ASHRN828

I wonder how accurate it is, too. I find it hard to believe that you make more in Massachusetts than California.

Well, Ned, once again, just stating the facts. Interpret it as you may. Bottom line: They offered me way more than CC or AM.

The traveler I am speaking about has been traveling for 6 years and using her parent's address. She has had no problems from the IRS. Just the facts, ma'am.

I am on my first assignment with them and I love them! They are a smaller company and they pay more because they do not have as much overhead as American Mobile or Cross Country. They don't provide housing, but that is fine with me because I will never take a housing stipend, anyway. Cross Country offered me $600 less a month than Supplemental, FOR THE SAME ASSIGNMENT!

I thought it said NedWallet.com, lol..

I am currently on my first travel assignment. I recently met a traveler I work with who has used her parent's address as her tax home and has still been able to get the tax free money without having to pay taxes on it later. Use a family member's address and you should be fine.

As in, you have an hour to accept the position? 21Strawberry, I'm getting anxious as I'm reading your post! Oh my gosh! KrichRN88, I'm only on my first assignment, but my phone interview was what was stated above, "We wear blue pants and white tops. Do you have any questions for me?" Good luck!

NedRN, is this true?

I would absolutely ask to be reimbursed for the tolls. That's bs.

I didn't say $60/month, I said $60/week.

My friend is with Cross Country and she only pays $6/week! I switched mine to my agency (Supplemental) and now it is $60/week, which is still saving some money monthly. Just curious if people just get theirs through the company they are working with or if they keep a private policy for consistency. What I didn't really think about when I just signed up for company insurance, is what if there is a gap between assignments and I lose it.

Thank you BD-RN. I really appreciate your response. This being my first assignment, I have had no idea what to expect. I didn't know what was expected and what really is ok to ask for and say out loud. I guess I am so scared of saying something people don't like and risk being alienated. Yeah, I feel like I have been put into some sort of "sub-staff" category, that is totally unfair. Another traveler I worked with today said to make sure I am asking how a unit schedule works IN THE PHONE INTERVIEW. And to write any important dates into my next contract!

How can you apply for unemployment benefits when your assignment ends? It's a contract that you sign to complete a certain amount of work in a time frame. That makes no sense.

Thanks for your response, maim, but my question was if you have been able to make your own schedule in your travel assignments?

Hey Folks, I am currently on my first travel assignment in the ICU in the South. I have been very discouraged about my current situation in regards to the schedule. I was told that the unit would make out my first schedule (I wasn't there obviously to make it), and then I would be able to make my own. I filled out my own schedule, it came out today and I got NONE of my very few requests granted. I am literally working every other day for the next month. When I asked a question about this to the scheduler/charge nurse, I was told, "You are a traveler. What do you expect? It is your JOB to be available to us." Uh, wow. I was very upset to be spoken to like that. (I understand that's what I am there for, but I don't think it's fair to think I shouldn't have a life outside of work).What's confusing is WHY they even have us make out our own schedules, if they are not going to be honored. So, my question is, do you get to make your own schedule in most assignments, or are they made for you? If they are made for you, are they humane and decent?

Hi LadyTiger! I'm not sure which states you are thinking of traveling in? I live in the South and am on my first travel assignment with Supplemental Health Care and am having a great experience. They have tons of assignments in NC, SC, TN and VA. My pay is $1250/wk. take home. When I decide to travel out west, I think I will go with Medical Solutions. I have been talking to a recruiter from there, and have been really impressed with their communication, candidness and overall niceness. I know they have a lot of assignments out west and seem like a good company for that area of the country.

Jodyangel, my apartment is running me $615 a month. What I'm hearing you say is that you are not convinced that you will make more as a travel nurse, and that might be true. I guess you have to ask yourself if having the travel experiences are something you are interested in and not just the money. Don't get me wrong, I'm very interested in the money and I don't think there is a bit of shame in that, unlike some people on here. But, I come from a very low paying area in N.C. where salaries are insultingly low. If I had a high paying staff position, that would be something I would have to take into consideration, before I decided to travel:)

Umm... I put it in an apartment.

I bought a Serta Never Flat Raised Sleeper Twin that I LOVE. It ran me about $150 at target. I also added a foam topper I got from Wal-Mart that was $50. I have not slept this good in YEARS. I go to sleep and I don't wake up all night. I made this investment because I know I won't ever want to take housing, even if I eventually go with another company. I am doing my first assignment with Supplemental and have had a GREAT experience with them so far. They don't offer housing, but I knew from the beginning that I didn't care about that. They offer more $ in exchange for them not offering housing. I spoke with a larger company, in the beginning (American Traveler) and they offered me $600 LESS a month than Supplemental. I laughed out loud and told them I would never be signing with them.

LovelyMo79, I think it is absolutely FINE to ask about pay. I'm not sure what everyone is flipping out about. Personally, I thought it was rude for someone else to be informing you of what you "should" be doing.

If there is ANYWAY you can, once you get your feet wet in the ICU, I would highly encourage you to try to do an ICU float pool, if at all possible. There is major money in NTICU, CVICU, CICU. You would be so highly skilled all the companies would be fighting over you!

How much does it cost to get a California license?

Hi guys! I was wondering if anyone had any idea where one might get a good health insurance policy for a nurse who is traveling. I currently have a NC BCBS policy and it is expensive at $353 a month. Now that I am traveling, I will have to use "out of network" providers, which will further increase my cost. There has got to be a better option. Any ideas?

I would be taking a look at the Agency you signed up with, for sure.

I must say that I had a very difficult time finding housing with my assignment in Murfreesboro, TN, which was surprising since it is a college town. I called no less than 15 apartment complexes and only *one* would do a 3 month lease. The place I got is a one room efficiency that is normally $515/month. It went up to $615/month since it is only a 3 month lease, and they collected a nonrefundable "convenience" fee of $300. All this extra money cuts deeply into my take home pay, since I am also paying my mortgage (for now) for my home. I did check out 3 rooms in people's houses off of Craig's List and they were all places I would NEVER want to stay. I have found that there is usually some type of "situation" in these people's homes that is causing them to need to rent a room, usually a dysfunctional one. The one house/room that seemed half way decent was ok, until I met the owner and I met his 2 dogs, whom he neglected to tell me about. I am learning a lot on my first assignment, and will prob continue to take the stipend, but I know now to ask for more $$. I guess this is the caveat with travel nursing. Yes, it is great money, but there are considerable inconveniences associated with moving every 3 months, finding your own housing, taking ekg and other competency tests for each job and submitting tons of paperwork for each job.