Kathy643

Hey all! I talked with some travel recruiters today, and they were telling me their rates and stipends and such and i'm pretty overwhelmed and majorly confused! What is the deal with this tax advantage plan? One recruiter told me they give an hourly rate of $18/hr because that's a reasonable new nurse salary... you only get taxed on 18.. get to keep the stipends tax free.. any hourly wage lower than that raises some flags.. Then I talk to another recruiter who told me they give an hourly rate of $8.. when I brought up what the other recruiter said, I was told that I wont make any money that way... I dont want to get audited.. But I also want to be able to live off of what I'm making.. thoughts??? Also, how does the stipends work? Do i want to get a higher hourly wage?? Can I trust their "take home" estimates? Does "take home" estimates include housing? I plan on taking their "free" housing... but something tells me nothing is free... Like I said... majorly confused.. and overwhelmed! please help! :)

Thank you both for your comments! While I don't have any scrub experience, I do have a year's worth of CVOR circulating experience so that is good to know, NedRN. I'll look over those sites and think of some good questions before I talk to a recruiter later this week.. Do you guys recommend any specific agencies??

I was hired straight into the OR out of nursing school. I did have some experience as a nurse extern which helps with basics like sterile technique and what to expect in the OR. Its unlike anything you've learned in nursing school (granted, you use info like vital signs, etc) but most of what you learn will be on the job training. Its an amazing area, and so rewarding! My advice, try not to let yourself get overwhelmed! You'll get it! It might take a good while, but just focus on the patient and try your best and you'll do fine!

I've worked both shifts.. They're just different. One isn't better than the other.. The day shift might be more "steady" of a pace.. but as you said night shifts do a lot of work that might go unappreciated... I started on nights, and I got SO much experience through that. My resume now says I can do any kind of surgery because of my work on nights.. On days, I'm on a team, which if I didn't have my night background, I would only be able to work jobs with that one team's experience...You just continue to be a good worker, and let your actions speak for itself :)

Hi friends! I'm a Registered Nurse with 3 years of Operating Room experience... and I want to start traveling. The thing is I HAVE NO IDEA where to start! I don't know how you choose an agency or what the beginning steps are... I've set up a time to talk to a recruiter next week, but am not sure what questions to ask... Do you all feel that this is a good economy to travel in? I'm not worried too much about location, but do you think I'll have issues getting assignments with only 3 years of experience?? Any and all advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks!! Kathy