety of hospitals to choose from.

Underthemoonicp6 · Sep 11, 2014

I've never worked in SF but looked into trying to move there before I started traveling. It seems like your offer is lower than what staff workers make in the area. I don't believe RNs start at less than $40/hr in the bay area. They also have the benefits of being a full time staff that you obviously don't get (PTO, good insurance, etc). Traveling to the bay area is high on my list but I would expect a take home pay of around $1500/week.

NedRN · Sep 11, 2014

Travel pay is only peripherally related to staff pay. As it happens, it is easy to get a travel assignment in the Bay area and almost impossible to get a staff job.