Travel Nurse Pay, am I getting what I should be?

[wsmile77]

If anybody could respond to this post I would greatly appreciate it. Over this summer I took two different travel positions in MA two different hospitals, two different travel Agencies. One I took the stipend for housing costs, and the current one I took the housing itself. I have heard that being a travel nurse one should make "good" money. Usually more than a staff postion. However, I am only making $19 an hour and the housing in nice but my take home pay is about three hundred dollars less than what I was making at my permanent position in NM. I have been told I am getting jipped. Can someone please tell me what avg. pay hourly for a travel nurse? I will mention I am also specialty Critical Care? Thank you to all responses.

[bagladyrn, RN]

That rate seems low, but payrates are generally way down right now. In addition to your housing are you also getting a "per diem" or "meals and incidentals" amount?

Is this the rate that was stated in your contract when you agreed to the position? Make sure you completely understand such things as compensation before you sign another contract because once you sign it you are stuck with it no matter what you find that someone else is making.

[fabiusgile]

I live in the in central mass and i'm making 25$ for subacute... your getting jipped... which hospital are you working in? Cost of living is very high here.

[Argo]

Is $19 your total rate or your base rate? you should be getting a perdiem rate also from what I gather talking to the 3 different companies Im looking at. If that is your total rate you are getting jipped. If that is your base rate and you are getting a perdiem on top of it, it is about average....

[fabiusgile]

my 25$ is base... but 19 sounds so low l have a friend doing medsurg with 16mos exp making almost 40 with diffs in med/surg

[wsmile77]

Thanks for the reply, I do also get a meals and incidentals I believe it is like 280 or something. It averages out to a take home of about 800 a week. It is what she stated, I thought it was really low but she made it seem like that is the most they could do. It averages about 22 an hour, which is 8 dollars less what I make at my permanent job. This is my first time traveling so I am pretty much clueless about negotiating. So as far as being stuck with the contract, do you know what happens if one has to break contract and leave early?

[wsmile77]

Currently at St. Lukes in New Bedford. I have to commute about thirty minutes and yes the cost of living is way expensive. So is that 25 with meals and incidentals or without? By the way thank you for the response, I appreciate it.

[wsmile77]

Thank you for your response, I do get 280 i think for meals and incidentals, it avgs out to 22 and hour, it just seems so low.

[wsmile77]

Wow that is a travel position? I feel violated, and I am really unhappy with this hospital...

[bagladyrn, RN]

Okay, so $19/hr plus 280/week M&I. Divide the 280 by hours worked per week (assuming the usual 36) = @ $7.77 hr more so that comes out to about $26.77/hr and if you qualify for the tax free portion that 280 is actually the equivalent of a little more. Not a fantastic payrate, but not unusual in today's market. Now think of what is paid for your housing, utilities, etc. - a regular staff job doesn't pay for that.

[Argo]

You signed the contract, you should finish it and consider it a learning experience. With this experience you will know to negotiate a higher rate. I don't believe you should just cut an run from your commitment.

[wsmile77]

I cacuated a little different then you when I divide what I bring home weekly with meals and incidentals, by my hours worked per week it is still about 200 to three hundred less than what I make at my perm. I just keep hearing from other RN that on a travel position I should be making at least the same or more hourly as a perm position, especially in the state I took the position. Thank you for your response.