WitchyPooh

Your profile says you are in Tennessee. Tennessee is one of the compact states. As long as you maintain a legal residence in Tennessee, you will be able to practice in any of the compacts without have to physically get licensed in those states. If I go to work in states that are not part of the compact, it is up to me to get licensed. But I do have it written into my contracts that I am reimbursed for the cost of the license. For example, the fee to be licensed in Alaska is $300. Which is very pricey. Most states run between $100-$200. As a side note, the fee for your licensures if not reimbursed is tax deductible on your federal tax return.

I made that much last winter working contracts in Wisconsin & Minnesota. It depends on your specialty and the need in the area.

Let me preface this by saying these are my humble opinions only based on MY experiences. Everyone's experiences may vary. Aya Healthcare out of San Diego has always done right by me. I've worked through several agencies. Most try to line their own pockets and screw you around if you dont watch them like a hawk. My recruiter at Aya has always gone after the money for me. She finds me money for things, and asks for reimbursements I hadnt even thought up. Not to mention, they pay pretty well. Sunbelt is not bad. They just dont seem to have the better paying jobs. Nursefinders..well..I just find them ineffective and rather clueless. They actually wanted me to start a job BEFORE signing a contract. yeah right, I didnt just blow into town! My own personal opinion is to stay away from Source One, Travel Corps, and Bahama Consulting. I have had very negative experiences with them and most travelers will say the same that I've talked to.

I was injured on the job in 2005 and left in a wheelchair for 3 years. I worked in psych as a charge nurse. I also worked in psych intake. But I did have 20 years experience by then but none of it was in psych. Thankfully through lots of rehab I've been able to return to my first and true love in nursing, surgery/pacu

I've never worked for CrossCountry. I've heard too many negative things about them over the years so I doubt I ever will. Most recently another traveler that I am currently working with has been with them for several years and was promised a sign on bonus if she renewed her current contract. She did and now they are refusing to pay her. So she will be leaving them after this contract is up. There are some good companies out there. Sounds like it is time for you to to move on and find one

ok, where I make my money is on the housing stipends, food allowances, relocation bonuses, etc-the untaxed stuff. I call it "free money" I have found that most extended stays are willing to negotiate with someone who is going to be staying with them for months at a time. So I've gotten some amazing deals and pocketed the remainder of my stipend. Agencies offer only what the facility is willing to pay for that specialty area really. My recruiter sends me out offers from different facilities when it is time for contract renewal. Each one is a little different. She knows I wont work for less than $50/hr (combination of hourly wage, housing stipends, food allowance, divided by the number of hours per week contracted) So she only sends me those type of offers. My specialty area is Surgery though and RNs are in very high demand for the OR so I dont usually have a problem getting what I want. Another thing, make sure every detail is in your contract. I have them put in that I can take a week off every contract-be it all at once, or one day at a time. I rarely take it but it covers any sick time I may have, low census days and you want to stay home, etc-so I am not penalized by my agency for not working a full 40. If a facility requires any special type of training or certification, special colored scrubs or uniforms, anything you must pay for, put in your contract for reimbursement. My agency pays for my nursing license in all states I work in if not compact, my ACLS/PALs, my CNOR certification, etc. If you dont work, they dont make money either, so most agencies will pay for those things but wont tell you up front they will

perhaps Ned, but housing stipends are not considered income. It is considered reimbursement. That is why it isnt taxable. I think, but am not 100% sure, that only income is considered for child support. But I do agree, support those babies!! I raised my daughter without a penny of support from her father ever until he died and she was able to draw social security off him. It was not easy. TheDude..when you find out for certain, please let us all know. It is an interesting question to say the least.

I worked a couple of strikes about 10 years ago (not thru the company listed above). The money was good ($75/hr) but you have no guarantees. In Travel contracts I have my hours guaranteed. In strike they can come in in the middle of a shift and tell you that you are no longer needed-and that's it. I prefer the stability of contracts I can count on so I've not done anymore strike nursing.

Nurses have been known to eat their own. However, having said that-the atmosphere is far more pleasant than it was 30 years ago when I joined the profession. But we still have a long way to go in encouraging and uplifting one another. On to answering your question-Most agencies I've had interaction with REQUIRE a minimum of 1 year clinical experience. So you will have to get that before going to work for any travel nursing agency. Travel nurse jobs in Hawaii are coveted. There are few and highly sought after. Should one come available, some crusty old nurse like myself will snatch it up Your best bet is as someone suggested, seek out a permanent job at a Hawaiian hospital.

Where us travelers make our money is in the tax free stipends, not the hourly wage. I've not worked for what my hourly wage is with my travel company in 15 years or more. But where I am making money is the over $4k in tax free stipends every month. I call it "free money" because I pay no tax on it. You didnt mention if you were getting untaxed stipends?

I'd run away from that one. Actually if you are an RN, try explaining to the IRS why you are making less than $24/hr which is the low end of national average. That would be a giant red flag for an audit. Not to mention with no housing stipend, food stipend, or relocation reimbursement, then why do it? You'd be losing money.