Question for all the experienced travelers

[flamalenurse]

Hi, I`m concerned I am not getting paid or compensated for my travel assignments but I wonder if it is just me. I just currently finished my first assignment which was a 8 weeks assignment in NY. I was getting paid $20.50/hr + $245 a week for meals and I took the living allowance which was $2000 (but the company doesn`t pay you $2000...they divide the $2000 by 52 [weeks in a year] and then multiply it by 7 [days in a week] which comes out to roughly $270 a week... multiply by 4 weeks in a month and its only $1080 so already short 1 grand). I didnt get a completion bonus because i as told there is no completion bonus for 8 week contracts.

So now I am again in NY and taking my second contract and now my pay is $21.30/hr, $1900 allowance ($255 a week after math) $245 for meals and there is no completion bonus at the end of this travel contract.

So my question is....IS THIS NORMAL?! Some nurses on the units I am working on make alot more than me. I have 10 years experience and I feel that I could probably do better as a staff than a traveler....Any suggestions? Tips? Comments? Please let me know.....you can inbox me also! Thank you very much!

[79Tango]

Sounds like a very confusing contract. Are you an RN? It sounds like you are making right around $33.25/hr. What department are you working? What do the locals around there make?

[flamalenurse]

I am an RN...Working telemetry and the locals salary about 70k-72k/year

[79Tango]

Youch! How much does your housing cost? I would think you should be getting more like 2K a month for housing.

[flamalenurse]

My rent right now is $1300 but my allowance from the agency is "$1900" but they don`t give you $1900 a month....they have a formula where they take you allowance, divide it by the number of weeks in a year and multiply it by the number of days in a week ($1900 / 52 x 7 = $255.76 a week ) but if you multiple the $255.76 times the average number of weeks in a month (4) it comes to $1023, which is $900 less a month!!!!!

[79Tango]

Also there is no such thing as completion bonus, start bonus, travel bonus... NOTHING. Bonus= Lower Pay. If they are offering a bonus, you need to pro-rate the $$ offered by the amount of hours you will be working and ask for that in salary.

[flamalenurse]

I always always told "travel nurses make way more money than staff" hench why I left my hometown, left my job of 4 years, seniority just to try to better my financial situation ....looks like I made the wrong choice.

[79Tango]

I have seen TONs of contracts over the past 5 years, some more confusing than others but wha the He**?? That sounds crazy.. If you total your food & housing it= $2Kmonth. Ive never working in NY but I know the PRN rate is much higher.. Basically you are making $21.30/hr & $2000/month Perdiem. That sucks!

[flamalenurse]

basically but $2000 with 50% taken away for the formula they use so its $21.30/hr and $1000 for perdiem (which if I had a per diem job could make in 2 shifts)

[GleeGum, BSN, RN]

there was a time, it seems, when travelers made mad money. that is no longer the case. for example, a travler at Stanford near SF, the travelers (american mobile mind you) make $23/hr plus per diem ($7? per hour), while staff makes more like $55 to $75/hr. yes you get housing, but still.

do it for the adventure. ( :

[RN Zeke]

Agree, travel nursing is not the way to get ahead these days.

[hkLD5150]

I just took my first travel assignment in Bakersfield, CA ( not the best location but cheap housing and a pretty good pay package.....$1719 per week take home plus benefits.) I have to pay for my own housing, but my recruiter found some pretty good options....$760 per month fully furnished, I'm hoping to meet some other travelers and maybe go on the road together... I'm doing the "travel" thing for the experience but I also want to make a little $$$......Does that sound like a good pay package?