Staff nurse wanting travel nurse

Travel_RN_0714, MSN, RN · Jan 24, 2015

It all depends. Depends on where the assignment is, how much the housing stipend is according to the IRS/GAO website for the area you will be working, etc. I've been traveling for the past 3 years and am on 12th contract. I sometimes wonder if it's worth the hassle of being the "new guy" with every new contract, sleeping in a strange bed, eating microwave food, or if you're lucky, getting an apartment or a business suite with a kitchenette. Some staff Operating Room RN's in my area make $38/hour. Most travel contracts are going to pay your around the $20-$25/hour taxed rate and then pay you a "tax free" meals and housing stipend according to the IRS/GAO rates.

As far as which travel company is the best.... that depends also. I get bombarded on a daily basis from just about all of them wanting me to sign with them because they are the best. You have to keep in mind that travel companies are a dime a dozen. It all depends on what you will be paid according to the bill rate to that particular hospital system and how much of a slice the "VENDOR MANAGER" company that controls the contracts for that particular hospital system takes before passing the contracts off to the travel agencies. Some travel agencies pay health insurance from day one of your contract, some don't . Some pay you a couple of hundred dollars to help with your travel expenses to and from your assignment and some don't. Some keep your housing and meals stipend for the day you call in sick or miss a shift and some don't. Do you research and welcome to wonderful world of travel nursing.

NedRN · Jan 24, 2015

Travel pay will be at best a wash with California staff pay. Travelers from California are as rare as travelers from Massachusetts, another high paying union state. You would have to do it because of wanderlust, which is really the best reason of all no matter the state you are from. It is the reason I went to nursing school because it was abundantly clear I could work anywhere.

Smiley730 · Jan 24, 2015

Thanks for the info. I was planning on staying in California though, either stay in Los angeles or up in San francisco/san Jose area. Also, I've noticed some travel companies give free housing and some have the housing as part of the non taxable wages. Which travel companies do you guys have and which do you guys recommend?

NedRN · Jan 24, 2015

All agencies do that, and there are around 400 to choose from, and every one has fans. Best for you to find your own best agency, call lots of them and pick the best 5 you communicate well with.

You might want to try some basic reading on tax homes on PanTravelers. To be eligible for tax free reimbursements you must be duplicating expenses by working away from a "tax" home. If you stay in LA you would not be eligible, nor would you in the Bay area with no home in LA to return to.

Travel_RN_0714, MSN, RN · Jan 24, 2015

All agencies do that, and there are around 400 to choose from, and every one has fans. Best for you to find your own best agency, call lots of them and pick the best 5 you communicate well with.
You might want to try some basic reading on tax homes on PanTravelers. To be eligible for tax free reimbursements you must be duplicating expenses by working away from a "tax" home. If you stay in LA you would not be eligible, nor would you in the Bay area with no home in LA to return to.

Dude... you are just giving totally bad advice on this forum. It doesn't matter if you are 1 mile away or 100 miles away from your "tax home" There is no 50 or 80 or 100 mile IRS rule. All one has to do is satisfy the IRS requirement that they have a "tax home" and that they can prove that they duplicated their living expenses regardless of how far away their traveling job assignment was.

NedRN · Jan 25, 2015

What? I don't see anything I said to provoke that, I certainly did not mention a mileage limit.

Travel_RN_0714, MSN, RN · Jan 25, 2015

What? I don't see anything I said to provoke that, I certainly did not mention a mileage limit.

Ummm... you told her this... To be eligible for tax free reimbursements you must be duplicating expenses by working away from a "tax" home. If you stay in LA you would not be eligible, nor would you in the Bay area with no home in LA to return to.

I was simply pointing out that it doesn't matter where she "travels" to and inserted the mileage limit as an example that there is NO mileage limit if she stayed in Los Angeles or went to San Francisco. She would be eligible no matter what, as long as she can show receipts that she paid for housing and duplicated her living expenses. I didn't read anything in her post that she didn't have a home in LA to return to.

bagladyrn, RN · Jan 26, 2015

Kimistian - I'd suggest you take a look at some tax advice before arguing this point with Ned. Travel Tax is a good reference and explains it pretty clearly. If you choose to play fast and loose and take chances with the irs that's your business but I wouldn't advise others to do so.