Travel Nursing questions

Trauma Columnist · Jul 8, 2012

Moving to Travel Nursing forum.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Jul 9, 2012

I have a travel nurse friend currently in that area.. it is fantastic! Good choice.

You will need to evaluate each agency for yourself. Including salary , lodging and the bottom line regarding accepting the stipend, or finding your own housing.

MAKE SURE THEY PAY YOUR AIRFARE HOME between assignments. ( a biggie)

The hourly rate for the facility is the same. Your reimbursement if you find your own housing ,is individual to the agency. (Consider income tax here)

I would start with the first 13 week assignment in the housing provided.You can evaluate from there.

All said and done .. my pay was equal to what I would have made locally.

Bon Voyage! feel free to PM me.

Goobstress · Jul 11, 2012

It's about the freedom of moving around and no one telling you that you can't have holidays for vacation. If you go to Northern Cali the pay is not bad at all. Pay usually 50-55/hr with housing and that depends on hospital. Do your research...been traveling for 8 years now and would not have it any other way. I signed on as regular employee for 6 months with a hospital I have been traveling for and realized politics and vacation was an issue that I didn't have to deal with as a traveler. Pay was way better for me as a traveler because of tax advantage and housing stipend too. I think of my assignments as working vacations. Good luck to you.

ohana_n1lb · Jul 13, 2012

Every staffing agencey is different im currently on a travel assaignment in Hawaii cause my family is from here. The agency i use if very friendly and was very helpful and worked with me. I make a good amount of week they found housing for me, however they dont pay for it up front, you get a certin amount of tax free money in your check everyweek and they found me housing for farley cheep so its just extra money in my pocket. Feel free to pm if you would like to talk or have any questions.

navyblink · Jul 13, 2012

If you take the housing stipend is the hourly going to be lower? And overall how is the housing that the agencies provide?

hey guys i know this topic is discussed regularly but I just need some more input.
Im a nurse with 2 1/2 years of stepdown/telemetry experience in the houston texas area
Im really interested in diong some travel nursing, my main objective is to try to get a position in the SF bay area I just absolutely love it there. My questions are
1.How do you know if youre getting a good deal with your contract with the agency
2.Do you feel like you make more or less if you were just a full time nurse working at a hospital
3. Is the hourly pay rate less if you take the stipend or take the housing offered.
I know I probably sound like a broken record with these questions, any responses will be great thanks.

redhed6288 · Jul 16, 2012

Hi I currently have 1.5 years of experience in med surge and stroke unit. I wanted to know how much experience you recommend? I have heard that as a travel nurse you get the heaviest patient loads and people may nt be willing to help you if ou have questions, is that true?

JWRN104 · Jul 16, 2012

What parts of the country have you been to? I was wondering your feelings on travel companies that you have dealt with over the past 8 years. I've been talking about travel nursing for almost 10 years and I finally have the opportunity to do it. However, I feel as though most of the travel companies give me all the same scripted info, "We're honest" "You're not going to find it better anywhere else" When they say that I almost feeling as though they have something to hide.

JWRN104 · Jul 16, 2012

What parts of the country have you been to? I was wondering your feelings on travel companies that you have dealt with over the past 8 years. I've been talking about travel nursing for almost 10 years and I finally have the opportunity to do it. However, I feel as though most of the travel companies give me all the same scripted info, "We're honest" "You're not going to find it better anywhere else" When they say that I almost feeling as though they have something to hide.

ohana_n1lb · Jul 18, 2012

well my travel agency is strategic healthcare and i work with Amanda. I mean all agencies are different and the lower your hourly rate is actually better because that is what gets taxed. They give you tax free money for your housing and such as well as bonuses. This allows you to recieve more money. Like right now im currently on a 13 week contract and at the end ill have made close to $18,000 for that contract alone because most of the money is tax free.