OR-SPEC

Ahhh.... Just graduated PT PBCC. Good luck to all. Its a doozie. On a positive note, so far, everyone from class ahs passed boards!

Check out traveltax.com. There is a very informative FAQ's section that can answer all of your questions.

I have a question regarding an assignment in California. $50/hr. I can either take a stipend of $25/hr, then $25/hr as pay rate or take the $50/hr and enjoy the higher OT rate. If I work 12hrs of overtime, then I have 37.50/hrX12hrs= $450 with tax advantage. If I do straight pay, then I get $75/hrX12hrs=$900. First off, with the tax advantage $37.50/hr OT rate, do I still get the $25/hr stipend(I dont think so) with the additional hours worked or does it end at my contracted 36 hours? Next, when the agency bills the hospital, are they billing at $50/hr regardless, bringing in $75/hr for OT I work? If I take the stipend with an OT rate of $37.50/hr and have them bring in $75/hr for my labor, then they are raking in an extra $37.50 profit. Can I take the stipend amount and ask for a bonus of $450 for every 12 hours of OT worked?

I live down here and its really nice. PM me for info.

I would also like to travel early next year. I'm definitely looking at Cali. I was hoping to work 2 assignments to maximize profits. I'm hoping to pull in at least $14k/mo. take home working 6 12's per week.

Sorry about that, didn't mean to pinch a nerve. You have to admit, it is a completely different type of nursing, much more technical.

So it is a realistic # if staff nurses are making $55/hr. I have seen so many threads w/ nurses stating that making close to $10K take home traveling is unrealistic. She may have a tax home set up if she's enjoying these benefits but I thought she said she didnt. So if she has a friend rent her a room @ $1000/mo and she has a tax home of $1000/mo but she gets a $2000 housing stipend, is she able to enjoy the tax shelter or does she have to pay taxes on $1000?

Granted these hospitals are probably in the ghetto or may not be too desireable to work at, at the end of the week, you can do pretty darn good.

She takes care of her own housing and she gets a very nice amount for travel expenses. I'm pretty sure that also includes insurance. At any rate, some of the best I've heard of. We as nurses need to understand that these companies are making a killing and we can put more well deserved $$$ in our pocket.

I understand that the patient must be kept safe during the intraoperative period and during the entire case, we as circulators must monitor every inch of that OR table. The thing is if you've done your job properly and positioned in accordance w/ current safety protocols utilizing safety straps/armboards/foam pads/warming devices correctly, then you should be able to breathe a little easier once things get going. Otherwise, your not doing things correctly and this job will drive you insane. The CST on the other hand cannot even drop their hands below their waist, cannot itch that persistent ear itch and cannot wipe the snot dripping down their face for the entire duration of that surgery. CST's deserve more credit than they receive and I will always give that credit for their hard work and dedication. Maybe you should pull up a stool under the drape next to the patients legs to make sure they dont fall off the bed while doing your paperwork. Individuals like you make working as a team much harder than it should be.

I'm not too sure. If I see her, I'll ask her.

I recently graduated RN school. I have also been a CST for 5 years and served as a clinical coordinator/instructor for a local surgical tech program for several years. Don't get me wrong, I have a ton of respect for my new found profession as a circulator but hands down, CST's have to maintain the more critical focus during the surgery. Circulating is merely a task of paperwork, maintaining patient safety and fetching supplies. It is the tech that is responsible for having everything on his field, acting as the surgeons 3rd and 4th hand, anticipating every single move during the surgery, especially during severely acute bleeding. I have to admit the RN schooling is much more intense, however, the circulator has an easier job, hands down. Oh, and there's also the 80% increase in pay(at least in my region) depending on whether or not you can convince your boss(and they definitely should) to recognize your OR experience. Let the flaming begin!!!

My friend is an OR travel nurse here in S FL. She says her pay rate is something like $42/hr( not sure how its bkoken up w tax free benefit). She works 3 12's/wk and takes home like $1700/wk after health ins/401k. She also said she turned down a Cali assignment @ $72/hr!! Count me in! I did the cross comparo and that take home amount would come to $2914/wk minus about $250 for state taxes. She also doesnt own a home back in the midwest. If I can find a similar ass. and grab a PRN side job to pull 80/hrs a week, I'm there(OR nursing is a cake walk compared to real nursing). Its all about your neg. skills.