New to travel nursing questions??

Reigen · Jun 1, 2012

I hope this helps you with your questions:

A travel contract, will only be for one assignment in a single location.

Professional Conduct and Standards of Conduct

This section of the travel nurse contract should spell out what the client expects in the way of maintaining licensure and special certificates such as ACLS and BLS. Professional conduct, standards of nursing care, and the penalties for lapses in any of these standards and conduct are spelled out. This clause should also spell out what means to resolve disputes are allowed.

A travel nurse contract is a legal document that spells out exactly what you will get, what is expected from you and what you can expect from the travel nurse agency and the client they are contracting your services for.

Like any contract it will include clauses outlining what rewards are available for contract completion and which penalties exist if the contract is broken by any of the parties.

Some typical clauses that will be discussed in the contract are:

It should contain items such as:

• The name and location of where you will be working

• The unit in which you will be working

• The start date and end date

• The shift and hours you will work (ex. 12 hour nights, 8 hour days)

Hours of Work and Floating

Hours of work should include how many hours per week are guaranteed or expected for you to work. The shift you are working, whether you will be expected to work holidays, and how many hours of call in a pay period or monthly are expected. This section should clearly spell out if you are guaranteed a minimum number of hours of work per week. Floating should be spelled out. For example, some clients expect the travel nurse to float anytime there is a need for floating.

This section may also include what to expect if you cannot work the minimum hours in a week. If you call in sick are you docked pay? can you make up the day? Will this affect your contract bonus if there is one?

• The pay rate (including overtime and holiday rates)

Salary

The salary section should include your hourly rate, overtime rate, shift and week-end differentials (if they are included), on call pay rate.

• Any start or end travel money to be paid (or your travel allowance cap)

• Any facility or travel company bonuses

• Deducted amount for any health, dental, vision, or other company plans

• Any special rates such as on-call or charge pay

• Money paid for monthly housing allowance or if company housing will be provided

Housing and Other Benefits

What type of housing, medical, vacation, education, and 401K benefits should be included in the contract. If you are expected to share housing, or if you have arranged a private residence this should all be in writing in the travel nurse contract. This section should also spell exactly what utilities are paid for by the agency and which ones are paid for by the travel nurse.

• Any scheduling requirements such as working every other weekend

In addition to these standard items, your contract should also include anything that you negotiate with your company. For example: If you are willing to give up your travel money in exchange for a big screen TV being provided with your apartment. Anything outside the normal provisions on an assignment should be reflected in the travel contract. This is not to say that things that you and your recruiter agree upon will not be upheld should there be a problem, but it is always nice to have things in writing.

Other Provisions

Other things that should be included in the contract is where and when you will report, what the expectation is if you have to leave before the contract expires? For example, if you have a family member die what are the expectations of the travel nurse agency? will they penalize you for early termination for family emergency?

If the employer decides to terminate the contract through no fault of your own will you be guaranteed the pay for the rest of the contract? These are good questions to ask and to be sure the exact terms agreed upon are in writing in the contract.

Because this is a contract and a legally binding document you should read it carefully and be sure you understand all of the different clauses, benefits, and consequences. If you have any questions the time to ask is before you sign the contract.

tinasueb73 · Jun 1, 2012

Reigen

Your comments are very helpful and welcomed. I have toyed with the idea for close to a year now, I simply have not taken the leap. I do worry about a stable job, though it appears that travel nursing is stable. Thank you so much!

dreamworx07 · Jun 2, 2012

I hope this helps you with your questions:
A travel contract, will only be for one assignment in a single location.
Professional Conduct and Standards of Conduct
This section of the travel nurse contract should spell out what the client expects in the way of maintaining licensure and special certificates such as ACLS and BLS. Professional conduct, standards of nursing care, and the penalties for lapses in any of these standards and conduct are spelled out. This clause should also spell out what means to resolve disputes are allowed.
A travel nurse contract is a legal document that spells out exactly what you will get, what is expected from you and what you can expect from the travel nurse agency and the client they are contracting your services for.
Like any contract it will include clauses outlining what rewards are available for contract completion and which penalties exist if the contract is broken by any of the parties.
Some typical clauses that will be discussed in the contract are:
It should contain items such as:
• The name and location of where you will be working
• The unit in which you will be working
• The start date and end date
• The shift and hours you will work (ex. 12 hour nights, 8 hour days)
Hours of Work and Floating
Hours of work should include how many hours per week are guaranteed or expected for you to work. The shift you are working, whether you will be expected to work holidays, and how many hours of call in a pay period or monthly are expected. This section should clearly spell out if you are guaranteed a minimum number of hours of work per week. Floating should be spelled out. For example, some clients expect the travel nurse to float anytime there is a need for floating.
This section may also include what to expect if you cannot work the minimum hours in a week. If you call in sick are you docked pay? can you make up the day? Will this affect your contract bonus if there is one?
• The pay rate (including overtime and holiday rates)
Salary
The salary section should include your hourly rate, overtime rate, shift and week-end differentials (if they are included), on call pay rate.
• Any start or end travel money to be paid (or your travel allowance cap)
• Any facility or travel company bonuses
• Deducted amount for any health, dental, vision, or other company plans
• Any special rates such as on-call or charge pay
• Money paid for monthly housing allowance or if company housing will be provided
Housing and Other Benefits
What type of housing, medical, vacation, education, and 401K benefits should be included in the contract. If you are expected to share housing, or if you have arranged a private residence this should all be in writing in the travel nurse contract. This section should also spell exactly what utilities are paid for by the agency and which ones are paid for by the travel nurse.
• Any scheduling requirements such as working every other weekend
In addition to these standard items, your contract should also include anything that you negotiate with your company. For example: If you are willing to give up your travel money in exchange for a big screen TV being provided with your apartment. Anything outside the normal provisions on an assignment should be reflected in the travel contract. This is not to say that things that you and your recruiter agree upon will not be upheld should there be a problem, but it is always nice to have things in writing.
Other Provisions
Other things that should be included in the contract is where and when you will report, what the expectation is if you have to leave before the contract expires? For example, if you have a family member die what are the expectations of the travel nurse agency? will they penalize you for early termination for family emergency?
If the employer decides to terminate the contract through no fault of your own will you be guaranteed the pay for the rest of the contract? These are good questions to ask and to be sure the exact terms agreed upon are in writing in the contract.
Because this is a contract and a legally binding document you should read it carefully and be sure you understand all of the different clauses, benefits, and consequences. If you have any questions the time to ask is before you sign the contract.

Great post, thanks!

SCRN01 · Jun 23, 2012

I just started traveling and only had 18 months experience as an ER RN before traveling. The pay is somewhat tricky. They like to include your food stipend in with your hourly rate to pad it. This is fine if you have a tax home and your food and housing stipend are tax free. My husband and I do have a tax home and I make about $28 on the hour, guaranteed 36 hrs a week, and we get $2000 for housing stipend. We figured it out that if we didn't have a tax home, we would make $800 less per month so it's a big deal. Check out TravelTax for help with the tax home. They specialize in taxes for travelers and they are SUPER nice. Also check out Travel Nurse Help: Be prepared for your next assignment for lots of information about every hospital in the U.S. and information about the area around each hospital. Lots of good info there.

northcalgirl · Jun 25, 2012

Have you considered attending The Travelers Conference? It is in Las Vegas in October (fairly close to Phoenix). I have only been once, last year but it was a great place to get my questions answered (and I met some other great travelers too). I was pondering traveling last year like you are and the conference was the best thing I did. It is why I got on the road and it was the best decision I made!

RNWhit07 · Jun 30, 2012

Northcalgirl, I plan on going to the conference this year. I am very excited. Are you going again? Where are you traveling now? Are you from CA?

tinasueb73 · Jul 31, 2012

I had not heard about that, but will look up information. I am always looking for ideas and suggestions!. Thanks everyone for your help!