Recommendations for FL travel companies? horror stories??

NedRN · May 17, 2013

CarolLadyBelle,
I have taken the PBDS and passed it. It was long and tedious, but not too tough for a seasoned nurse. The good news is, that once you pass it, you never have to take it again at another HCA hospital.

HCA no longer requires PBDS systemwide for travelers. It was their determination that it cost too much per the owner of PBDS.

NedRN · May 17, 2013

I've got to be missing something here. One of the biggest reasons that I wanted to get into traveling was for what I thought was lucrative pay. I was thinking I was going to be in the 6 figs + housing included. Can someone explain to me something? This isn't making sense. I see in California your getting 40-45 an hour depending on shift. Then, anything after 8 is time.5, so that puts you at say 60/hr after 8. (560/day)x3 days is 1680/wk (plus overtime if available) Also, I was under the impression there was anywhere between a 3-6k bonus that you get at the end of the assignment, and possible a bonus to reup. Also, isn't the housing suppose to be included as well?

But why would anyone work for that? I can make more working at some redneck hospital across the street. The industry needs to be fixed. People need to quit working so cheap! We are gonna be at minimum wage before we know it.

Money is not the primary reason to go traveling. The benefits are not as good (bad insurance, no holiday, vacation, sick time), and you are not eligible for the tax free money unless you (expensively for most) maintain a permanent tax home. The rumors you have heard are greatly overstated.

That said, most travelers earn total compensation of over 80K a year. That is better than a large swathe of nurses in the South, and not too surprisingly, a large number of travelers come from the South. Now that number I just quoted is not the number travelers see on their tax return, but their total compensation including housing. The vast majority of contracts fall between $40 an hour on the lower end, and $50 an hour on the higher end. That is what you will see if you use PanTravelers calculator to figure out an offer. But you will actually have to collect a real offer from an agency to see that, it is very rare that a traveler will post all the relevant numbers on a forum.

I know lots of travelers who consistently earn in the low 50s total compensation, thus earning in the low 6 figures (I did even better myself last year). But they are experienced and know how to work the system and who to work for.

In the old days (not so long ago) Fastaff used to run these wonderful full page journal ads with real travelers and real annual compensation numbers that were extraordinary. 180K plus 40K in their 401, 212K and so on. That is still very possible today and the way to get there is work 6/7 days a week year round. I've worked with some Fastaffers as well and it is real. But those are sucky hospitals and that is very different from regular travel where the hospital doesn't even allow OT. I don't really consider it travel either as the location no longer matters as you have no time outside the hospital. But if you are chasing big bucks, that's the way to go. Not everyone is cut out for that kind of work though.

Slow and steady gets you to financial freedom too, and lots of fun along the way. But it is really about the lifestyle first, not the money. Do you find being staff comfortable, or do you have itchy feet? Traveling is not for everyone either, but the thought of such freedom is broadly appealing even if the details fall short of Hollywood.

meandragonbrett · May 17, 2013

There is more to traveling and being a nurse than just the hourly rate. The entire compensation is found out when you sit down and calculate it out. Most of us are making 40-50 an hour but you are not necessarily going to see that reflected in your check.

The agencies get a total bill rate for an assignment out of a hospital. They take their portion of it and what's left over is yours. They will only give you so much money end of story....and your housing costs are a portion of the bill rate for the contract.

Traveling is very much a business and you have to learn the ins and outs. It's not just as simple as accepting an offer and showing up and working.

NCmcMan · May 18, 2013

I totally understand what you folks are saying. Thank you for being honest and up front with me. I am coming from a profession that was super low paying/no benefits. This is why I am in school. I'm not a MD and probably never will be. I guess I should try to be a little more realistic. The thing is I'm vastly approaching my mid 30s and have nothing. I feel I have a lot of making up to do. It would really make me feel good to just work my butt off silly for 3 years and pay cash for a modest home. I'm in not married, and don't have any little ones. The only way I could comfortably ever do that is if I can provide for one. Again thank you for your input.

Josh

NedRN · May 18, 2013

For what it is worth, I was in my late thirties when I graduated nursing school with nothing in the bank. After 20 years of work (well, more like 17/18 with time off) with 17 of that as a traveler, I could retire now living modestly. Zero of that was brilliant investing, in fact quite the opposite. Steady work and frugal living eventually makes you independent. So you will get there is you persist. Nurses make well above average money in this country, just try to save the extra pay rather than spending it all.

justjude60 · Jan 20, 2016

I am working in florida for parallon I only get 28/hr 240 per diem perweek so take home about 1000. this is less than I have made in past with them. I am not traveling anymore after this. I make more at my own hospital and don't get crapped on as much. I am so sick of traveling. no respect for travelers in florida