Market changed?

Published

I am a med surge nurse interested in doing travel nursing. I have five different recruiters. A couple of the recruiters have told me the market has changed, and the pay is lower this year. I am finding the rates lower than what I expected and I am disappointed. I got my Massachusetts nursing license recently and was hoping to work there but there's very few jobs that are lucrative. Any feedback on this?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peri-Op.

What's lucrative to You?

Either way it's an eb and flow.... You need more flexibility with where you will/can go if you want to be a traveller looking for money....

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Generally, Massachusetts is one of the higher paying states. Also one of the higher cost of housing states. That is in general.

Right now, travel nursing is experiencing a slump, likely because of Trump induced market uncertainty. Insurers and hospitals don't know where we are going, and many individuals are feeling jittery about using their insurance.

Like any other business, travel does go in cycles, seasonal, regional, and national. Most nurses don't like the perceived risk, or cannot make the math work out to look lucrative. You might be one of those.

Also, slumps are not an ideal time for new travelers. You are competing with seasoned travel nurses with decades of experience in an entry level specialty that is perhaps already oversupplied. New travelers represent a risk to both agencies and hospitals as they are more likely to bail on a contract - so often quoted prices reflect that risk.

Higher trained specialties are where the money is in travel. It is a different world than staff, where every specialty is paid basically the same. Travel reflects a more efficient market (as Wall Street would say) where higher skill sets get paid more.

Those are the facts of life!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree. Lately it seems as though the places that tend to attract many people pay lower - because they are places people generally want to visit. And other places that are willing to "pay to get people out there" are more lucrative. This doesn't always make sense to the scale of cost of living as well. So yes, with the ebb and flow of traveling, decide how flexible you are to a place you want to visit vs where the money is.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peri-Op.

Here is the reply from my company when I asked hoe the overall market was. Im contracted through December right now...

job market overall stats, directly from our most recent NATHO meeting which includes all the top agencies in the industry, sharing info and stats:

-Jobs are down exactly 50% from last year at this time

-On average its taking 7 submittals per nurse to land job; up from 2 submittals last year

-Bill rates are down 20% overall

I'm sharing these whenever asked, as I think the actual facts make us all feel less nuts…I keep hearing a lot of frustration and confusion out there about why this year is different than last..this is still EONS more jobs than there were say in 2010, but just doesn't allow as much selectiveness on location/pay as say there was last year

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for that info. 50% down from last year? Amazing. No matter your political leanings, it is difficult not to blame Trump for the uncertainty he has caused in the healthcare business.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peri-Op.

"Still eons more jobs than 2010."

The markets, all of them, are cyclical. I will blame him as much as i would have blamed obama back then. The market will return then drop again.... you and I have both seen the travel market way worse....

There are quite a few decent OR contracts around still....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.
I am a med surge nurse interested in doing travel nursing. I have five different recruiters. A couple of the recruiters have told me the market has changed, and the pay is lower this year. I am finding the rates lower than what I expected and I am disappointed. I got my Massachusetts nursing license recently and was hoping to work there but there's very few jobs that are lucrative. Any feedback on this?

You're specialty is low paying in general. Tufts hospital with Faststaff has the highest money contract for MA right now..$65 a hour plus housing, 48 hours, 6 weeks. Beware its hostile environment due to recent strike and another one is pending. Call to see if they have your specialty not everything is advertised on website.

What interesting is those who have done floor nursing know the market changed many months ago..yet anyone that speaks up is negative...oh brother.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion