Realistic Travel Expectations

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I'm an ICU nurse from a medium sized facility 18 bed with open heart recovery and a 5 bed SDU with two years experience. I'm going to do travel sometime soon, planning a budget and savings plan to pay off home, etc.

I'm wondering if it's unrealistic to request that the travel agency guarantee's 48hrs a week (4, 12 hr shifts). I'm planning to take the housing they provide because it seems like a headache and also sometimes expensive to set up your own. I'm going to request $1500 a week after taxes. Is this too much to request with 48 hrs worked? Keep in mind that I'll be taking the housing they provide which seems to always cut way into your overall pay.

What's the typical take home weekly after taxes for an ICU traveling nurse? I know this may be kind of personal but I'm planning a budget and considering what options are feasible and also financially beneficial. Thanks in advance for the advice and help from travelers.

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It is unusual to set your own compensation. They will quote you rates for specific jobs and you can say yes or no. Or you can then negotiate pay, either what categories it is paid in (for example higher non-taxed housing stipend or per diem and less hourly), or a general bump up. Bumping up depends on your value to the agency (currently unproven other than your specialty), or with offers from other agencies in hand (so and so is giving me this). Getting other offers is the only way to determine if your pay is competitive and what you will take home.

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Ah, that's what I was afraid of. I've researched up the different compensation methods they offer and I still get confused at times by it. I was worried that if they keep quoting me different rates and prices they'll confuse me (which is probably their goal). To make decent money is it necessary to take the untaxed stipend and find yourself a cheaper housing option? I was hoping to avoid that but I'll do it if I must.

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It is not necessary, but you will usually do better by taking the stipend. So does the agency by the way. Less risk for them and lots less work.

PanTravelers has a cool calculator that lets you compare different agency offers on a level playing field. That may help you sort through the BS. It will also teach you what to ask agencies about their compensation schemes.

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Some people and the travel agencies recommend using the Extended Stay Suites because they provide you with everything you need and it includes a weekly clean and internet/cable. I've been told that it's one of the cheapest options you can do, but through my research it comes out to about $500 a week in California. Is that considered reasonable over there?! I was able to find the rates as low as $250 a week in less desirable locations in the US, but the housing stipend is less in those places as well.

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I've never thought extended stays came close to what I can do privately. And the ones that come closest have noisy hallways and thin walls.

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1500$ a week for 48hr contract is too low. people make that wth 36/hr in california.

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Specializes in ICU/PACU.
1500$ a week for 48hr contract is too low. people make that wth 36/hr in california.

After taxes and without a housing stipend? I bring home 1000/wk after taxes and I take company housing. I only take assignments with a blended rate of 40 or above. I'm Icu in CA.

I think that's an ok number. The cost of rent where I live is 2k/month then remember utilities and furniture is free so I'm ok with that amount.

I've never done a 48 hr week contract.

This works for me. But some travelers would never take company housing. You can get a housing stipend of around 2500/month here. And sure you can find a room or a cheaper place to stay and bank that money. I just prefer a nice unshared apt. I haven't paid rent in 5 years I love it.

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1st off, I really dig your clever name flexiseal. It's a man's best friend. 2nd, I'm with you on having nice housing with no hassle, hunting, figuring out how to get furniture in there, dishes, paying utilities (how do you do that in 3 month increments anyway?). Although when you're talking about using essentially $2500 a month for that I start to wonder if it may be worth it to find my own housing. When you say that you make about $1000 a week after taxes in Cali as an ICU nurse I have to say that isn't much more than what I already make as a staff RN. When you consider giving up comfort of your home unit and having vacation,sick time, retirement, cheaper health/dental... I really thought that the compensation would be more.

I don't mind working overtime, that's why I would like a contract where I guaranteed to give 48 hrs a week. I really would be trying to bring home $1500 a week after taxes and that's including company housing. For it to be "worth it" for me it really needs to be about that much. Does anybody get that or am I dreaming?

Keep in mind I'm not talking $1500 a week including the stipend for housing.

Does everybody just work 36 hrs a week when traveling? I work more than that at my local ICU, they are always in need.

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1st off, I really dig your clever name flexiseal. It's a man's best friend. 2nd, I'm with you on having nice housing with no hassle, hunting, figuring out how to get furniture in there, dishes, paying utilities (how do you do that in 3 month increments anyway?). Although when you're talking about using essentially $2500 a month for that I start to wonder if it may be worth it to find my own housing. When you say that you make about $1000 a week after taxes in Cali as an ICU nurse I have to say that isn't much more than what I already make as a staff RN. When you consider giving up comfort of your home unit and having vacation,sick time, retirement, cheaper health/dental... I really thought that the compensation would be more.

I don't mind working overtime, that's why I would like a contract where I guaranteed to give 48 hrs a week. I really would be trying to bring home $1500 a week after taxes and that's including company housing. For it to be "worth it" for me it really needs to be about that much. Does anybody get that or am I dreaming?

Keep in mind I'm not talking $1500 a week including the stipend for housing.

Does everybody just work 36 hrs a week when traveling? I work more than that at my local ICU, they are always in need.

Most likely, the only way you would make that amount of money with 48hr guarantees would be in rapid response assignments...Fastaff and NurseChoice are a couple of agencies. I've done several assignments with Fastaff and haven't had any problems and made about 16-1700 a week after taxes. I usually take their housing...I don't like the stress of trying to find new places everywhere I go, especially in unfamiliar territory!

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I've actually been looking at the website airbnb.com and finding some fully furnished apt's for a good bit less than what the agency is providing for monthly living. It still doesn't provide with bring home $1500 a week after taxes but does usually seem to yield around $1150 a week with the residual housing allowance left. That's reasonable for a 36 hr assignment. Anybody used airbnb? had good experiences?

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.
I've actually been looking at the website airbnb.com and finding some fully furnished apt's for a good bit less than what the agency is providing for monthly living. It still doesn't provide with bring home $1500 a week after taxes but does usually seem to yield around $1150 a week with the residual housing allowance left. That's reasonable for a 36 hr assignment. Anybody used airbnb? had good experiences?

I have stayed at several places listed on airbnb, but only for vacations. Have had nothing but great experiences, and in most instances I would likely stay at them again. Much nicer than staying in a hotel. Best thing to do is to read the reviews on each listing, they are very candid. I would definitely stay at an airbnb as a travel nurse. In fact, I would consider it in the LA place I stayed.

Sent from my iPad using allnurses.com

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