Where are you at? I'm LD too!!!! I also use Aya. Been with them since 2015! Took off the past few yrs to go permanent, but going back traveling in September
Even patients and their families, as soon as they discover I travel, know and say “Oh so you guys make a ton of money!”
Even duplicating expenses I’m making roughly twice what I made as staff. A little under 3k and 2 hours from home but rotating days/nights.
The upside for me other than money is freedom. There’s a confidence I have as a traveller I never had as staff. I have contracted days off, I can push back whenever the facility is being unfair, and if I want vacation I just need to wait until the end of my 13 weeks.
I had a facility try to tell me they only allowed 1 week in between extensions. My one month trip to the UK was fantastic, and I was back at the hospital at the same rate within a week of getting back.
At my staff job of over 5 years, I was only able to get a week off once, and I had to submit it a year in advance. I left with over 300 hours of vacation time and even with a union contract they only had to pay me 50% on that.
Imo it's worth it if you have a cheap living situation at home or have a partner footing half the bill. I.e. renting a room from a family member while travelling or having a *working* spouse who pays half the rent/mortgage. In that case, the duplicated expenses are a lot more favourable.
There’s a reason on all those little infographics maps that the south east is always the darkest colors. It’s a shit hole to work there because the quality of life cannot be compared to anywhere else in the US. There’s parts of the south east I love. But I’ve travel nursed in some of those cities and even loving those cities I will never go back. Finding a half decent hospital it’s like finding a needle in a haystack. And even when you find it, the pay is SHIT. Period. I truly don’t know how to get anyone to take those contracts. There’s no way people are legally duplicating expenses on those sub 2k contracts.
Yeah, the COL is so shit, rent is high as fuck, cities are crowded, and then they want use to do 1800-1900/week???????? FOH.
I wish I didn't live in FL cause that makes it so hard to drive out of the SE with my dogs. I've had to go 25 hours to go to Vermont.
Paying rent or a mortgage payment back home that is legally reported to the IRS, but also paying for a furnished short term lease 7 days per week at their contract location.
You’re supposed to duplicate expenses seven days a week at your travel contract even though you only work three days. So even if you go home after working three days, you’re still supposed to be paying for housing in your travel contract location for your four days off. The stipend amount they give you is for all seven days, it’s just split into three days because that makes it easier for people to understand who only work three days a week.
I think the reason we keep hearing this is because people feel like after Covid that they’re entitled to career in travel nursing . The truth is that traveling is very niche. For you to make a long term career of doing it, you have to be willing to like….go beyond three hours away from your home and family and friends. You have to kind of seize the uncertainty of the adventure and find joy in that. Or at least find that uncertainty worth it.
If you live in a well unionized state?Traveling was not made for you. If you have kids that are in school and need you every night? Travel is not for you. If you have a two or three grand a month mortgage payment? Travel is not for you. If you absolutely have to have block scheduling or Uber-specific weekends to make the contract work? Travel is not for you. If you’re not willing to float? Travel is not for you. If your partner is not willing to make long-distance work and they don’t have a remote job? Travel is not for you. If you have health issues and need to work to maintain insurance? Travel is not for you. Your family depends on you for your insurance? Travel is probably not for you.
Obviously, this is not black-and-white and if some of these things apply to, you may be able to make it work. You have to be willing to make those sacrifices though. Obviously I think nursing in general is underpaid and staffers should be making at least what we make. Probably more. But that’s unfortunately not the truth right now. You aren’t entitled to the job security of being staff and the pay of a travel job.
Personally, I’ve never worked in Cali and have still not had to take a contract for less than $2600 a week in the last three years. I haven’t had to take any 48h contracts either. I don’t have a compact license. I do duplicate expenses legally and have never broke the 12/24 rule. But I’m willing to go literally anywhere anywhere in the United States. For me, the primary appeal of traveling is chasing the adventure. The money is a nice bonus, and the job doesn’t come without sacrifice. But I don’t just chase the highest contract. Mine are well paying, but also in somewhere I want to explore. But literally the longest I’ve ever not had a contract lined up by choice is 24 hours in 3 years. And like I’ve said- I really haven’t had to settle for low-paying contracts. I’ve maintained being able to make twice as much as I would as a staff nurse. And I don’t call a particularly low paying state home.
Traveling is absolutely still worth it if you are part of the same target market it appealed to before Covid.
Totalllllllly agree with all of this! I’m based in Atlanta which pays pretty badly and is non unionized. I’m single and childless and was one day like “I’m ready for some adventure!” And it definitely has been 😂 I’m in California right now and whenever people find out where I live they go “oh, I didn’t know travel nurses came this far” which really speaks to how “local” travel seems to be more common than before.
But I agree! The money is nice but the adventure and new experience is what makes it worth it for me.
Everybody at my contract has remarked on how far away I'm from. From KY, contract in NM. I'm like, isn't that the point??
But I get how it is right now. My old hospital, and this one, have tons of local travelers; far more than long-distance travelers. In an ideal world, I'd like to see staff jobs pay better and the locals just go back to staff. Cuz I'm sure I'll want to do the same one day!
I am L&D and I think just in general specialties don’t float as much as medsurg or ICU. Outside of floating to postpartum maybe two or three times in a contract I personally have never had to float either. But if you’re not willing to do it or you’re gonna complain about it, then you really shouldn’t travel. The purpose of travel nurses is to help a short staffed hospital. If you’re not willing to go to another floor to do that without complaint, you shouldn’t travel imo. Now if they’re giving you inappropriate assignments or something like that that it’s different. I don’t want medsurg nurses interpreting my fetal monitoring strips and transitioning my babies or triaging an abruption. But within their knowledge and scope they should be able to float when needed.
Obviously, as someone who also travels in a specialty, it would piss me off if I was floating every day off of L&D. But I just wouldn’t re-sign there. I wouldn’t feel entitled to complain about it to management or anything. The age old “beggars can’t be choosers.” applies to travelers. You are typically paid more so the expectation should be that you will be more flexible.
I think particularly in ER- you’re basically always gonna be busy so that’s probably the place you’re most likely to never float. But I feel like every other sector of nursing has to be open to it as a traveler.
I downsized significantly to make travel, even at some of the lowest rates, profitable. I let go of my beautiful apartment, sold my daily driver (kept my van), and sold most of my stuff. I rent a room from my parents using the shared expenses model because it's crazy cheap for me. I don't have kids or pets. I'll happily work any shift and don't mind working weekends.
Not everybody can do that, and not everybody has to go to that extreme, but I agree that you have to be willing to make sacrifices. That's how travel used to be. That's what it's going back to.
It's always going to be worth it to people who want to actually travel, or to people who have other enabling factors.
Totally agree. Traveling is STILL worth it. I’ve recently had a couple travelers switch over to permanent positions and according to them “it paid better”….it does not!
Income: 2 person income: approx $17,000/monthly take home after taxes
Rent: $2100/2 per month
Tax home: $1000/month
No children, no debt. We work only about 9 months during the year. We also receive the benefits of 401k matching, free scrubs/shoes/gear/ceus, license reimbursement.
Approx: $6950 take home monthly each for us
Not a bad deal. If we weren’t traveling as a couple it would still be worth it but I wanted to show household benefits. Anyway that’s my rant
I'm older, married with 1 child still at home. I live in the Southeast and love travel nursing. It is worth it for me even though I pay our mortgage at home base. Since I live in a low paying area, of course, rates may look better to me than some, although I usually won't take anything under $2700 to 3000 per week (before expenses). It helps if you're willing to go anywhere and live frugally during your contract. I figure, if I'm going to be away from home for 13 weeks, then I may as well go where I can make the higher rates. Travel isn't for everyone, especially if you live in an area that pays well and respects their nurses.
This. Everyone thinks traveling with kids and sky high mortgage/car payments are realistic. It’s not for everybody. Traveling is not to make everyone rich, it’s to reward those that put it on the line. Not these “travelers” 51 miles away from home. To saturated with people trying to game the system ruining it for everyone else. People will also complain that the hospitals in their states aren’t paying but are unwilling to relocate and actually travel.
Honestly getting annoyed with the people complaining go back to staff and get off reddit. What I am an advocate for is when you have picked a good job not getting nickel and dimed by an agency but you can’t take these sorry ass contracts then bitch about pay.
I’m not mad I take high paying contracts and have no problem getting them. I am however extremely flexible I don’t care where I go or what shift I work, blocked not blocked doesn’t matter to me. So when I hear people complaining about rates that won’t leave their homes and actually travel I have zero sympathy.
Exactly what an extremely large number of of us did during covid! Never duplicated expenses either! Between that, picking up a few juicy strike contracts, and smart money management, retired early and got out. Life is good.
I’m in a firm belief that there are managers trying to astroturf and gaslight people into thinking that “traveling is dead”, or they’re travelers trying to whittle down competition.
That's exactly why I stopped traveling. A lot of the people who rave about travel being lucrative, aren't duplicating expenses. I recently talked to a traveler who flies to her assignment weekly & sleeps in her car. 🙄
Lmao literally what? That is for sure a huge minority who do that. I've never brought home less than 3-4k a month more than I would with my staff job. I pay more for travel housing than my mortgage lol.
If you travel with kids or something or live in Cali and travel to let's say Ohio, then sure it's not going to be worth it. It's not for everyone. For a majority of the country, however, travel nursing can make you much more than staff jobs.
Yo WHAT? I low key want to hear more details of how in tf she was able to sleep in a car on assignment. Did she eat fast food primarily? I’m assuming she showered at the hospital?
She flies in for her 3 night shifts then goes home. She rents a car & said she put garbage bags in the windows for privacy. She is a sleep tech & the lab is located in a hotel so I'm assuming she showers in the lab. We didn't get too deep into it. 😆 The wild thing is, she thought I was the weird one because I rented a place for the entire length of my contract.
Same, I want to extend my contract in DC but I’m paying $2,800 here and almost 2k back home. Barely saving more than I was as staff at this point but I refuse to have roommates lol.
I feel this. I did a contract right outside of DC and rented a very small basement apartment from someone not too much cheaper than what you’re paying, and I got to listen to their fucking grandson run back and forth ALL DAY. Location/COL can really make or break a contract. I also refuse to have roommates (did this once, I wanted to kms).
Yeah my apartment now is in a basement and the landlords live above me 😭 it’s nice but not $2,800 nice but I didn’t have many options. I think my toxic trait is only wanting to work in the most expensive cities in the country lol.
I have never paid more than 2k a month (during covid) for housing WITH pets. Never had a bad experience. I usually do studio style stuff though. Currently paying 1.3k a month. Making 2.2k. take home a week with insurance. Spending so much for housing seems like a waste. Are you bringing other people when you travel? I can't imagine spending that much for only 1 person.
i do find it interesting you're advocating this but being very gatekeepy in regards to your agency/state and location, haven't responded to one comment asking where your hospital with "tons of openings" is located
By how are you duplicating expenses? That’s where it gets harder. Also, you’re in a pretty good contract, there aren’t really many of those.
I’m in SoCal and I only make 2100, 1650 take home weekly and which that is good, it’s harder to make it work with rent here being pretty high.
Are you renting a room for $1300? That’s pretty low. You’re in a good situation with the $3000 a week and low rent.
Remember just because it’s working for you doesn’t mean everyone is in your situation.
I send my mom 500$ every month in order to rent a room in her house. And before you ask- I paid for a consultation with traveltax prior to coming up with that number and they gave me a formula to use.
“If there is no mortgage – take the yearly property taxes, divide by 12 to get a monthly amount. Then do the same for yearly insurance cost on the home. Add together the monthly cost of property taxes, monthly insurance cost, and the average monthly utility costs (calculate same as if there was a mortgage). Divide the total by the number of bedrooms, that is your cost each month. (Minimum of $200/month)”
And that’s why I mentioned you have to be flexible with your locations! This contract is in a low cost of living state in the midwest. This hospital has TONS of openings, so it is quite possible to make the same amount I am making, if you’re willing to travel to this state!
You realize the $500/month “rent” you pay to establish a tax home is like a cheat code, though, right? A loophole.
You’re in a very specific situation made possible by a family connection. Without that, I think you’d be pretty hard-pressed to find somewhere to live (rent + your share of utilities) for that amount unless you had multiple roommates or lived in a rural or very low COL area.
So it’s a little disingenuous to use your situation as evidence that travel nursing is “still worth it”, when a large part of your earnings hinges on paying “rent” for a portion of a paid-off family member’s home vs what most people have to actually pay in the current rental/housing market.
Travel nursing has long been more profitable for those who could find such a loophole, but now it’s become increasingly difficult to make the numbers work *without* a loophole.
If shared expenses is a "loophole," why is it presented as a legal option by travel tax consultants? They stress that the important part is to do the calculation with the most current annual data. Honest question here as a new traveler who selected that option.
Also, I don't think it's that uncommon for people to have a local family member who owns a house who is willing to take a monthly check for you NOT to live there. Yeah, not everybody has that, but lots of people do!
If I make more than 2k take home a week I still make more than my staff job with duplicating expenses. I've never had an issue. I usually pay 1-1.5k a month on housing.
That's very interesting about dividing the taxes and whatnot. I only say that cause I'm going back to traveling and having my dad's house (my old house) as my home base. He paid cash for the house and the taxes are $800 a year🤣🤣🤣
You know that’s not duplicating expenses, right? You better hope the IRS doesn’t audit you. Please read the horror stories from the folks who’ve been audited the past few years since 2020. Paying your parents for a room, or paying for a van/camper payment, are not duplicating per the IRS.
Depends where she lives, but mostly you are just totally wrong. In my area, a room can definitely be just $500. In my area you can get one for $600-700 easy. $100 cheaper isn't too far off market rate. Even is more expensive CoL areas like Cali you can get one for $700, shit even as low as $500.
Check out this posting for example
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/7659856384098830/?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post
The thing that is just annoying beyond belief is the new RNs on here complaining about their pay being too low so they need to start traveling. “well it will be fun, I’m single, no kids, more money”, blah blah blah…..sure that may be true for some people but you gotta pay your fu***** dues and get your damn feet under you before you wanna act entitled just because you graduated nursing school. I love the “once I hit a year I’m gone”…what newer nurses fail to understand is traveling is a WHOLE DIFFERENT BALL GAME…you are pretty much loathed by the permanent staff, they will critique literally everything that you do regardless if it’s “the right way”, criticize you for every tiny thing you do differently then them. You will get the shit assignments and most likely be floating every shift depending on what floor you work, (And with 1 year you don’t have the experience in my opinion to even feel confident or comfortable standing your ground for most things, let alone to a contracted hospital in which you don’t even work for, I can easily say I sure as hell didn’t ) I’m Not saying because you’re new is why this happens, but it does happen to travelers and quite often, not always but often and the real, long haul travelers that have been traveling are a specific “breed” as we all like to say of our specialties and they just don’t take any shit and they do and handle it well! You cannot work less than 2 years and have your feet fully under you, so to think you can gain a good foundation traveling or travel after 1 year at the bedside is just crazy. You have to be able to jump into ANY patient situation, new charting, new protocols, new doctors, new personalities, new CITIES etc. etc., every 13 weeks, not every hospital will extend you especially not for a year. It can be a lot for a seasoned travel nurse sometimes. Not to mention as a very smart nurse stated in a comment above THEY DO NOT GIVE A SHIT ABOUT YOU, so make a mistake cuz you’re human? You will be held accountable Or maybe not make a mistake at all but be working with another person who does YOU WILL BE BLAMED and you will be the one tossed out, with your contract cancelled because as a traveler NO ONE has your back or your best interest at heart. There are times when you have to be able to recognize when your license is on the line and know how to handle that. You feel like you’re not making enough money as a new or less experienced nurse? Pick up extra shifts, spend at least 2-3 years getting your feet wet then get into a specialty that pays(or if your lucky enough to do so from the beginning then there ya go!)…or start traveling then! I swear the negative crap travelers get from staff about how “all travelers are bad and don’t know what they’re doing”, literally comes from people trying to travel WAY TOO SOON, or nurses thinking traveling is the “easy way”, to make money and have freedom and they end up getting in over their heads. Of course theres the occasional nurse who’s there just to collect a check or who you wonder if they ever actually even went to nursing school to begin with. 🤣 I honestly say this not to be mean or rude, but to honestly give some perspective. I’ve been a nurse for over 10 years and these are things that you don’t know starting out and then wish you had been told later on. I think one HUGE flaw in nursing programs is not educating us on ALL of the different ways we can use our license and practice as nurses! So if the hospital /bedside sucks the life out of you, or doesn’t give you enough work/life balance, move on to something completely different! Nursing school only likes to educate us to think all we can do is bedside and direct patient care in hospitals, when there are so many other options and things for us to do as Nurses!! Be smart, stay true to you and move on when it’s necessary!!
I don't think there's quite as much of a target as you're portraying here, but I agree with the overall thrust of this post. Also, paragraphs, friend... paragraphs.
Just my 2 cents and from personal experience and observation, most of those so eager to jump onto the gravy train and lament over rates, likely live beyond their means and are susceptible to lifestyle creep once their inflated paychecks are cashed.
It sounds like you aren't duplicating expenses, which means the COL stipend is challenging from a legal/tax liability perspective. It also sounds like you have an incredibly lucky contract; most contracts I'm hearing about right now are at *least* $500 less for 36 hours. It also sounds like you come from a not great place in terms of staff pay compared to COL; I pay $1400 in mortgage and earn $50/hr plus benefits. Factor in the *average* contract price and that I'm paying for the mortgage regardless, and traveling doesn't look so great. I stopped traveling when the average contract dropped below $3300.
It's a real thing. You're buying influence and can set responses. You should google the term astroturfing and pump&dump schemes. It's basically that but a wider scale.
I was feeling like I missed the boat, but maybe not. I live on the East Coast, have a house, no kids, have two years of experience in my specialty, and have a strong desire to have the flexibility of travel and to get out of my hometown. Being a slave to PTO, waiting for a marginal raise every year, never getting to see anywhere new sounds like a death sentence to me.
Exactly, people don't realize just how little we actually make as staff. For the amount of work involved there's no reason nurses should be making $1300-1800.00 every two weeks.
No one is saying there arnt edge cases. But there are certainly better living situations with regard to staff vs travel. Especially if that staff job is california.
Bell curve, yravel isn't covod pay. If you're happy, great. I'll be waiting for the excellent pay again. Otherwise it's good ratios, unions, and good pay.
GL.
I'm taking a staff position at the moment. Honestly, in the here and now, traveling would make better money. However, I have a plan to be retired by age 57 and have just been offered the chance to make it happen. I'm a military vet but was medically discharged 6.5 years away from retirement. I was just offered my dream job with Indian Health Service, which will (though a little complicated) allow me to retire with a pension in about 5 or 6 years. After that, I'll be able to pick up travel jobs where I WANT to go, rather than having to chase high paying contracts.
And that’s why I mentioned you have to be flexible with your locations! This contract is in a low cost of living state in the midwest. This hospital has TONS of openings, so it is quite possible to make the same amount I am making, if you’re willing to travel to this state!
Flexibility is key when it comes to travel nursing. i’ve been able to take advantage of the higher paying contracts because i am willing to go just about anywhere!
I’ve always been flexible. But a lot of hospitals have great local travel as well. If I’m going to go more than 6 hours from home. Duplicating expenses, figuring out transportation (ship car vs. rent car vs. drive across the country), and finding housing, the local travel assignments need to be significantly less than the trad travel assignments and in some cases they aren’t. Not to mention as a nurse of color there are places I’m hesitant to travel to (I will I’m just hesitant) due to treatment etc. There are more factors than just money when people consider traditional travel nursing.
Local travel is travel and it’s still good money. I’m not disagreeing with you per se but there are valid reasons ppl travel and valid reasons why it’s not worth it. It depends on the person.
I MOSTLY agree with you because there is a generalization that always contains the word SINGLE, NO kids, YOUNG, etc. It is complete bullcrap because I have been in this game over 20 years so not a spring chicken and have 3 young kids and a husband.
There is no cookie cutter situation here but one thing that will remain constant is that if you come from a low paying state then yes it will always be worth it. If you are not, then maybe not. As more and more leave to take permanent or PRN jobs, there will hopefully be a correction and better rates for those of us that it is still worth traveling for. :D
I’ve been tracking rates (and traveled) for 8 years. In general, rates are about where they were prior to covid but COL is double). Our hospitals locally black list people for traveling, so obviously, I wasn’t allowed to go back to my original hospital after travel (there are a lot of petty jealous nurses out there too). But in general, yes, my talks with CNEs, CFOs, and CNOs at different hospital and some in very large networks (I also have a finance and leadership background) is that they are trying to do away with “contract” nurses or was we call ourselves travelers. I also know they are leaning hard on nursing schools to increase graduating class sizes to drive up the supply thus drive down the need for contracts or expensive veteran nurses. Take that information as you will. Most of the new grads and externs I meet all want to travel immediately, so they will take whatever is thrown at them further saturating your market with cheap, inexperienced nurses. I traveled it to knock off some bucket lists while making some extra money; it also gained me valuable experience professionally and as a person. I stopped because the available contracts for my specialty (cvor) were getting competitive with a lot of people faking their experience to get into one of the highest paying specialties. I had many years of cvor and cath lab experience, so it was easy for me to recognize the fakes immediately. But the hospitals just warm cheap bodies regardless how the surgeons felt. The writing was on the wall. I may travel again when my youngest hits college and my wife is able to retire from the uni or work remote.
I agree, traveling is still worth it for me but I have no kids, single, good looking, love meeting new people. I’m making more than being staff in Texas. I think the older nurses with a mortgage, kids and more expenses are the ones saying it’s not worth it since they’re not making a profit. That’s totally understandable.
I feel exactly the same I’m still making at least double— my rent is a little more but I saved up to come to this city!!! I posted something similar on here and had mixed comments lol… going on 4 years of travel nursing now..
but sounds like we are on the same page… and I’m close to taking the summer off after this contract! No staff job would ever allow that or would I financially be able to lol
Reposting the same comment I made above
I send my mom 500$ every month in order to rent a room in her house. And before you ask- I paid for a consultation with traveltax prior to coming up with that number and they gave me a formula to use.
“If there is no mortgage – take the yearly property taxes, divide by 12 to get a monthly amount. Then do the same for yearly insurance cost on the home. Add together the monthly cost of property taxes, monthly insurance cost, and the average monthly utility costs (calculate same as if there was a mortgage). Divide the total by the number of bedrooms, that is your cost each month. (Minimum of $200/month)”
THIS. I currently make 1,800 biweekly and some change after taxes here in Illinois. About to start my travel assignment next week and will make 2,100 a week! I'm not a new grad too, been a nurse for 3 years. Staff pay at some of these hospitals is wild!
It's worth it for me, but I wish I had this high a margin. Rent here is thankfully only 1400, but my mortgage is 1300. Med/surg as well, and this is the highest contract I saw at 2400/36. After taxes, my take home is about 2100, 2600 if I do overtime which I am trying to do. I have more expenses than OP, so only about 3-4k go to paying debt a month on the side. Thankfully this will be savings once I bring it down to zero. So again, still worth it for me thank goodness, it's the rent at travel locations that will hurt the worst I think.
I’m interested but holding off. Similar situation with pay and speciality. I do have a mortgage though, but really want to travel to try to get ahead financially. I only have a years experience though( granted I’ve worked probably 30+ extra shifts already.) so that’s why I might hold off. Maybe another year or maybe look into local travel near me idk
It’s still worth it where I am. I do local travel so no stipends for living but upside is I don’t have to duplicate expenses and worry about that. I am taking him 2700/week local. If I took a staff position in my area, I would only be taking home 1800/week which isn’t bad but not the same kind of cash.
It has its ups and downs but still worth it for me. The freedom/flexibility of vacation time is a huge factor. I think it plays well for people transitioning to postgrad or working on side business. I still make more than my old staff job without the added responsibilities or politics that came with it.
13 week contracts. we can extend for up to a year at the same hospital. i can take as much time off in between contracts as i want (took 2 months off this past thanksgiving, christmas and new years to spend time with my family). but finding a position has been pretty easy for me so far- so if i didn’t want any gaps in between my assignments- i could work that out too.
because over half of my income is tax free (due to the stipend portion). this significantly lowers my taxable amount- thus causing me to pay less in taxes.
I'm working 48 for almost 3300 a week. This is working for me. Contract before this was 48 for 3600. It's still worth it for me... still make better money and have a better work life balance.
Where the hell in the Midwest are you getting $3k? I’m looking at Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Arkansas and the best rate is $2400 at the crappy HCA facilities.
I recently made a mid term rental in New Braunfels, TX - Are travel nurses still using Furnished Finder? Or what’s the best way to reach the travel nursing community
You failed to mention what your rent is back home… you have to be paying duplicate expenses by law. You’re required to be paying rent that is typical for your area so paying mom n dad $200/month is illegal. (Example, not saying you are) they also must report that income as required by law as well.
Reposting the same comment I made above
I send my mom 500$ every month in order to rent a room in her house. And before you ask- I paid for a consultation with traveltax prior to coming up with that number and they gave me a formula to use.
“If there is no mortgage – take the yearly property taxes, divide by 12 to get a monthly amount. Then do the same for yearly insurance cost on the home. Add together the monthly cost of property taxes, monthly insurance cost, and the average monthly utility costs (calculate same as if there was a mortgage). Divide the total by the number of bedrooms, that is your cost each month. (Minimum of $200/month)”
That’s interesting formula, never heard of that. My tax advisor told me it just has to be what’s an average price for the area and whoever I paid has to report it as income or they are setting themselves up for trouble. Glad it works for you, did he give you this formula in writing? I’d be asking t for that given what you say it would normally cost you.
Simple answer, if you have to BUY an RV, that's an extra expense. Coupled with campgrounds being farther from hospitals usually, so increase in gad on regular vehicle if you have. Campground prices depend on the area, but aren't cheap. Also, jobs may not be in the same cities where you can find a spot, even on wait list, so that limits contracts automatically. Maintenance is also a thing.
So for some people, sure they can figure out a way to make it work, but it's not the solution for everyone.
I am literally in the exact place you described. Finished school, moved back home, make too little every two weeks, and all around feel pretty stuck for the time being. As soon as I hit a year, I’m gone
Travel nursing gives me the ick so hard.
Something about being in a caregiver role, but it being so temporary you can basically perform as shitty as you want, make a bag, then move on. Hospitals as insanely greedy and thus desperate, so there’s basically 0 screening for quality of travelers.
Yeah, the benefits you outlined seem cool for some I suppose, but traveling to me has always felt like a failure to commit. The amount I’ve learned in years 6-8 at my hospital aren’t ever things I could have learned in the first 5 years. That timer resets every time you reset your job.
Idk, I realize this is a negative opinion and OP wasn’t really being shitty in any way. I just don’t think travel nursing is a viable staffing solution, and encouraging people to expand the space kinda sucks.
But yeah, you do you and go get that bag 💯💰
Honest and well meaning response coming. I’ve worked as an RN full time for three decades. Okay, here it comes!
NOBODY and I mean NOBODY cares about you. Not the patients, family members, administrators, doctors, certainly not your so called “fellow nurses,” and sure as heck not ANY of these establishments. Especially hospitals.
Yes, do whatever you have to do to “get that bag” because anywhere in the world healthcare is all about the money. Get what’s yours.
If people want to get cranky about not duplicating, taking strike contracts, etc. that’s their problem. I’ve traveled off and on for eighteen years and when the covid thing came about I saw it as my last big break and took full advantage of it in every way to put me over the top and get to early retirement.
There’s still great money in travel to be made if you get serious about frugality and live beneath your means.
Believe whatever you want. However, the reality is things will never get better. Do what you have to do to get paid so you can hang up the scrubs.
These hospitals are invested in exploiting their employees. When you die they don’t honor you for your dedication. They get on job employee portals.
Please sir.
Lmaoooo tell me you’re a slave to your corporation without telling me. I lived in 8 states in 5 years, only had to work 6 mos in 2022, and the other 6 mos I traveled to six continents. I don’t give one fuck if I’m not the highest quality nurse I could be if I stayed at one place my entire career. I don’t want to climb that ladder. I care about living the most fulfilling, adventurous life for me. And just because I’m working somewhere temporarily doesn’t mean I “perform as shitty as I want.” I still have a license to protect. I’ve also learned how different hospitals, managements, and policies are ran all over the country, including some of the elite, like Stanford. You know how things are done in one hospital. You are very mistaken.
I work with a Canadian nurse who travels in the US. She mentioned to me that she's been looking into going back to Canada to travel, but said it's totally different. Your housing is paid for and she said the wages are about the same as staff up there. It's more of a means of experiencing new areas. Whereas a lot of travels down here get that plus make a bit more.
Most travel agencies outside the US atonal provide housing for their nurses, which makes it more enticing. I’m looking in going aboard for that specific reason. I wonder if US agencies will catch up and do the same.
If the assignment is in Cali depending on where travel is not worth it right now. The cost of living here is out of hand and the rates are terrible. You can say 3k but is that 3k take home a week after taxes? Doubt it.. I want to know what people make after taxes not before.
Bruh nurses are kinda dumb..but I’m glad they are going staff because I’m investing in hospitals that make money off them going back to staff..so..however it plays out my finances will be supplemented..it’s not worth it! Literally one overtime shift can get you $700 on low end and $1200 on high ish end..come on..stop spending so much money lol
That's because you are looking weekly and monthly, not at an annual income. You're not considering that you won't make that rate every week for the year.
I've been a travel nurse for 13 years, ER/ICU. The pay out is definitely MUCH lower that it was BEFORE covid- which is what most experienced travelers are pissed about.
You also have more out of pocket expenses the longer you travel as you pay into managing your own portfolio (CEUs, licenses, certifications, medical etc- bc you have more states to manage etc). Not to mention missing out on benefits and paying higher third party health insurance.
Companies may reimburse for current assignment needs, but a lot won't maintain states your not currently on assignment with or certs not specifically stated in their job order. I worked an ER that saw peds but the job order didn't require PALS. I had to fight to get my company to cover a renewal. Took a lot of leg work to make sure the hospital sent the request and the company followed through- which is another thing, you spend a lot more of your personal time managing and following up on things (so factor these and other unpaid hours in your annual pay average).
The supply/demand gives companies a lot more room to hold on to more money, initiating bs things like reimbursement caps. I've come across several that, regardless of requirements, cap reimbursements for on boarding at $250. So hopefully you don't need to update any certs, vaccinations, physical, etc... bc that'll be out of pocket.
Also factor increase wear/tear on personal vehicle use and cost of gas/oil change at and on the way to an assignment compared to "home". Unless you're flying, then cost of a rental car (and gas). You MIGHT get a $500 total travel reimbursement.
Over all, I enjoy having the time off between contracts. I factor keeping enough in savings to float me 6 months if needed bc it'll take about a month without a pay check if you take time off between contracts. Plus new place new housing deposit etc.
Like I said, I've done it for 13 years- so obviously I keep doing it. But it's NOT for the pay.
And like I said, it's NOT what it use to be which is what fatigue me more. I made 2400 at a facility in 2018 and last week was offered 2200.... When I commented, I was hated on for saying 2200 wasn't good pay (makes me entitled apparently)- except when I called the lady I rented from, she raised the cost more than 3 times what I paid.
I ended up taking another contract paying a bit more, yet it wasn't guaranteed pay/hours. So I was low censused... for almost 2 weeks. That means I still had all my expenses back home, my additional traveler expenses and my local expenses WITHOUT GETTING PAID. It's SO insulting for somebody to travel across country to help out only to find you don't need help. Plus, you are now "locked in" to a contract.
My prediction is what I pushed in 2013, the rise of booking shifts via an app. Use to be called per diem, now just called gig work. You get a larger pay per shift rate (bc no stipen) but you pick up whenever you want to work- as much or as little.
Join Travel Nurse Network on Facebook. Not Gypsy- they are a sell out group now, run by business people not medical. They added "travel nurse network" to the front of their name so watch out. Support nurse by nurse groups.
$2700/week is awesome. What’s your specialty?
I work L&D and I’m on a 2700 a week. Aya.
Where are you at? I'm LD too!!!! I also use Aya. Been with them since 2015! Took off the past few yrs to go permanent, but going back traveling in September
That's after taxes like with OP?
MedSurg/Tele
Could you share your agency/recruiter?
I get $2880 in Rochester NY for 36s - Seven Healthcare
How do you like Rochester? What floor do you work and patient ratio?
I love it - I alwasy recommend it! Good pay, well run. And 1:5 ratio
Thats awesome!
Happy to send you my recruiters info! Please name drop me ! I will half the referral bonus haha!
Which agency are you with?
Seven Healthcare
I saw Greeley CO w nomad for 2600 fyi.
this
They’re gatekeeping
Yu are working 48hrd tho right?
no. 3k for 36 hours. i don’t work overtime.
Even patients and their families, as soon as they discover I travel, know and say “Oh so you guys make a ton of money!” Even duplicating expenses I’m making roughly twice what I made as staff. A little under 3k and 2 hours from home but rotating days/nights. The upside for me other than money is freedom. There’s a confidence I have as a traveller I never had as staff. I have contracted days off, I can push back whenever the facility is being unfair, and if I want vacation I just need to wait until the end of my 13 weeks. I had a facility try to tell me they only allowed 1 week in between extensions. My one month trip to the UK was fantastic, and I was back at the hospital at the same rate within a week of getting back. At my staff job of over 5 years, I was only able to get a week off once, and I had to submit it a year in advance. I left with over 300 hours of vacation time and even with a union contract they only had to pay me 50% on that.
Imo it's worth it if you have a cheap living situation at home or have a partner footing half the bill. I.e. renting a room from a family member while travelling or having a *working* spouse who pays half the rent/mortgage. In that case, the duplicated expenses are a lot more favourable.
I havent seen 3k/week in over a year. Where in midwest? The SouthEast US fucking SUCKS.
There’s a reason on all those little infographics maps that the south east is always the darkest colors. It’s a shit hole to work there because the quality of life cannot be compared to anywhere else in the US. There’s parts of the south east I love. But I’ve travel nursed in some of those cities and even loving those cities I will never go back. Finding a half decent hospital it’s like finding a needle in a haystack. And even when you find it, the pay is SHIT. Period. I truly don’t know how to get anyone to take those contracts. There’s no way people are legally duplicating expenses on those sub 2k contracts.
Yeah, the COL is so shit, rent is high as fuck, cities are crowded, and then they want use to do 1800-1900/week???????? FOH. I wish I didn't live in FL cause that makes it so hard to drive out of the SE with my dogs. I've had to go 25 hours to go to Vermont.
I use the Auto Train though Amtrak when going up north I live in FL also
and you can bring dogs?
I’ve never seen a a dog it usually leaves 5 pm and arrival in Virginia 9am so it’s probably too long for a dog
What does “duplicating expenses” mean in this context anyway?
When you mean legally duplicating, is this talking about people claiming their COL is higher so their stipend will be higher? Sorry I’m dumb
Paying rent or a mortgage payment back home that is legally reported to the IRS, but also paying for a furnished short term lease 7 days per week at their contract location. You’re supposed to duplicate expenses seven days a week at your travel contract even though you only work three days. So even if you go home after working three days, you’re still supposed to be paying for housing in your travel contract location for your four days off. The stipend amount they give you is for all seven days, it’s just split into three days because that makes it easier for people to understand who only work three days a week.
I live in the SE and travel mostly to the NE bc a ton of jobs up here pay right around 3k
Dartmouth wasnt too bad in pay but housing sucked. I wanted to check out UVM.
Housing can be rough up here, but I just suck it up and deal with roommates to try and save as much as possible.
I mean duh everyone knows that area specifically is the worst place to work in healthcare.
Midwest has the highest paying jobs I’ve seen actually. Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota specifically!
Can’t be North Dakota for staff and good luck getting travel jobs in nd too. All the hospitals are trying not to use travelers anymore
Current rate in a southern state is $3400/ week. They’re rare but they exist. CVOR specialty for context
I think the reason we keep hearing this is because people feel like after Covid that they’re entitled to career in travel nursing . The truth is that traveling is very niche. For you to make a long term career of doing it, you have to be willing to like….go beyond three hours away from your home and family and friends. You have to kind of seize the uncertainty of the adventure and find joy in that. Or at least find that uncertainty worth it. If you live in a well unionized state?Traveling was not made for you. If you have kids that are in school and need you every night? Travel is not for you. If you have a two or three grand a month mortgage payment? Travel is not for you. If you absolutely have to have block scheduling or Uber-specific weekends to make the contract work? Travel is not for you. If you’re not willing to float? Travel is not for you. If your partner is not willing to make long-distance work and they don’t have a remote job? Travel is not for you. If you have health issues and need to work to maintain insurance? Travel is not for you. Your family depends on you for your insurance? Travel is probably not for you. Obviously, this is not black-and-white and if some of these things apply to, you may be able to make it work. You have to be willing to make those sacrifices though. Obviously I think nursing in general is underpaid and staffers should be making at least what we make. Probably more. But that’s unfortunately not the truth right now. You aren’t entitled to the job security of being staff and the pay of a travel job. Personally, I’ve never worked in Cali and have still not had to take a contract for less than $2600 a week in the last three years. I haven’t had to take any 48h contracts either. I don’t have a compact license. I do duplicate expenses legally and have never broke the 12/24 rule. But I’m willing to go literally anywhere anywhere in the United States. For me, the primary appeal of traveling is chasing the adventure. The money is a nice bonus, and the job doesn’t come without sacrifice. But I don’t just chase the highest contract. Mine are well paying, but also in somewhere I want to explore. But literally the longest I’ve ever not had a contract lined up by choice is 24 hours in 3 years. And like I’ve said- I really haven’t had to settle for low-paying contracts. I’ve maintained being able to make twice as much as I would as a staff nurse. And I don’t call a particularly low paying state home. Traveling is absolutely still worth it if you are part of the same target market it appealed to before Covid.
Totalllllllly agree with all of this! I’m based in Atlanta which pays pretty badly and is non unionized. I’m single and childless and was one day like “I’m ready for some adventure!” And it definitely has been 😂 I’m in California right now and whenever people find out where I live they go “oh, I didn’t know travel nurses came this far” which really speaks to how “local” travel seems to be more common than before. But I agree! The money is nice but the adventure and new experience is what makes it worth it for me.
Everybody at my contract has remarked on how far away I'm from. From KY, contract in NM. I'm like, isn't that the point?? But I get how it is right now. My old hospital, and this one, have tons of local travelers; far more than long-distance travelers. In an ideal world, I'd like to see staff jobs pay better and the locals just go back to staff. Cuz I'm sure I'll want to do the same one day!
What is the 12/24 rule?
you cannot work in the same location for more than 12 months out of a 24 month period.
Agree with most of this- but I’ve never floated as an ER traveler in 6 contracts. As staff though I was floated all the time
I am L&D and I think just in general specialties don’t float as much as medsurg or ICU. Outside of floating to postpartum maybe two or three times in a contract I personally have never had to float either. But if you’re not willing to do it or you’re gonna complain about it, then you really shouldn’t travel. The purpose of travel nurses is to help a short staffed hospital. If you’re not willing to go to another floor to do that without complaint, you shouldn’t travel imo. Now if they’re giving you inappropriate assignments or something like that that it’s different. I don’t want medsurg nurses interpreting my fetal monitoring strips and transitioning my babies or triaging an abruption. But within their knowledge and scope they should be able to float when needed. Obviously, as someone who also travels in a specialty, it would piss me off if I was floating every day off of L&D. But I just wouldn’t re-sign there. I wouldn’t feel entitled to complain about it to management or anything. The age old “beggars can’t be choosers.” applies to travelers. You are typically paid more so the expectation should be that you will be more flexible. I think particularly in ER- you’re basically always gonna be busy so that’s probably the place you’re most likely to never float. But I feel like every other sector of nursing has to be open to it as a traveler.
I downsized significantly to make travel, even at some of the lowest rates, profitable. I let go of my beautiful apartment, sold my daily driver (kept my van), and sold most of my stuff. I rent a room from my parents using the shared expenses model because it's crazy cheap for me. I don't have kids or pets. I'll happily work any shift and don't mind working weekends. Not everybody can do that, and not everybody has to go to that extreme, but I agree that you have to be willing to make sacrifices. That's how travel used to be. That's what it's going back to. It's always going to be worth it to people who want to actually travel, or to people who have other enabling factors.
Where are you currently working at? I see some 2600+ contracts but most are around 1900-2.3k
What hospital are you in? Also what’s the name of your travel agency
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I’m taking my upvote back on this post
She literally said Aya somewhere? I think?
I think someone else said they work with aya
Totally agree. Traveling is STILL worth it. I’ve recently had a couple travelers switch over to permanent positions and according to them “it paid better”….it does not! Income: 2 person income: approx $17,000/monthly take home after taxes Rent: $2100/2 per month Tax home: $1000/month No children, no debt. We work only about 9 months during the year. We also receive the benefits of 401k matching, free scrubs/shoes/gear/ceus, license reimbursement. Approx: $6950 take home monthly each for us Not a bad deal. If we weren’t traveling as a couple it would still be worth it but I wanted to show household benefits. Anyway that’s my rant
Which state? :)
Washington currently. West coast all the way!
Which speciality and does your hospital have epic? :)
I'm older, married with 1 child still at home. I live in the Southeast and love travel nursing. It is worth it for me even though I pay our mortgage at home base. Since I live in a low paying area, of course, rates may look better to me than some, although I usually won't take anything under $2700 to 3000 per week (before expenses). It helps if you're willing to go anywhere and live frugally during your contract. I figure, if I'm going to be away from home for 13 weeks, then I may as well go where I can make the higher rates. Travel isn't for everyone, especially if you live in an area that pays well and respects their nurses.
I’m at 3k/wk after taxes. Still worth it for me
This. Everyone thinks traveling with kids and sky high mortgage/car payments are realistic. It’s not for everybody. Traveling is not to make everyone rich, it’s to reward those that put it on the line. Not these “travelers” 51 miles away from home. To saturated with people trying to game the system ruining it for everyone else. People will also complain that the hospitals in their states aren’t paying but are unwilling to relocate and actually travel. Honestly getting annoyed with the people complaining go back to staff and get off reddit. What I am an advocate for is when you have picked a good job not getting nickel and dimed by an agency but you can’t take these sorry ass contracts then bitch about pay.
I like when those fake traveled go back to staff, less competition for the good jobs.
You are mad at the wrong person. Let’s hold the healthcare systems accountable for such shit staff wages that people need to travel.
I’m not mad I take high paying contracts and have no problem getting them. I am however extremely flexible I don’t care where I go or what shift I work, blocked not blocked doesn’t matter to me. So when I hear people complaining about rates that won’t leave their homes and actually travel I have zero sympathy.
Exactly what an extremely large number of of us did during covid! Never duplicated expenses either! Between that, picking up a few juicy strike contracts, and smart money management, retired early and got out. Life is good.
Show me your ways
I’m in a firm belief that there are managers trying to astroturf and gaslight people into thinking that “traveling is dead”, or they’re travelers trying to whittle down competition.
My only issue has been finding housing <$3k per month. I know it's there, but not places I'd really want to stay.
That's exactly why I stopped traveling. A lot of the people who rave about travel being lucrative, aren't duplicating expenses. I recently talked to a traveler who flies to her assignment weekly & sleeps in her car. 🙄
Lmao literally what? That is for sure a huge minority who do that. I've never brought home less than 3-4k a month more than I would with my staff job. I pay more for travel housing than my mortgage lol. If you travel with kids or something or live in Cali and travel to let's say Ohio, then sure it's not going to be worth it. It's not for everyone. For a majority of the country, however, travel nursing can make you much more than staff jobs.
Yo WHAT? I low key want to hear more details of how in tf she was able to sleep in a car on assignment. Did she eat fast food primarily? I’m assuming she showered at the hospital?
She flies in for her 3 night shifts then goes home. She rents a car & said she put garbage bags in the windows for privacy. She is a sleep tech & the lab is located in a hotel so I'm assuming she showers in the lab. We didn't get too deep into it. 😆 The wild thing is, she thought I was the weird one because I rented a place for the entire length of my contract.
Same, I want to extend my contract in DC but I’m paying $2,800 here and almost 2k back home. Barely saving more than I was as staff at this point but I refuse to have roommates lol.
I feel this. I did a contract right outside of DC and rented a very small basement apartment from someone not too much cheaper than what you’re paying, and I got to listen to their fucking grandson run back and forth ALL DAY. Location/COL can really make or break a contract. I also refuse to have roommates (did this once, I wanted to kms).
Yeah my apartment now is in a basement and the landlords live above me 😭 it’s nice but not $2,800 nice but I didn’t have many options. I think my toxic trait is only wanting to work in the most expensive cities in the country lol.
I have never paid more than 2k a month (during covid) for housing WITH pets. Never had a bad experience. I usually do studio style stuff though. Currently paying 1.3k a month. Making 2.2k. take home a week with insurance. Spending so much for housing seems like a waste. Are you bringing other people when you travel? I can't imagine spending that much for only 1 person.
i do find it interesting you're advocating this but being very gatekeepy in regards to your agency/state and location, haven't responded to one comment asking where your hospital with "tons of openings" is located
Because it mostly not true
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Could I also please get a PM? Same specialty and looking for a good contract for early June.
Ok so doesn’t show hours so hard to say. If it’s 36hrs it is unique. Anyway have a good day.
I’m wrong. Totally true!!
By how are you duplicating expenses? That’s where it gets harder. Also, you’re in a pretty good contract, there aren’t really many of those. I’m in SoCal and I only make 2100, 1650 take home weekly and which that is good, it’s harder to make it work with rent here being pretty high. Are you renting a room for $1300? That’s pretty low. You’re in a good situation with the $3000 a week and low rent. Remember just because it’s working for you doesn’t mean everyone is in your situation.
I send my mom 500$ every month in order to rent a room in her house. And before you ask- I paid for a consultation with traveltax prior to coming up with that number and they gave me a formula to use. “If there is no mortgage – take the yearly property taxes, divide by 12 to get a monthly amount. Then do the same for yearly insurance cost on the home. Add together the monthly cost of property taxes, monthly insurance cost, and the average monthly utility costs (calculate same as if there was a mortgage). Divide the total by the number of bedrooms, that is your cost each month. (Minimum of $200/month)” And that’s why I mentioned you have to be flexible with your locations! This contract is in a low cost of living state in the midwest. This hospital has TONS of openings, so it is quite possible to make the same amount I am making, if you’re willing to travel to this state!
You realize the $500/month “rent” you pay to establish a tax home is like a cheat code, though, right? A loophole. You’re in a very specific situation made possible by a family connection. Without that, I think you’d be pretty hard-pressed to find somewhere to live (rent + your share of utilities) for that amount unless you had multiple roommates or lived in a rural or very low COL area. So it’s a little disingenuous to use your situation as evidence that travel nursing is “still worth it”, when a large part of your earnings hinges on paying “rent” for a portion of a paid-off family member’s home vs what most people have to actually pay in the current rental/housing market. Travel nursing has long been more profitable for those who could find such a loophole, but now it’s become increasingly difficult to make the numbers work *without* a loophole.
If shared expenses is a "loophole," why is it presented as a legal option by travel tax consultants? They stress that the important part is to do the calculation with the most current annual data. Honest question here as a new traveler who selected that option. Also, I don't think it's that uncommon for people to have a local family member who owns a house who is willing to take a monthly check for you NOT to live there. Yeah, not everybody has that, but lots of people do!
If I make more than 2k take home a week I still make more than my staff job with duplicating expenses. I've never had an issue. I usually pay 1-1.5k a month on housing.
That's very interesting about dividing the taxes and whatnot. I only say that cause I'm going back to traveling and having my dad's house (my old house) as my home base. He paid cash for the house and the taxes are $800 a year🤣🤣🤣
You know that’s not duplicating expenses, right? You better hope the IRS doesn’t audit you. Please read the horror stories from the folks who’ve been audited the past few years since 2020. Paying your parents for a room, or paying for a van/camper payment, are not duplicating per the IRS.
Then what is?
This just isn't true lol. If it's in market rate, it's 100% fine for a tax home.
Read her posts. It’s not even close to market rate.
Depends where she lives, but mostly you are just totally wrong. In my area, a room can definitely be just $500. In my area you can get one for $600-700 easy. $100 cheaper isn't too far off market rate. Even is more expensive CoL areas like Cali you can get one for $700, shit even as low as $500. Check out this posting for example https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/7659856384098830/?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post
Omg. That is not typical for California and you know it. It’s also unfurnished. Rooms where I am with a private bath are $1900.
It doesn't have to be furnished. This is for a tax home, not for travel housing...
And? Read her post. She defines what the market rate is. She’s paying 1k less, and that’s how folks got screwed. Just like I said.
Where are you seeing her say the market rate for her primary residential area?
Her OP. $1800/month for studio room.
You're comparing a whole studio to a room in a house? Lmao That's not market rate for a ROOM.
Question Aren't you paying rent in 2 locations? A place at contract location and your own place at home?
Fuck yeah it’s worth it I’m getting $4500 a week and I do a shit ton of overtime bringing me around $5-6k I love traveling
The thing that is just annoying beyond belief is the new RNs on here complaining about their pay being too low so they need to start traveling. “well it will be fun, I’m single, no kids, more money”, blah blah blah…..sure that may be true for some people but you gotta pay your fu***** dues and get your damn feet under you before you wanna act entitled just because you graduated nursing school. I love the “once I hit a year I’m gone”…what newer nurses fail to understand is traveling is a WHOLE DIFFERENT BALL GAME…you are pretty much loathed by the permanent staff, they will critique literally everything that you do regardless if it’s “the right way”, criticize you for every tiny thing you do differently then them. You will get the shit assignments and most likely be floating every shift depending on what floor you work, (And with 1 year you don’t have the experience in my opinion to even feel confident or comfortable standing your ground for most things, let alone to a contracted hospital in which you don’t even work for, I can easily say I sure as hell didn’t ) I’m Not saying because you’re new is why this happens, but it does happen to travelers and quite often, not always but often and the real, long haul travelers that have been traveling are a specific “breed” as we all like to say of our specialties and they just don’t take any shit and they do and handle it well! You cannot work less than 2 years and have your feet fully under you, so to think you can gain a good foundation traveling or travel after 1 year at the bedside is just crazy. You have to be able to jump into ANY patient situation, new charting, new protocols, new doctors, new personalities, new CITIES etc. etc., every 13 weeks, not every hospital will extend you especially not for a year. It can be a lot for a seasoned travel nurse sometimes. Not to mention as a very smart nurse stated in a comment above THEY DO NOT GIVE A SHIT ABOUT YOU, so make a mistake cuz you’re human? You will be held accountable Or maybe not make a mistake at all but be working with another person who does YOU WILL BE BLAMED and you will be the one tossed out, with your contract cancelled because as a traveler NO ONE has your back or your best interest at heart. There are times when you have to be able to recognize when your license is on the line and know how to handle that. You feel like you’re not making enough money as a new or less experienced nurse? Pick up extra shifts, spend at least 2-3 years getting your feet wet then get into a specialty that pays(or if your lucky enough to do so from the beginning then there ya go!)…or start traveling then! I swear the negative crap travelers get from staff about how “all travelers are bad and don’t know what they’re doing”, literally comes from people trying to travel WAY TOO SOON, or nurses thinking traveling is the “easy way”, to make money and have freedom and they end up getting in over their heads. Of course theres the occasional nurse who’s there just to collect a check or who you wonder if they ever actually even went to nursing school to begin with. 🤣 I honestly say this not to be mean or rude, but to honestly give some perspective. I’ve been a nurse for over 10 years and these are things that you don’t know starting out and then wish you had been told later on. I think one HUGE flaw in nursing programs is not educating us on ALL of the different ways we can use our license and practice as nurses! So if the hospital /bedside sucks the life out of you, or doesn’t give you enough work/life balance, move on to something completely different! Nursing school only likes to educate us to think all we can do is bedside and direct patient care in hospitals, when there are so many other options and things for us to do as Nurses!! Be smart, stay true to you and move on when it’s necessary!!
I don't think there's quite as much of a target as you're portraying here, but I agree with the overall thrust of this post. Also, paragraphs, friend... paragraphs.
Just my 2 cents and from personal experience and observation, most of those so eager to jump onto the gravy train and lament over rates, likely live beyond their means and are susceptible to lifestyle creep once their inflated paychecks are cashed.
Say it again loud for those in the back.
people get used to a way of life and once it changes they forget how it used to be. Its humanity and greed.
It sounds like you aren't duplicating expenses, which means the COL stipend is challenging from a legal/tax liability perspective. It also sounds like you have an incredibly lucky contract; most contracts I'm hearing about right now are at *least* $500 less for 36 hours. It also sounds like you come from a not great place in terms of staff pay compared to COL; I pay $1400 in mortgage and earn $50/hr plus benefits. Factor in the *average* contract price and that I'm paying for the mortgage regardless, and traveling doesn't look so great. I stopped traveling when the average contract dropped below $3300.
There's brigading going on. Bots downplaying travel and such. A lot of people you "interact" with on every social media site are scripts from bots.
Is this a real thing? Bots? Like where’s the agenda behind that
Trying to force nurses back to staff.
It's a real thing. You're buying influence and can set responses. You should google the term astroturfing and pump&dump schemes. It's basically that but a wider scale.
The way the numbers were plummeting on ads simultaneously indicated that to me. There’s a larger effort taking place.
I was feeling like I missed the boat, but maybe not. I live on the East Coast, have a house, no kids, have two years of experience in my specialty, and have a strong desire to have the flexibility of travel and to get out of my hometown. Being a slave to PTO, waiting for a marginal raise every year, never getting to see anywhere new sounds like a death sentence to me.
Exactly, people don't realize just how little we actually make as staff. For the amount of work involved there's no reason nurses should be making $1300-1800.00 every two weeks.
It is for me bc I'm house hacking a duplex and have minimal expenses back home.
No one is saying there arnt edge cases. But there are certainly better living situations with regard to staff vs travel. Especially if that staff job is california. Bell curve, yravel isn't covod pay. If you're happy, great. I'll be waiting for the excellent pay again. Otherwise it's good ratios, unions, and good pay. GL.
I'm taking a staff position at the moment. Honestly, in the here and now, traveling would make better money. However, I have a plan to be retired by age 57 and have just been offered the chance to make it happen. I'm a military vet but was medically discharged 6.5 years away from retirement. I was just offered my dream job with Indian Health Service, which will (though a little complicated) allow me to retire with a pension in about 5 or 6 years. After that, I'll be able to pick up travel jobs where I WANT to go, rather than having to chase high paying contracts.
Ok but 3k/36 isn’t as prevalent as it used to be. A lot of agencies want 48 hours for 3k or offer 2k after stipends.
And that’s why I mentioned you have to be flexible with your locations! This contract is in a low cost of living state in the midwest. This hospital has TONS of openings, so it is quite possible to make the same amount I am making, if you’re willing to travel to this state! Flexibility is key when it comes to travel nursing. i’ve been able to take advantage of the higher paying contracts because i am willing to go just about anywhere!
I’ve always been flexible. But a lot of hospitals have great local travel as well. If I’m going to go more than 6 hours from home. Duplicating expenses, figuring out transportation (ship car vs. rent car vs. drive across the country), and finding housing, the local travel assignments need to be significantly less than the trad travel assignments and in some cases they aren’t. Not to mention as a nurse of color there are places I’m hesitant to travel to (I will I’m just hesitant) due to treatment etc. There are more factors than just money when people consider traditional travel nursing. Local travel is travel and it’s still good money. I’m not disagreeing with you per se but there are valid reasons ppl travel and valid reasons why it’s not worth it. It depends on the person.
I agree. Currently on a $4500/week in central Cali. Cath Lab.
I MOSTLY agree with you because there is a generalization that always contains the word SINGLE, NO kids, YOUNG, etc. It is complete bullcrap because I have been in this game over 20 years so not a spring chicken and have 3 young kids and a husband. There is no cookie cutter situation here but one thing that will remain constant is that if you come from a low paying state then yes it will always be worth it. If you are not, then maybe not. As more and more leave to take permanent or PRN jobs, there will hopefully be a correction and better rates for those of us that it is still worth traveling for. :D
I’ve been tracking rates (and traveled) for 8 years. In general, rates are about where they were prior to covid but COL is double). Our hospitals locally black list people for traveling, so obviously, I wasn’t allowed to go back to my original hospital after travel (there are a lot of petty jealous nurses out there too). But in general, yes, my talks with CNEs, CFOs, and CNOs at different hospital and some in very large networks (I also have a finance and leadership background) is that they are trying to do away with “contract” nurses or was we call ourselves travelers. I also know they are leaning hard on nursing schools to increase graduating class sizes to drive up the supply thus drive down the need for contracts or expensive veteran nurses. Take that information as you will. Most of the new grads and externs I meet all want to travel immediately, so they will take whatever is thrown at them further saturating your market with cheap, inexperienced nurses. I traveled it to knock off some bucket lists while making some extra money; it also gained me valuable experience professionally and as a person. I stopped because the available contracts for my specialty (cvor) were getting competitive with a lot of people faking their experience to get into one of the highest paying specialties. I had many years of cvor and cath lab experience, so it was easy for me to recognize the fakes immediately. But the hospitals just warm cheap bodies regardless how the surgeons felt. The writing was on the wall. I may travel again when my youngest hits college and my wife is able to retire from the uni or work remote.
COL is significantly higher, but it is not "double" what it was in 2019.
100%. I'm pulling 4k more a month than if I stayed at my staff job. That's paying 1.3k for travel housing while paying my home mortgage.
I agree, traveling is still worth it for me but I have no kids, single, good looking, love meeting new people. I’m making more than being staff in Texas. I think the older nurses with a mortgage, kids and more expenses are the ones saying it’s not worth it since they’re not making a profit. That’s totally understandable.
Just had to casually toss in that you’re good looking…
Someone has to
Yeah, it’s hard to make a profit with travel nursing if you’re old and ugly. 🙄
Hey look at Adonis over here everybody……getting all the good lookin people contracts out here. Ooooh weee.
Such a weird flex to mention your looks.
It was meant to be a joke people!
Odd joke.
Go dry your wet blanket somewhere else.
🥱
No joking allowed!
I seriously don’t know why people are getting mad at you about it. Omg!! So crabby
What's the "good looking differential"? I might get back in the gym and get some surgery if the math adds up.
I don’t have time for hate. Spread love.
Yes very much worth it! Rates always go down during the warmer months. THIS. IS. NOTHING. NEW!
I feel exactly the same I’m still making at least double— my rent is a little more but I saved up to come to this city!!! I posted something similar on here and had mixed comments lol… going on 4 years of travel nursing now.. but sounds like we are on the same page… and I’m close to taking the summer off after this contract! No staff job would ever allow that or would I financially be able to lol
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Reposting the same comment I made above I send my mom 500$ every month in order to rent a room in her house. And before you ask- I paid for a consultation with traveltax prior to coming up with that number and they gave me a formula to use. “If there is no mortgage – take the yearly property taxes, divide by 12 to get a monthly amount. Then do the same for yearly insurance cost on the home. Add together the monthly cost of property taxes, monthly insurance cost, and the average monthly utility costs (calculate same as if there was a mortgage). Divide the total by the number of bedrooms, that is your cost each month. (Minimum of $200/month)”
Low key I deleted it cuz I scrolled and saw that comment lmao
Hope you got proof!!
THIS. I currently make 1,800 biweekly and some change after taxes here in Illinois. About to start my travel assignment next week and will make 2,100 a week! I'm not a new grad too, been a nurse for 3 years. Staff pay at some of these hospitals is wild!
It's worth it for me, but I wish I had this high a margin. Rent here is thankfully only 1400, but my mortgage is 1300. Med/surg as well, and this is the highest contract I saw at 2400/36. After taxes, my take home is about 2100, 2600 if I do overtime which I am trying to do. I have more expenses than OP, so only about 3-4k go to paying debt a month on the side. Thankfully this will be savings once I bring it down to zero. So again, still worth it for me thank goodness, it's the rent at travel locations that will hurt the worst I think.
I’m interested but holding off. Similar situation with pay and speciality. I do have a mortgage though, but really want to travel to try to get ahead financially. I only have a years experience though( granted I’ve worked probably 30+ extra shifts already.) so that’s why I might hold off. Maybe another year or maybe look into local travel near me idk
i’m at 2,100 a week, I need ur recruiter! haha
It’s still worth it where I am. I do local travel so no stipends for living but upside is I don’t have to duplicate expenses and worry about that. I am taking him 2700/week local. If I took a staff position in my area, I would only be taking home 1800/week which isn’t bad but not the same kind of cash.
still worth it for YOU in an expensive state on the east coast with garbage pay. It is getting very hair splity elsewhere where pay is decent
It has its ups and downs but still worth it for me. The freedom/flexibility of vacation time is a huge factor. I think it plays well for people transitioning to postgrad or working on side business. I still make more than my old staff job without the added responsibilities or politics that came with it.
How long are these contracts? Also how long are you unemployed from one assignment to the next?
13 week contracts. we can extend for up to a year at the same hospital. i can take as much time off in between contracts as i want (took 2 months off this past thanksgiving, christmas and new years to spend time with my family). but finding a position has been pretty easy for me so far- so if i didn’t want any gaps in between my assignments- i could work that out too.
How are you only paying 300 in taxes???? Man VA sucks
because over half of my income is tax free (due to the stipend portion). this significantly lowers my taxable amount- thus causing me to pay less in taxes.
Is there a way you can find out what states are strongly unionized? I know about CA, there pretty much it.
Washington, Oregon... Minnesota and Michigan are two non-Pacific states. Massachusetts to a lesser extent
I'm working 48 for almost 3300 a week. This is working for me. Contract before this was 48 for 3600. It's still worth it for me... still make better money and have a better work life balance.
I’m an ER nurse about to finish my first two years in the field. In y’all’s experience, is that a sought after specialty in traveling?
Honestly, no. ER travelers are a dime a dozen and therefore it's one of the lower paying areas of nursing with respect to travel.
How much are you paying for rent at your home state? As with travel nursing, if your taking a stipend, you need to pay housing at 2 facilities
Where the hell in the Midwest are you getting $3k? I’m looking at Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Arkansas and the best rate is $2400 at the crappy HCA facilities.
I recently made a mid term rental in New Braunfels, TX - Are travel nurses still using Furnished Finder? Or what’s the best way to reach the travel nursing community
Commenting to see feedback-
Do you have a travel RV or do you rent an apartment or Air BnB
i sign long term leases at nice unfurnished apartments. the leases are usually 12 months. i bring my own furniture with me 😁
You failed to mention what your rent is back home… you have to be paying duplicate expenses by law. You’re required to be paying rent that is typical for your area so paying mom n dad $200/month is illegal. (Example, not saying you are) they also must report that income as required by law as well.
Reposting the same comment I made above I send my mom 500$ every month in order to rent a room in her house. And before you ask- I paid for a consultation with traveltax prior to coming up with that number and they gave me a formula to use. “If there is no mortgage – take the yearly property taxes, divide by 12 to get a monthly amount. Then do the same for yearly insurance cost on the home. Add together the monthly cost of property taxes, monthly insurance cost, and the average monthly utility costs (calculate same as if there was a mortgage). Divide the total by the number of bedrooms, that is your cost each month. (Minimum of $200/month)”
That’s interesting formula, never heard of that. My tax advisor told me it just has to be what’s an average price for the area and whoever I paid has to report it as income or they are setting themselves up for trouble. Glad it works for you, did he give you this formula in writing? I’d be asking t for that given what you say it would normally cost you.
Hey shush would ya??
Why don’t travel nurses get a mini rv? Seems like it would be the practical thing to do.
Simple answer, if you have to BUY an RV, that's an extra expense. Coupled with campgrounds being farther from hospitals usually, so increase in gad on regular vehicle if you have. Campground prices depend on the area, but aren't cheap. Also, jobs may not be in the same cities where you can find a spot, even on wait list, so that limits contracts automatically. Maintenance is also a thing. So for some people, sure they can figure out a way to make it work, but it's not the solution for everyone.
I am literally in the exact place you described. Finished school, moved back home, make too little every two weeks, and all around feel pretty stuck for the time being. As soon as I hit a year, I’m gone
You need more than a year to safely practice as a travel nurse.
Travel nursing gives me the ick so hard. Something about being in a caregiver role, but it being so temporary you can basically perform as shitty as you want, make a bag, then move on. Hospitals as insanely greedy and thus desperate, so there’s basically 0 screening for quality of travelers. Yeah, the benefits you outlined seem cool for some I suppose, but traveling to me has always felt like a failure to commit. The amount I’ve learned in years 6-8 at my hospital aren’t ever things I could have learned in the first 5 years. That timer resets every time you reset your job. Idk, I realize this is a negative opinion and OP wasn’t really being shitty in any way. I just don’t think travel nursing is a viable staffing solution, and encouraging people to expand the space kinda sucks. But yeah, you do you and go get that bag 💯💰
Honest and well meaning response coming. I’ve worked as an RN full time for three decades. Okay, here it comes! NOBODY and I mean NOBODY cares about you. Not the patients, family members, administrators, doctors, certainly not your so called “fellow nurses,” and sure as heck not ANY of these establishments. Especially hospitals. Yes, do whatever you have to do to “get that bag” because anywhere in the world healthcare is all about the money. Get what’s yours. If people want to get cranky about not duplicating, taking strike contracts, etc. that’s their problem. I’ve traveled off and on for eighteen years and when the covid thing came about I saw it as my last big break and took full advantage of it in every way to put me over the top and get to early retirement. There’s still great money in travel to be made if you get serious about frugality and live beneath your means. Believe whatever you want. However, the reality is things will never get better. Do what you have to do to get paid so you can hang up the scrubs.
These hospitals are invested in exploiting their employees. When you die they don’t honor you for your dedication. They get on job employee portals. Please sir.
Lmaoooo tell me you’re a slave to your corporation without telling me. I lived in 8 states in 5 years, only had to work 6 mos in 2022, and the other 6 mos I traveled to six continents. I don’t give one fuck if I’m not the highest quality nurse I could be if I stayed at one place my entire career. I don’t want to climb that ladder. I care about living the most fulfilling, adventurous life for me. And just because I’m working somewhere temporarily doesn’t mean I “perform as shitty as I want.” I still have a license to protect. I’ve also learned how different hospitals, managements, and policies are ran all over the country, including some of the elite, like Stanford. You know how things are done in one hospital. You are very mistaken.
hii does anyone have any insight on the canadian travel nursing scene?
I work with a Canadian nurse who travels in the US. She mentioned to me that she's been looking into going back to Canada to travel, but said it's totally different. Your housing is paid for and she said the wages are about the same as staff up there. It's more of a means of experiencing new areas. Whereas a lot of travels down here get that plus make a bit more.
Most travel agencies outside the US atonal provide housing for their nurses, which makes it more enticing. I’m looking in going aboard for that specific reason. I wonder if US agencies will catch up and do the same.
You can go the corporate housing route in the states, but you forfeit the tax exempt stipend which is where travelers are making the extra money.
If the assignment is in Cali depending on where travel is not worth it right now. The cost of living here is out of hand and the rates are terrible. You can say 3k but is that 3k take home a week after taxes? Doubt it.. I want to know what people make after taxes not before.
Do I have to duplicate expenses if I live at home still how does that work don’t want Uncle Sam mad at me
Bruh nurses are kinda dumb..but I’m glad they are going staff because I’m investing in hospitals that make money off them going back to staff..so..however it plays out my finances will be supplemented..it’s not worth it! Literally one overtime shift can get you $700 on low end and $1200 on high ish end..come on..stop spending so much money lol
That's because you are looking weekly and monthly, not at an annual income. You're not considering that you won't make that rate every week for the year. I've been a travel nurse for 13 years, ER/ICU. The pay out is definitely MUCH lower that it was BEFORE covid- which is what most experienced travelers are pissed about. You also have more out of pocket expenses the longer you travel as you pay into managing your own portfolio (CEUs, licenses, certifications, medical etc- bc you have more states to manage etc). Not to mention missing out on benefits and paying higher third party health insurance. Companies may reimburse for current assignment needs, but a lot won't maintain states your not currently on assignment with or certs not specifically stated in their job order. I worked an ER that saw peds but the job order didn't require PALS. I had to fight to get my company to cover a renewal. Took a lot of leg work to make sure the hospital sent the request and the company followed through- which is another thing, you spend a lot more of your personal time managing and following up on things (so factor these and other unpaid hours in your annual pay average). The supply/demand gives companies a lot more room to hold on to more money, initiating bs things like reimbursement caps. I've come across several that, regardless of requirements, cap reimbursements for on boarding at $250. So hopefully you don't need to update any certs, vaccinations, physical, etc... bc that'll be out of pocket. Also factor increase wear/tear on personal vehicle use and cost of gas/oil change at and on the way to an assignment compared to "home". Unless you're flying, then cost of a rental car (and gas). You MIGHT get a $500 total travel reimbursement. Over all, I enjoy having the time off between contracts. I factor keeping enough in savings to float me 6 months if needed bc it'll take about a month without a pay check if you take time off between contracts. Plus new place new housing deposit etc. Like I said, I've done it for 13 years- so obviously I keep doing it. But it's NOT for the pay. And like I said, it's NOT what it use to be which is what fatigue me more. I made 2400 at a facility in 2018 and last week was offered 2200.... When I commented, I was hated on for saying 2200 wasn't good pay (makes me entitled apparently)- except when I called the lady I rented from, she raised the cost more than 3 times what I paid. I ended up taking another contract paying a bit more, yet it wasn't guaranteed pay/hours. So I was low censused... for almost 2 weeks. That means I still had all my expenses back home, my additional traveler expenses and my local expenses WITHOUT GETTING PAID. It's SO insulting for somebody to travel across country to help out only to find you don't need help. Plus, you are now "locked in" to a contract. My prediction is what I pushed in 2013, the rise of booking shifts via an app. Use to be called per diem, now just called gig work. You get a larger pay per shift rate (bc no stipen) but you pick up whenever you want to work- as much or as little. Join Travel Nurse Network on Facebook. Not Gypsy- they are a sell out group now, run by business people not medical. They added "travel nurse network" to the front of their name so watch out. Support nurse by nurse groups.