Med/Surg Peds travel & income

NedRN · Jul 21, 2013

Things like ACLS and specialty certification will not earn you more money per hour, they only enhance your ability to get assignments.

Total compensation for travelers ranges typically in the low/middle $40s per hour range (experienced travelers in hot specialties with more flexibility than you have can get as much as $50 an hour in total compensation). This includes housing and benefits and so is not directly comparable to hourly staff pay. In addition, to maximize net pay, it is highly helpful to maintain a tax home - this requires a residence you can return to at any time to meet IRS qualifications (i.e. not one you rent out). So total compensation will be in the 80K territory less expenses of maintaining a home, unless you work a lot of overtime. If you are home schooling in addition to working full time, I don't see this as an easy solution for you.

I can suggest a few possibilities for you to consider but you may not like them. One is trying to live on your current income. Many families live on far less, so it is certainly feasible. You can also stop home schooling and take advantage of free public education. That will free you up to work overtime. Finally, consider moving to a higher pay area with reasonable housing and take a staff job. That will up your disposable income with no changes, but will still not take you to 90K. Even if you work in, say, the San Francisco Bay area where staff pay averages above 100K, the cost of living and taxes will diminish that gross pay significantly.

You are going to have to make some tough choices. Good luck.

dansamy · Jul 21, 2013

Things like ACLS and specialty certification will not earn you more money per hour, they only enhance your ability to get assignments.
You are going to have to make some tough choices. Good luck.

I realize both of these.

Regarding homeschooling, my husband will be taking over the role of teacher. Well, really superintendent/principal as they're old enough now that they are primarily self-directed learners. So, that's covered.

We are looking at reducing expenses, increasing income, etc.

"Hot specialties" - other than L&D what specialties are considered to nearly always be in demand?

Better staff pay with reasonable cost of living: I'm in the Deep South. Coastal Alabama. "What union?" territory. I JUST got a HUGE raise... And I still make

NedRN · Jul 21, 2013

Often travel pay follows local pay. Northern California, Oregon, Washington and much of New England are the highest paying areas of the country for nursing. Not coincidentally, those are also heavy union areas.

The trick that works for both staff and travel to maximize pay (generally) is pick an outlying area from the highest pay areas. The pay will still be competitive with the highest pay, but property prices much lower. The reason this works for travel is that housing is part of the package and the bill rates are similar in similar areas. For example, Sacramento is much less expensive than San Francisco, but the pay is very close. Springfield has similar pay to Boston, but again, property is far less expensive. Thus your pay after expenses is maximized better than it would be to go for the very highest pay. Depending on your experience, over $50 an hour is possible in these places with a reasonable cost of living.

If your husband is going to be home schooling, you can feasibly do travel. But with a family, the security of a staff job is far better. Health insurance, sick pay, vacation pay, PTO, education and so on. You don't have to scrounge for a new job every three months, and deal with time off in between, nor the hassles of moving.

But if you must travel, I might suggest doing rapid response for an agency like Fastaff if you are up for the overtime. Typically 48 hours guaranteed and typically rather hard assignments. But the pay is very high, both hourly (often $45 plus housing/travel) and what you will make per year. That's the best way to clear 100K as a typical traveler.

Best pay and lots of assignments for L&D (as you mentioned), OR, cath lab, and ICU. Subspecialties of those can do even better.

dansamy · Jul 21, 2013

Maybe what I need is just a change of pace! A different, better paying hospital & maybe use the job change to change specialties at the same time.

Although, being able to take the kids on the road & experience new places is pretty interesting.

NedRN · Jul 22, 2013

Here is some top secret advice: there is no such thing as a permanent job. Don't tell anyone, most people don't know that and employers don't want you to know.

You could do a new staff job every year! That will give you the best of both worlds, good pay, new places with time to orient to the natives, stability for the family.

dansamy · Jul 22, 2013

Here is some top secret advice: there is no such thing as a permanent job. Don't tell anyone, most people don't know that and employers don't want you to know.
You could do a new staff job every year! That will give you the best of both worlds, good pay, new places with time to orient to the natives, stability for the family.

Most assuredly! And while I'm not unhappy in my current staff position, I'm just thinking it's a great big pile that I'm as underpaid as I am.

My husband is not working right now, so it's a good time to make changes.

dansamy · Jul 22, 2013

Ned, do you think er or L&D is the better choice for a new specialty?

NedRN · Jul 22, 2013

ER wasn't even on my list. Kind of bread and butter like medsurg but better pay if you are a traveler. Lots of jobs, but not exactly hot.

I'd chose L&D unless you have a strong preference. You already have some experience in LDRP. ER may be starting to decline with the ACA taking effect in 6 months as well. More patients with primary care access means less ER traffic. But there no stopping babies, especially if Republicans have any say in the matter.

OR is a long route, entails call, but might be considered if you cannot tolerate night shifts as you grow older.

dansamy · Jul 22, 2013

ER wasn't even on my list. Kind of bread and butter like medsurg but better pay if you are a traveler. Lots of jobs, but not exactly hot.
I'd chose L&D unless you have a strong preference. You already have some experience in LDRP. ER may be starting to decline with the ACA taking effect in 6 months as well. More patients with primary care access means less ER traffic. But there no stopping babies, especially if Republicans have any say in the matter.
OR is a long route, entails call, but might be considered if you cannot tolerate night shifts as you grow older.

No. I have STRONG night owl biorhythms. Day is what is hard for me.

NedRN · Jul 22, 2013

Forget OR then.

dansamy · Jul 22, 2013

Forget OR then.

Yeah, OR has never made my short list. ER, peds or neo ICU & maybe L&D. Those appeal to me.