Realistic take home

NedRN · Nov 26, 2012

You mean you have to pay for housing with that money? If so, don't do it. Otherwise if housing is paid on top of that amount, $40 take home is decent. At a regular job, that is about $50 pretax.

SheilaORN · Nov 26, 2012

When i asked her what if i find my own housing, she said take home will be $900/week, but i did not ask her how much the stipend will be, I thought that was a rip off.

sweetgurly25 · Nov 29, 2012

I have noticed that the California pay for travelers are starting to decline. Especially for M/S nurses, everyone wants to go to CA so when theres supply prices go down. That is rip off for northern California because its expensive in that area to live there. they are ripping you off because you are new and think you don't know better. I would tell her thank you and move on to another agency.

Gracie_JRN · Nov 29, 2012

Im a new traveler too, on my second assignment and i love it. We are most definitly being taken advantage of by the companies because they know we are new. I took way to little pay without caring too much on my first two assignments but i am glad for the experiences i have had. I have never traveled to california but that is way too low a number unless they are providing you with houses on top of that. Dont take it and call around other companies. Look up per diem rates in the area so you can get a number in your head. Good luck!

NedRN · Nov 29, 2012

Supply and demand. That is how business works. Too many medsurg nurses competing for a few jobs and the pay goes down. Get used to it.

The other factor mentioned here is how new you are affecting pay. This shouldn't be a new concept for any nurse either. New grads get paid less than experienced nurses. For doing the same job. Another fact of life.

Now it may seem unfair because in the case of travelers, the hospital is paying the agency exactly the same bill rate regardless of experience (side note: going back to supply and demand is why hospitals will always choose more experience when a bunch of travelers are submitted all at the same cost). Yet new travelers cost agencies much more money than experienced travelers. How so? Risk. Because a never traveled nurse is much more likely to fail or underperform for any number of reasons. They quit or get fired, or require extra orientation to get up to speed.

Agencies have a reputation to uphold. This is worth money. If they get a reputation for sending travelers who quit or fail, the hospital will quickly switch to using other agency's nurses. Lost money for the agency. There are also significant costs in attracting new travelers to an agency and retaining good ones (in part by paying them more as they prove their value), and spending time with them, getting their credentials together, and acquiring housing up front for three months. They lose real money, not just reputation, when assignments fail.

So in reality, if an agency pays a new traveler as much as a proven traveler, they will significantly reduce their profit margin. Or in fact, be unable to pay their better travelers their proven value and lose them to other agencies.

Working as a staffer means you are much more isolated from business principles. As a traveler, understanding business principles is necessary to succeed and thrive. Supply and demand, and your proven value to an employing agency and their client facilities is what it is all about. Not "fairness".

BARNgirl · Nov 30, 2012

Thank you, NedRN, for your clarifying words. I am also a brand new traveler RN after 2+ years in the emergency room. I have accepted $27 hourly + $2750 monthly housing stipend in South Florida even though I know travelers who make $30-$32/hr in the same setting. I understood this is the price to pay to get in, but now I KNOW:geek:...

NedRN · Nov 30, 2012

I don't think that is bad at all for South Florida. Many of those working for a higher amount may have a lower stipend. It is really hard to compare unless you know all the compensation details. For example, hospitals with in-house travel programs often have relatively high hourly amounts. But they tax housing benefits, even when they supply the housing.

Have a great time in South Florida. I took a short holiday there while on my original staff job and was inspired to take my first assignment there (actually walked into the hospital, talked to the unit manager, and asked HR what agencies they used). Don't be too surprised if the workload is higher than your home hospital, just enjoy your time off.

BARNgirl · Dec 18, 2012

You are absolutely correct, Ned RN.

Asking around I found out that other (seasoned) travelers take home the same pie, just sliced differently.

You are also correct about the workload, I am sad to say. I live just an hour north of this assignment, and am used to a 4:1 ratio at my staff hospital. This one loads 6 on your back no matter how critical...which has lead me to consider quitting after two insane weeks...and hanging onto my license!

gettingbsn2msn, MSN, RN · Dec 23, 2012

That is very good for south florida.

86toronado, BSN, RN · Dec 26, 2012

Where in south FL is this? I don't need hospital names, but city if you don't mind would be nice... also what unit do you work?

BARNgirl · Apr 7, 2013

Question for you.. What agency did you go thru? I am looking to go to Florida also and I think that 2750 is a pretty good stipend....I was thinking of them putting me in housing instead though. How is the assignment?
Thanks

Sorry Reneegraduatern, I think your question was for me...I worked that assignment with Parallon at at NW Medical Center in Tamarac. Good luck! You would need it, as it was a crazy setting undergoing renovation, no monitoring equipment, etc! The pay reflected the sacrifice, I think...