Travel RNs Making $$ - Would you go back to it?

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Specializes in Surgery.

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I am in awe of what travel RN companies are currently paying. In my pre-NP life I traveled around the country doing assignments when I was young and single, it was fun but you definitely needed to know how to hit the ground running...

Right now there is an assignment in SF for 6K per WEEK for 48 hours, 6K!!

Have any of you considered going back to bedside nursing? 

I have kids in school and am tied down but I just find it so amusing. All of the little tadpole RNs that ask me about becoming an NP I say forget that noise, travel!

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Specializes in Corrections, Surgical.

Not a nurse practitioner but a travel nurse in SF. An NP at the hospital I work at actually asked me about travel because she is seeing rates for RN's that are better than her salary. I always tell people most jobs will treat you like crap, might as well get paid well for it. I worked with 2 RN's that passed their boards but are not looking for NP work right now since they are doing travel and are making more than new grad NP's. 

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Specializes in 11 YRS ER RN, 6 YRS Travel RN, New Grad AG-ACNP.

I am a new grad NP, passed boards, and been a travel nurse for 8 years, RN for 12 years. I am doing a local assignment for 115/hr, OT 172.50/hr. I only have to commit to 36 hours a week. Right now, that's more than what any experienced NP is making that I have spoken with. They all said don't worry about getting a NP job now, travel to make the money. 

I will also say I have applied for several NP jobs in the interim, only landed one interview, and receive several rejection emails daily. So, I'm no so sure if there's any openings for new grad NP's right now.  

 

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Specializes in Former NP now Internal medicine PGY-3.

why would someone want to work as a provider making 100k when you can make 250k with less liability? even if it was at a dump hole id rather make more money for that brief time period. esp at those overtime rates that’s more than some hospitalist make.

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Specializes in ER.

I am traveling as an RN instead of working as an NP right now. Just a gentle reminder: working as an RN is A LOT more work than working as an NP and there are lots of other inconveniences as well: night shift, scanning bar codes, serving meals and hot blankets but I am not at all sorry that I am traveling given how the healthcare industry has changed with COVID. 

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Specializes in Former NP now Internal medicine PGY-3.
3 hours ago, Goodneighbor52 said:

I am traveling as an RN instead of working as an NP right now. Just a gentle reminder: working as an RN is A LOT more work than working as an NP and there are lots of other inconveniences as well: night shift, scanning bar codes, serving meals and hot blankets but I am not at all sorry that I am traveling given how the healthcare industry has changed with COVID. 

Depends on the job more than the role. And the size of the census to round on…..

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Specializes in Urology.

Before becoming an NP I worked a ton of PACU call and odd hours (getting called in at 2am or never leaving due to surgery).  Money is great but so is leaving the office at 4pm every day and being able to coach my sons baseball team or watch my daughter at her Gymnastics.  My salary meets my needs and I've considered picking up a few shifts but ultimately it won't really make much of an impact in my life.  We all have reasons, find which one is more important for you.  Can't fault anyone for wanting to hustle.

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Specializes in Interventional Pain Mgmt NP; Prior ICU and L/D RN.

I have been looking at the possibility of doing some travel RN while the "pay is out there" and taking a sabbatical from my NP career at this time. 

I was going to be asking this question myself. 

 What company(s) have ya'll found to be good? I've only traveled once between by last RN job to my NP job. 

NO NP job is going to pay me what these RN travel jobs are right now and it would give my husband and myself an opportunity to "travel" .

I recently completed by doctorate and trying to find a faculty position with education like it is currently is almost zero to NONE!  Student loans are coming due and I was looking for a second job, but the pay for these travel RN jobs would be the two jobs combined !!

I have not done bedside staffing in seven years and not sure how a facility will "look" at that. 

 

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Specializes in Interventional Pain Mgmt NP; Prior ICU and L/D RN.
On 1/1/2022 at 10:00 AM, Tegridy said:

why would someone want to work as a provider making 100k when you can make 250k with less liability? even if it was at a dump hole id rather make more money for that brief time period. esp at those overtime rates that’s more than some hospitalist make.

That's kinda how I've been feeling lately! Take advantage of the situation in front of us knowing it won't last...get on top of some bills..sock some money away, save for a vacation, etc...but the current salaried NP jobs don't pay us what we are worth a lot of the time, lack of advancement, raises, bonuses, etc... (and depending of the state you may live; license restrictions). 

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On 1/29/2022 at 11:27 AM, altomga said:

That's kinda how I've been feeling lately! Take advantage of the situation in front of us knowing it won't last...get on top of some bills..sock some money away, save for a vacation, etc...but the current salaried NP jobs don't pay us what we are worth a lot of the time, lack of advancement, raises, bonuses, etc... (and depending of the state you may live; license restrictions). 

NP jobs don't pay because there is 0 barrier to entry and a glut of new grads. Wonder why CRNAs still get paid a ton? They control the flow of entry. CRNA schools are sub 20% acceptance and accept 20-25 seats. Compare that to most NP schools...

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

I just took a new NP position as a hospitalist. Pay isn't spectacular but it's a state job with a full pension and medical benefits after 15 years. My total medical and dental cost per month is less than $260 with a deductible that's $2500 less than at my previous employer. My two kids still in high school can get 90% tuition reimbursement at the state university. And really, it's the job I wanted. Not everything is about money, I'm fortunate that I will be able to support my family just fine on the NP salary. 

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Specializes in Surgery.
On 1/29/2022 at 2:23 PM, altomga said:

I have been looking at the possibility of doing some travel RN while the "pay is out there" and taking a sabbatical from my NP career at this time. 

I was going to be asking this question myself. 

 What company(s) have ya'll found to be good? I've only traveled once between by last RN job to my NP job. 

NO NP job is going to pay me what these RN travel jobs are right now and it would give my husband and myself an opportunity to "travel" .

I recently completed by doctorate and trying to find a faculty position with education like it is currently is almost zero to NONE!  Student loans are coming due and I was looking for a second job, but the pay for these travel RN jobs would be the two jobs combined !!

I have not done bedside staffing in seven years and not sure how a facility will "look" at that. 

 

I signed up for Vivian Health. I get the alerts that fit my old role of 'operating room RN'. I've started the process of talking to one of the recruiters and feeling out if this could be a possibility for me, while it lasts....

I'm going to DM you..

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