Travel Oncology RN

[The_RN]

Hello to all,*

I am currently an Oncology RN. I am ready for a change in my career and my interest is Travel Nursing. I have been a RN for 3 yrs. I am a very skilled, competent and confident bedside RN. I am chemo/biotherapy certified and have my OCN. Experience as Charge RN and precepting new RN graduates. Provide care to pt's who have solid tumor and liquid tumor cancers, bone marrow transplants, DIC, central line champion, death and dying, hematological disorders such as hemophilia, and Interleukin 2 treatment. I have no family and single and young.*

I currently make $27/hr. I was wondering. How much would a Oncology Travel RN make per hour? I want to make as much money as possible to pay off school loans and save money to go back to school for a NP program.*

What are some great travel agencies?*

What locations are great for Oncology nursing?

Are travel Oncolgy RNs a hot specialty?*

What is the going rate/hour for travel oncolgy RNs?

[pinktermite]

There are many good companies. And a few shady ones. I wouldn't call onc a hot area but my company has openings in that area. You probably won't have as much location choice as OR, L and D, ICU, or ER. You will make more than what you make now. There are too many variables to respond in a single email. Pick a good company and a recruiter you trust and learn as you go. We on the board here will help as best we can. Always provide detail as much as possible in your questions. Hope this helped.

[NedRN]

Travel nursing is similar in compensation to per diem in that you get more cash in lieu of benefits. So travel can be a good way to pay off debts. Average pay is between $40 and $50 an hour but take home is higher than you might expect as a good portion is paid without taxes withheld if you maintain your home while traveling. Since you also need to pay for housing (agencies can provide housing, but it effectively comes out of your pay), controlling housing costs on travel assignments can make a big difference to net pay. It is reasonable to expect that if you are frugal that you will be able to save (or pay off debts) at a rate of perhaps $20,000 annually. The swing is wider, but it depends on housing costs on assignment, housing costs at home, and personal variables and discipline. A friend of mine paid off $40,000 in debt last year from one year as a traveler and he is not frugal (which is part of why he had so much debt) but he was lucky to find a great assignment with lots of overtime and a better rate than the average range listed above.

I went from an almost zero savings rate as a staff member in the south, to saving most of my paycheck immediately. It is difficult to put real numbers on things but the difference amazed me, especially since my base hourly was the same $15 as staff and for the first couple of assignments as a traveler in 1995. I often do house shares on assignment, and commute by bicycle to keep my costs low, to keep as much money as possible. After 13 years as a traveler, I bought a house cash (I hate debt), and after 20 years I have enough to retire. Mind you, with a good staff job your story could be similar and $27 an hour is decent if your housing costs are low. Ideally, you should do travel for the lifestyle (which is why I did it as soon as I felt comfortable in my specialty) - some travelers save less than they do as staff.