part time travelling??

hollykate · Jan 6, 2006

Anything is possible, but most hosptials hire travelers to fill staff shortages and are going to want at least 36 a week, for the expense and risk they take in hiring a traveler. Your housing is deducted from your pay, it actually is never free, (When you get a contract it will tell you how much is deducted from your check for housing per hour if you miss a shift - for me its about 10 bucks an hour deducted, which means I am actually making 10.00 more an hour than is stated on my check). I have never seen a contract advertised that was less than 36 weeks, many are giving 48 hr gaurentees, which is what many many travelers want (as they want to make some money).

Nothing is really free, thats the best thing to keep in mind when traveling. You pay for it somewhere.

AfghaniPrinzess · Jan 6, 2006

hi holly...umm i dont get it...so how does the housing work? the rent is deducted out of my paycheck monthly? why do they say "free housing" then?

hollykate · Jan 6, 2006

You will note that it says free housing or housing stipend of x amount of dollars. This is part of your benefit package and part of your salary, even if they do not say so.

The hospital is paying for your housing.They pay that amount to the agency, plus your salary and then they give it to you for "free"

So, then when you miss work the housing has to be paid, and it is then deducted from your check. The rent is not taken from your paycheck, you never see it. But it is definitely something that is not free, if it were totally free, there would not be a deduction for being sick and missing your shift. It is one way that the agency can help to gaurentee you won't call out a lot.

The same for free health benefits (again taking health benefits also lowers your pay rate) and the rental car.

When I ask about an assignment without a rental they tell me the pay is 40 an hour. When I ask if I want a rental they tell me the pay will have to go to 38.00 an hour. Nothing is truly free. It might be confusing to you , but once you look at a few contracts and talk to a few recruiters it begins to make more sense.