allstarnurse1

Yep, my first travel nursing contract was cancelled after the first week. Bummer, but it was a crisis pay job, and with plummeting covid hospitalizations, I rather expected it. Luckily, I was able to quickly secure a local contract with my agency and didn't miss a beat.

Please don't do things like lie and say you live at your parents' house just so you can get a tax-free reimbursement for housing and meals. Apparently, this is a thing? ? That's not enough as the kind people at traveltax have pointed out. You might think the risk of getting audited is remote, but there's always a chance and it's just not worth breaking the law, risking being audited, and then having to pay back taxes, penalties, or worse. We are all busy professionals. We have to balance a demanding work schedule, family obligations, and sometimes school, too. We don't need more stress in our lives. In my case, I am not a true travel nurse; my new tax home is the same as my new work location. So, I clearly don't qualify for tax-free reimbursements. Luckily, I was able to take a local contract for crisis pay with a travel nurse agency. While I don't get a tax-free stipend, the difference, in the end, isn't a dealbreaker. My effective hourly rate before taxes and with about 10 hours of overtime every week is still in the triple digits. We can make a lot of money and still do the right thing. https://traveltax.com/tax-preparation-for-travelers/

Really! That is interesting! What issues are you having? Is the stress comparable?

I think you're right about crisis contracts and overtime. All the crisis contracts I've seen at my agency are for a minimum of 48 hours. There's a lot on my plate right now because I'm also in school for my MSN-FNP. So, yeah, nothing like working 4 days in a row, and then using my 3 days off to write the first chapter of a master's thesis. Plus, you know, moving across the country, etc. There are some TNs at my hospital that are working 60-hour crisis contracts. (Like, how?) This was my big mistake: I saw the money and didn't really think through the impact that working overtime would have on my life. My next contract will absolutely be for 3 days a week. The money is nearly as good anyway, and I can pick up if I want to. So, as my first TN contract, I'm not ready to recommend anyone yet. Not even my agency which was mostly smooth sailing so far, but there was one major red flag that I'm not yet ready to talk about because it's still not resolved to my satisfaction. Also, I would say the biggest challenge is what @NedRN frequently writes about: 1-day orientations, new computer systems, new organizational cultures, etc. It was definitely stressful to have to learn about the computer system in one day when the computer system was down, and then working the next day! I was definitely thrown to the wolves! And then it shocked me the next day when the nurses rolled in at 7 am "on the dot," gossipped with their friends, and then maybe came around to get their reports at 7:15 or 7:30. Like, dude, I want to go home. But it is what it is. I adapted.

What kind of negotiation is possible with these contracts? Are the rates the rates? With my first assignment, I managed to negotiate my shift time. The offer was for a rotating schedule of 7pm-7am and 3pm-3am (or something like that), which I didn't like. I wanted to work one consistent time. So I counteroffered to only work night shift and they accepted. But I wonder if I could also negotiate the pay rate. Any tips there? Also, OP, yes these rates are real. I took a crisis response job for 48 hours/ wk. My first paycheck last week, for 50 hours, was for over $5000 (counting the $1000 stipend). Takehome pay was almost $4000 after taxes, for one week of work. Pretty nice. But we certainly earn it. I floated between tele, med-surg, and covid floors and had to call ahead for my assignment every night.

Hey guys, I am a U.S.-based NP student at an online school. I am having tremendous difficulty finding a preceptor for my course this semester. I have contacted everyone I know and even cold-called several facilities. Many aren’t doing preceptors because of the virus ? Does anyone have any tips for my search? I am willing to do anything. Also, what happens if I’m unable to find a preceptor? This feels like it shouldn’t be my fault, really.

Just wondering if employers care about the school I attended to get my MSN-FNP. I'm considering attending a relatively inexpensive online school. My initial thoughts were that employers don't really care where I went to school; they just care about whether I passed the national FNP certification exam and know my stuff. Am I mistaken?

We do get paid a lot, but it should be more! Nursing is a traditionally female occupation. We all know how women's work is underpaid (or unpaid!) because of a long history of sexism. Nurses today probably earn less than they would have earned had nursing been a traditionally male occupation.

Hey guys! I still have no idea. I have not breached the contract, and I don't plan to. But if something came up, it would be nice to know what my options are.

More thoughts: (6) Travel expenses. I don't want to get into percentages here, but the amount Avant covered wasn't even close to meeting my expectations. Again, travel expenses should have been specified in greater detail in the contract. (7) My hospital pays sizable bonuses for picking-up shifts. Hundreds-of-dollars extra per shift. But because I'm paid by Avant (not the hospital), I'm inelligible for those bonuses. How much does Avant pay for picking up a shift? It can be demoralizing. (8) Understand what you're signing up for. Yes, it's America. But America is more of a continent than a country. It's huge! The distances cannot be reasonably traveled without flying or sometimes days-long car trips. Avant will more-than-likely have you work in some far-flung locale with names you've never heard of. Part of the reason you're working there is that nobody else wants to live there. That's where you'll be placed. I knew this going in. And I'm very much aware of it everytime I want to travel somewhere. That's okay; it's not forever. And soon enough I'll have complete freedom to choose to live and work anywhere I want. (9) My hospital is pretty nice. They give nurses a reasonable number of patients. My coworkers are all very nice. I feel fortunate.

The most ridiculous statement I've ever heard.

I have not breached the contract. This is more of a question about other people's experciences. Like, if they quit their jobs, what breach fees did Avant want them to pay?

You can believe whatever you want. This is America. But your perspective is not widely shared among nurses. For example, Provision 8.1 of the Nursing Code of Ethics is literally titled, "Health is a Universal Right." And provisions 9.3 and 9.4 integrate social justice concepts. So, you're really in the wrong profession if you're looking for people who agree with you.

Avant is OK. (1) Their contracts are one-sided. You have practically no bargaining power to negotiate the initial terms of the contract. It's take-it-or-leave-it. This is probably a standard problem in this industry. Still, I expected better. A little moral leadership in this industry is sorely lacking. (2) Breach fees aren't actually stated in the contract. And they won't do it. It's all vague "you'll be responsible for all costs etc." I mean, what does that even mean? They should calculate that beforehand so the other person has a reasonable idea of the terms of the contract. (3) Their correspondence can be maddeningly standardized at times. It seems like they send the same emails to everyone. Frequently, I'd read an email from Avant only to realize that little of it applied to me. And the people involved in my case weren't always, you know, familiar with the basic details of my case. These weren't major problems; an email reply would clear things up. But come on. This is my life here. You guys have to be more careful, you know? (4) Training was pretty good. They send you out on a three-week boot camp of sorts. The accommodations are fine and it's all within walking distance of a Wal-mart. It's cool to meet people from the program who have traveled here from all over the world. (5) Immigration issues were handled expertly. That's the important part, right? I've got a green card thanks to them.

If health care is not a right, I think you're in the wrong business.