Truckee

You can make a fair amount of money traveling to AK. The difficult part may be finding an assignment for the both of you. Here is a short rundown: Anchorage and Fairbanks "big cities" don't use many travelers, pay is okay, cost of living is a bit high though. Great place to live for 13 weeks. Pros, you can drive to the sights you want to see. All other towns, villages, cities not on the road system; Dillingham, Bethel, Kotsabue, Nome, Barrow, and Kodiak and Sitka in the southeast, use travelers a lot but don't use the usual means of getting their travel nurses. Most hospitals hire their own travelers, often called TDY or Temporary Duty, look at the individual hospital website for openings and most will have TDY positions. Pay is good and often overtime is plentiful. Cons, you have to fly to get to everywhere you might want to go. Ned was right, many nurses who travel up here end up staying, that's my story too. It would be easy to say "you either like it or you don't" but there is another POV, this really is a great place to travel to and 13 weeks is not enough time.

I have done it and am doing it. Just remember it is a numbers thing. There are some expenses that travel with you and some that won't. Cell phone, Gas, Auto insurance, will travel with you (you pay them while at home and you will pay them while on the road). Cable and Internet will be one that you can drop at home and probably not pay while traveling. Then there are expenses that will be added while traveling. Dining, sight seeing, will be an expenses that is added when you travel. Make a budget and run the numbers.

You can make $100,000/yr in Alaska, without a doubt. Over 2-3 13 week assignments, probably not. You want to work over the winter in Alaska, it's brutal, I have done it and am still doing it. You can make 100K in California also, I have friends that are doing it. There are pro's and con's for every situation.

Ned, I'm calling you out on your opinion of covering strikes. First off, I like you. You helped me get into traveling more than anyone. Your posts are helpful and to the point. But... If I am working per diem and have 2 weeks with nothing planned filling in/crossing lines/working a strike, pays better than sitting at home. Secondly, if I were working a full or part time job and had the flexibility to take time off to cover a strike it would still pay handsomely. I have followed strike nursing for the past 2 years, they are extremely inconsistent these days. I would bet that anyone that wanted to work in these situations would see those inconsistencies and plan accordingly. You can make money doing strikes. You won't make much money doing only strikes. You have to have a plan when not working strikes. I know the history of unions, and every worker today is reaping the benefits of a union; I thank those that went before me.

You have to read, read, read and read some more. Websites like this, pantravelers.org, and highwayhypodermics.com. The latter also has a decent book that answers a lot of questions. Download it as an e-book If after a lot of research you feel you still don't know, maybe it's not for you. I asked myself "why do I want to travel?" After answering that question I was able narrow down the #1priority for me (it's different for everyone) and worked on finding a job to fit/fill that desire. Greg

Medstaff treated me well. It's a personal opinion. Talk to some companies, ask them this same or similar question(s). If it feels like you are uneasy or uncomfortable at any point call #2 on your list, #3,#4. It's like buying a car: you have to trust the sales man, or be smarter than him.

This is also a good time to look at overtime. "Pantravelers.org" talks about this at length and if you have an opportunity to read about overtime rates it is worth your time. 1. Your agency's bid for your job might be; $60/hr for the first 40 hours worked, and $75/hr for any OT. 2. Your agency has to make sure they get all of operational costs/overhead (your pay, housing, insurance, and recruiters pay and insurance) out of the first 36 hours (these are guaranteed hours). And let's assume these "$'s" are a 50/50 split between you and your agency. 3. The minute you work any OT at $18/hr the split changes to 25/75. You are now getting a quarter of the bill rate and the agency gets $55-60 pure profit. Your agency is "betting" you'll not work any OT and "hoping" you'll work a ton. Never make this mistake twice. Good luck

My 2 cents. I have worked in Grand Rapids for most of my career. 20 years as a paramedic (minus 6 years in Nevada) and 12 years as an RN. Grand Rapids. I have worked for Spectrum. It is a fairly large hospital system with many excellent specialties. Heart, stroke, cancer, and peds. They are the level 1 trauma center and are fairly good at it. They are close to starting their transplant services. All in all Spectrum is a good hospital system... but in my opinion a little too bureaucratic. They are run like a big hospital; not enough consideration for the regular employee's. I have worked for MetroHealth for 2 years as a charge nurse in the ED. A level 3 trauma hospital that has the beginnings of some good programs. Hearts are handled really well, strokes are getting better. Don't see many peds (very few). It is a very nice hospital to work at and mostly nice to work for. Great employees, good leadership, does not pay as good at the other hospitals in the city. I would not mind going back to work there if I were independently wealthy. I have not worked for St. Mary's but have many close friends that do. Level 2 trauma center. Don't see many peds. Have some very good programs; heart, stroke, cancer. They also have close association with the rehab hospital in town. Very good hospital. I don't know much about the Lansing hospitals, I hear a lot of good things. Same goes for the hospitals in K-zoo. As far as I know you could have a very good career at any of the big hospitals in the area. You might enjoy some of the smaller hospitals too. For sure critical care is different at the smaller facilities but almost all of the hospitals are associated with a bigger hospital system. So what you might lack in acuity you would not lose on resources or opportunities for education. Good luck, if you have any specific questions let me know, I will stop back here once in a while. Greg

Just to throw in my 2 pennies. "Medical Solutions" or "medicalsolutions.com" is a company based in Omaha, NE. I have had very good luck with them. Good Luck

I think you will find travel nurse agencies will be quite inflexible simply because the hospitals want someone for a scheduled period of time. That being said, most hospitals will have per diem positions where you give them your schedule and they schedule you for those days; or at least the days your schedule and their's match. Because of overtime restrictions by most hospitals they may only schedule you for 36-40 hours and not for a full 7 days in a row. Another option is that quite a few government facilities have a 7 on 7 off schedule that might work for you. Typically these work Thur, Fri, Sat then Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, to avoid all days worked in one week and avoid overtime for 4 days. So, you can find travel companies that have per diem positions to fill, but I would bet they don't pay as well if you found them on your own. Also there are travel companies that specialize in short contracts (usually 2-4 weeks) but I haven't seen anything shorter. Good Luck

I'm with Medical solutions also, first assignment with them was great. I would also recommend them to anyone. Best advise... Find a good recruiter, open communication with him/her is essential.

you have to have 15 posts before you can PM. Alaska is great, jobs are plentiful and pay is good. To be quite honest there are jobs in the lower 48 that pay as well and maybe better with better locations but if you want to put a check mark in your book of places to work... come on up. There was a post quiet a while back asking if there were $100,000 jobs out there, and I can tell you Alaska is one of them. I will try to PM you.

Your recruiter/agency will mostly/never give you the best quote first time through. Your recruiter is in the business of sales; I probably don't have to explain the business of sales to you. Secondly, this is not like the grocery store where prices are plainly marked on the shelves, this is car sales, where prices/wages are always negotiable. There are a few ways to look at pay: 1) "what hourly wage would make you happy" If you come from Alabama and a regular hourly wage is $22/h and $25 would make you happy, ask for $25. If $30 would make you really happy ask for $30. 2) "a little research" A simple web search for local wages in your given profession will get you in the ball park. 3) "ask around" I would guess that some of your graduating class is still in the area, they would be a great start for information. As far as reimbursement for licences and things it is pretty typical for you to first pay then get reimbursed from your agency, they aren't going to pay for anything they don't need. If you tell your agency you want to get a California license and they pay for it then you don't take an assignment there, they are out $300. As far as pay. L and D pays pretty good. I am currently working in the ED in Bethel, AK as a TDY (temperary duty nurse) and getting $40/hr. It is pretty close to what full time pay is and I'm happy.

Sorry so late, just came upon your post. A few Alaska hospitals still use LPN travelers. I am in Bethel AK and because of the type of health system they use for the native Alaskans they have a lot of "clinics". I don't have any answers on what companies are being used but could find out when I work next (I will talk to the LPN travelers). Send a reply to this thread if you are interested in finding out more or are interested in working in Alaska. Greg

The practice is fairly common and makes sense. The basis for this is: you pay less taxes, they pay less taxes. There are traps to this and there are things you can do about this. The traps. If you were to take a years salary at $12/hr to a finance company for a car, home, remodel, they would laugh at you. If you file your income tax at $12/hr for a nursing job will you be more of a target for an audit; I don't think so, I also don't think it would be anything to worry about. You aren't hiding taxable income, and that's what they are looking for. Also, this is for 13 weeks, for that amount of time it's no big deal. If it were for a year at $12 I might be a little shy. Things you can do about it. If you go to "pantravelers.org" there is a calculator that will show you your hourly wage after all your benefits added in. You can play with the numbers such as more taxable and less of a stipend and ask the agency to adjust likewise. But this might be a tough sell to the agency on your part because they will be paying more taxes on your pay as well, that money has to come from somewhere (you). Some people on this board will tell you to always take the lowest hourly and most in tax free, some will tell you to always do the opposite, your situation depends on what the future holds. I am getting $17/hr and my take home pay each week is pretty nice. Don't let that one $ number scare you, look at the big picture. Lastly, look closely at the IRS's rules about travel. They say something to the effect of "a reasonable commute home". An 8 hour day with a 2 hour commute is looked at differently than a 12 hour day with a 2 hour commute. As with most IRS rules there is a "test" to see if your situation qualifies as a travel position, ask a professional.

I think your question(s) should read; "When you want to do travel nursing, can you design your own contract?" or "When you know what you want out of travel nursing, can you design your own contract?" Yes and yes, and you should. You are a nurse, with a lot of experience. The agencies want you to work at the lowest possible rate because they get more money. The opposite of this is always true: The reason that you should get the best contract possible is because you get more money. It is a matter of fair and equal negotiations, it's not a matter of "until I get a few assignments under my belt". The line of "you are new to travel nursing, you have to take what you can get" is BS. Also, you should never be led to believe that your contract must be different because you are new to travel nursing. For me, I knew what I needed; I needed the opportunity for OT, small hospital, and I needed a company and recruiter that I could like. I could have asked for more, now I know. There are a lot of reasons an agency can't give you everything you ask for, but being new to travel nursing is not one of them.

I am in Bethel AK (part of the YKHC system) right now. Started my 13 week assignment the last week of October, will finish my assignment Jan 26th and will extend another 6 weeks into March. Bethel is one of the small hospitals and I have been able to talk to nurses who have been to all of the small hospitals from Kodiac to Barrow, and big city hospitals in Anchorage and Fairbanks; here is my take. 1. It is cold in the winter, be ready for it. Summer days are long and buggy. 2. Things are more expensive here than in the lower 48. $14 for 12 pack of soda. $7 for a gallon of milk (not quiet as bad in the bigger cities). 3. Most of the hospitals have travelers (read as A LOT) all of the time. You are pretty much one of the many who are there for the same reasons as everyone else. In Bethel almost all of the nurses have taken a travel assignment here before they signed on perm. When you read descriptions of hospitals that say "travel friendly", this is where that term came from. 4. Pay is pretty good. I would guess in the top 10-20% for regular travel jobs. What I found enticing is the possibility for OT. Work as much as you like (I don't know if this is true in the bigger hospitals). 5. I am VERY happy here in Bethel. Nothing pretty, nothing fancy, work is good and quite easy. I would love to share more, I have a lot of info and it would be great if you had specific questions. I will continue to watch this post if you do reply. Good luck

Cincinnati RedsExcellent advice and that is what I found out. I'm very happy w my recruiter and the assignment.Will be heading to Bethel, AK in 3 weeks. And thanks for everyone's advice here.

Well I took the assignment as the contract looks like my recruiter told me it would. Pretty happy with the process, pretty happy with my recruiter. Wish me luck.

I hope to accept my first travel assignment soon. My question is, do I get submitted and accepted to a job and then negotiate pay and compensation. Or do I negotiate all aspects of compensation before being submitted? It seems when ever I ask the agency for specifics about compensation they give me general amounts and excuses of "I can't seem to pull up that information at this time". Thanks Truckee

For the sake of sounding ignorant, what is the difference? I have never been a traveler; start my first assignment in 3 weeks and I have had 1 company tell me the pay every 2 weeks, I didn't think much of it. It's how the real world (non-travelers) get paid. I think what Ned was trying to say is they (the agency) gets "more" float; meaning they get an extra week of interest off your money. It is kind of cheap on their part, and I think the real reason some agencies pay every 2 weeks is the administrative time to prepare payroll. The weekly pay check started as a perk to travelers and most have now adopted it. As a new traveler is this something I should look out for?

Yes. Unless the IRS has rules about distance from "home". Generally most/all of your expenses that you incur for travel to and from that job, expenses for getting that job, and expenses maintaining that job (certifications not covered by employer/agency), are partially or completely deductible if you are a traveler. The usual things that would (almost never) be deductible are uniforms, shoes, equipment. Those are things needed for any job regardless if you travel or not.

First things first. You're happy with the recruiters and the agency, that goes a long way. You're getting paid as much as if you worked per diem for the hospital, not bad. And you might want keep your relationships between you and the hospital and you and your agency rosy by not asking or pushing too hard. Well... This is business, and treat it like that. Negotiations are/should be completely acceptable when done in a non-threatening and business like manner. They made and offer to you for the job, it should be expected that you can make a reasonable counter-offer if so desired. If I were coming from Michigan to fill this position would they offer me housing or a stipend? Yes, most likely. Should you ask for $500 a week for housing (what they might offer me) probably not, but it wouldn't hurt to ask for $100/wk for your hotel. Agencies like all business have a lot of things they can offer that might not be exactly what you want but cover your needs in some way. Example; you want some housing covered. It may be your agencies policy not to cover/offer housing if you are not traveling more than 200 miles from your home (purely hypothetical). Could they give you something else; gas cards, memberships, discounts? And... For the most part, if it is an expense for your travel job and it is not compensated for by your agency, it is usually able to be deducted or written off your year end taxes. Good luck

Thanks NedRN.

I hope to be taking a new contract soon. I am looking for a location where overtime will be plentiful and need some help with a few questions. When would I negotiate contracted hours, 48 vs 36? I hope to work holidays and weekends as much as possible. When would I negotiate these. Is this only a hospital issue or is it also a contract/agency issue? Where is a good location to work or be guarenteed overtime? I would guess some of the bigger hospitals; Las Vegas, LA, Bay area. In short, I want to take a contract where I can work a lot and maximize my earings for the next 13-26 weeks. Thanks