New ICU traveler - Need advice!

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I am a first time traveler, have worked in ICU for just shy of the 2 year mark.

I have been working primarily with two agencies (Nurses RX and Cross Country) and just added a third (Aureus Medical) because my CA license fell through and I became a little nervous.

I have a compact license, so now I am focusing on those states.

My questions are: when people are talking about wages on these forums are they quoting the companies "blended wage" with the $35/day or $245/week meals & incidentals factored in? Or are they quoting their base pay - taxable wage?

I have had one offer in a town 3 hours out of Dallas... but the hourly wage seemed a little low; especially since everyone I had talked to said I would make more being ICU.

I am looking to for an April 2nd start date, so I don't know if I should wait a bit longer and see what else comes along? or feel lucky that I got an offer and just take it?

I realize, being a first time traveler and not quite at that 2 year mark (will obviously lower my wage), but I am coming from a 500-bed level II trauma center hospital, working in a 40-bed combined ICU (meaning neuro, cardio, med/surg)

So, any and all advice applicable to this post would be greatly appreciated (travel companies listed/Texas pay rates/general advice for a first time traveler)

Thanks!

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There are tons of different ways of calculating pay rates.. Typically what I do is take the $245/week perdiem and divide that by 40hrs= $6/HR.. Add that to whatever taxable rate they are talking about and there's your answer. You should be able to compare that to whatever the locals are making.

If you are looking for ICU in TX, I know a company paying $33/HR & $1100/month Housing in Houston. I dont advertise for agencies on public forum but if you send me your email, Id be happy to hook you up.

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hey, thanks for the info... I'm not eligible to send private messages yet...

So when you say $33, I"m assuming that's with the $6/hr factored in?

My offer was for a small town, outside of dallas for $22.60 + $6 = $28.60/hr with $950 for housing.... So being smaller than Houston, sounds pretty comparable...

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Specializes in ICU/PACU.

What happened with the CA license? I can tell you all about traveling in CA, in the ICU. It's where the money is...

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Do you happen to know a quicker way to get a CA license?

Ok, I'm signed my first contract, the rate I'm taxed on is 15 dollars an hour. Then with all the stipends, my weekly rate will be 1300 after taxes. I'm happy with that for now. I work ICU and my first assignement is in Williamsport Pa. I wanted to stay in my state right now so I don't have to get another states license right now.

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Specializes in ICU/PACU.

CA is a walk thru state.....it's been 3 years since I did it, but I showed up in Sacramento with all my paperwork and got my temp license the same day..check their website for more info.

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Specializes in Postpartum, Antepartum, Psych., SDS, OR.

Check CA BOA web page for nursing license requirements. Pay specific attention to the finger pring portion. If you travel to CA and get the digital finger prints the license will come quicker.

Look up any state you want to get RN license, there is where you get their information and not second hand info.

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California was a walk through state 3 years ago, but is no longer. It is possible to "walk through" in one day, but only after you have visited in person and initiated the background check and submitted prints in person. That way it can be done in as little as five days, if the FBI is being particularly efficient. The usual is more like two weeks and two visits.

Submitting paper prints from out of state almost certainly means at least two months processing.

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