Nurses who are that desperate, need to go work staff, local agency, seek OT or PRN at another hospital. I can't believe that I'm hearing of nurses taking $10-15 per hour assignments and letting the agency manipulate the numbers with the stipend to look like $35-45/ hour. You should be getting at least mid thirties (for the most part) plus housing/stipend and allowances. It's economics 101. You are creating the demand or lack of. I've read where agencies are stating that they have seen an increase in contracts over the last few months, so go into these negotiations with a strategy. I PROMISE they have one. It's like a car deal. Have criteria going into the negotiations and stick to your numbers. Don't be afraid to JUST SAY NO!
Also, these (some) recruiters need to be held to the fire with the BS tax manipulation. They have a responsiblity to pay wage appropriate employer tax based on the local market's average salary. It is fraud and you are a willing participant if you sign up. These greedy boneheads need to be held accountable to the IRS. I suggest any nurses getting a lowball contract forward it to the IRS Whistle Blowing Program and let's see if we can turn around this industry before it's too late!
Nurses who are that desperate, need to go work staff, local agency, seek OT or PRN at another hospital. I can't believe that I'm hearing of nurses taking $10-15 per hour assignments and letting the agency manipulate the numbers with the stipend to look like $35-45/ hour. You should be getting at least mid thirties (for the most part) plus housing/stipend and allowances. It's economics 101. You are creating the demand or lack of. I've read where agencies are stating that they have seen an increase in contracts over the last few months, so go into these negotiations with a strategy. I PROMISE they have one. It's like a car deal. Have criteria going into the negotiations and stick to your numbers. Don't be afraid to JUST SAY NO!
Also, these (some) recruiters need to be held to the fire with the BS tax manipulation. They have a responsiblity to pay wage appropriate employer tax based on the local market's average salary. It is fraud and you are a willing participant if you sign up. These greedy boneheads need to be held accountable to the IRS. I suggest any nurses getting a lowball contract forward it to the IRS Whistle Blowing Program and let's see if we can turn around this industry before it's too late!
(vent complete...thank you...now exiting...whew)
What are best travel/agency companies to work for?
Who are the best? That is entirely subjective based on your wants and needs as a nurse. Lots of variables. The reason for this post was just to let it be known that you should have a set game plan when dealing with recruiters. Also, talk to your accountant and don't accept any offers that you don't completely understand. If you can't explain your contract in detail to someone else then you don't fully understand it yourself. What works for one may not work for another. I am by no means providing any type of guidance or concrete advice, I just hate to see good people get yanked. I really fires me up. However when recruiters smell nativity or someone who's desperate or over anxious...look out. Just be prepared. Research, research and then research.
Who are the best? That is entirely subjective based on your wants and needs as a nurse. Lots of variables. The reason for this post was just to let it be known that you should have a set game plan when dealing with recruiters. Also, talk to your accountant and don't accept any offers that you don't completely understand. If you can't explain your contract in detail to someone else then you don't fully understand it yourself. What works for one may not work for another. I am by no means providing any type of guidance or concrete advice, I just hate to see good people get yanked. I really fires me up. However when recruiters smell nativity or someone who's desperate or over anxious...look out. Just be prepared. Research, research and then research.
Sorry I meant naivety not nativity. haha. I love you spellcheck
79Tango - please explain some facts. If the 4 companies I mentioned are the worst, what makes them the worst? what are the best? You seem to know.
As an RN, the $15/h wage is not market value. Especially after working for American Mobile for 4 years. The companies mentioned as "best" had been recommended to me by several travelers in several states.
And I've heard of the worst companies over and over. None were these.
this is old stuff and there is already a behind the scenes effort to clean up the worst of the practices (see www.natho.org ) :)
as a traveler, you are not going to get a market wage in this economy as the agencies must take their bill rate (not as high as rumor has it) and allocate part to wage, reimbursements, taxes, overhead and profit.
there's a traveler's conference in las vegas in september. some agency execs will be there to present, discuss and answer questions on travel wages, taxes and other things that'll help clear up these issues.
this is old stuff and there is already a behind the scenes effort to clean up the worst of the practices (see www.natho.org ) :)
as a traveler, you are not going to get a market wage in this economy as the agencies must take their bill rate (not as high as rumor has it) and allocate part to wage, reimbursements, taxes, overhead and profit.
there's a traveler’s conference in las vegas in september. some agency execs will be there to present, discuss and answer questions on travel wages, taxes and other things that'll help clear up these issues.
i know it's "old stuff" but it's still happening. recruiters are going to play the "it's the bad economy" card for as long as they can. i agree that wages are not going to be as high as they were due to the economy, however, there is a difference from market wage to getting completely screwed . if you're okay with that by all means - go for it, i'm not one to argue, i have 4 teenagers and get tired of defending common sense. lol. each person has to do their own dd. there are things that can effect your contract. some travelers may be better negotiators than others=better wages. different recruiters will have different needs which can also dictate=better wages. (how flexible are you) in our case personally we are completely flexible and do not have to have a "top dollar" rate (nor is it expected) as long as stipend/housing line half way decent. we're not doing it for the money as we have no bills. so if it was the right gig- then no problem. however, no need to work for peanuts and won't work for peanuts. as for the conference...not really interested in going to a conference full of sales people..
This whole post is wack! Heck yeah the info is dated.. even the article quoted & listed has nothing to do with travel nursing. You can go to the IRS website and lookup the rates for whichever area you are working!
I do have a definition of fraud... It's talking about something you know know nothing about--Nomad, From what youve posted you havent even been on a travel assignment. I would bet you havent seen too many of these bogus contracts..
Amy.. You have been with the same company for 4 years and just now they are ripping you off? Just so you know if they are offering you $15/hr & $35/day perdiem ... That is not $24/hr it is more like $21.12/hr.. (which I know is not market rate... I never said it was. I said it was a crappy rate) I will not be listing my reasoning.
I am actually working on my taxes right now. I took 2 assignments in 2010, one at the beginning and one at the end of the year, with AMN and a subsidiary at the same facility. My first contract was not on a tax advantage plan and my second one was. For the first my hourly rate was 31ish and for the second it was 23ish. Big difference but the $35 a day per diem made up for it. Both included generous housing stipends as I never take housing-I can live elsewhere much cheaper making that easy money. My gross pay was about the same but my take home would be a couple hundred dollars more. I didn't work a lot of overtime, maybe there it could hurt you due to the lower OT premium, but since it doesn't apply to me I'm not doing the math. I'm not sure if this will impact the typical meal and entertainment deduction I take on my taxes for every day I'm on assignment but I'm going to ask my tax guy. Overall the pay is apples to apples. I have traveled with AMN several times since 2006 and have only has positive experiences. What is most sad is is some of the mean and unprofessional communications on this post.
:argue:"Until next time, take care of yourselves and each other" -Jerry Springer.
-tax advantage is completely legal. My boyfriend has worked on windfarms and because they are required to travel far from home they are payed much in the same way.
I'm about to take my second assignment....I'm trying to figure out if I was "had" on the first. I don't really like my recruiter with RN Network. Have you heard anything about them being sheisty? My base was $18/hour plus $2600/month housing stipend and $35/day per diem. It ends up being $1420/week after taxes. However, my OVERTIME pay and holiday pay is only $40/hour! He had originally tried to push me over on time and a half based on the $18/hour, and then I could only push them up to the $40. The recruiter tried to tell me it's because that is all the hospital will extend for overtime, but I don't believe him. We were in a tough financial spot when I first accepted the position. I feel like I was screwed on my first assignment. I am looking at working with American Traveler, Intelistaf, and TRS. Has anyone heard anything about these? Does my package seem abnormal?
. if you're okay with that by all means - go for it, i'm not one to argue, i have 4 teenagers and get tired of defending common sense. lol. each person has to do their own dd. there are things that can effect your contract. some travelers may be better negotiators than others=better wages. different recruiters will have different needs which can also dictate=better wages. (how flexible are you) in our case personally we are completely flexible and do not have to have a "top dollar" rate (nor is it expected) as long as stipend/housing line half way decent. we're not doing it for the money as we have no bills. so if it was the right gig- then no problem. however, no need to work for peanuts and won't work for peanuts. as for the conference...not really interested in going to a conference full of sales people..
bladams04
5 Posts
What are best travel/agency companies to work for?