Royal Kona Resort - Travel Nurse: Checklist (Salary and Benefits)

The following includes a checklist of some of the things I wish I had known from the beginning: There are several things I wish I had known prior to signing up with my first travel nurse agency, looking back. The thought of being paid to visit the beaches of Hawaii and California or participate in the culture of New York City had become just too appealing. Several years ago I decided to quit my job as a charge nurse at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and travel the United States as a travel nurse.

But that is the way hospitals look at travel nursing, california sun on my off days as a sacrifice, i didn't necessarily view basking in the Huntington Beach. Hospitals reward travel nurses with higher hourly pay because of the "sacrifice" the nurse is required to make in uprooting herself or himself from home and family, although you may not view it this way. Travel nurses are paid considerably more hourly than regular hospital staff nurses, first. Salary
Being a travel nurse is very different from being employed by a hospital.

You may even be able to create a bidding war between the agencies for your services. One suggestion I would make is to check with several different agencies and see which one offers you the highest pay rate. You need to make sure your agency is working to get you the highest possible hourly rate of pay and not just trying to beat the next agency to fill a vacancy, as a result. Another will, if one agency cannot fill the vacancy. Travel nurse agencies get paid to fill hospital nursing vacancies, remember. You may be able to do better; don't just take the first offer that comes along. Make sure your travel nurse agency is willing to negotiate the highest rate of pay for you before you sign a contract to take a travel nursing assignment.

The stipend is often tax free. But not if you buy a home in your new assigment location, the stipend will only be paid if you are renting, in many cases. Most hospitals will also pay you a monthly housing stipend, third. This too is an issue you will need your travel nurse agency to negotiate for you. Most hospitals will pay for (or at least assist in paying for) your move to their city, second.

As is often the case; and
(6) Will the hospital pay a stipend for my housing; ? As is often the case; (5) Will the hospital pay for my move; ? (4) Does the travel nurse agency pay me or does the hospital; ? Bi-weekly or monthly; (3) Do I get paid weekly, ? (2) Are my hours guaranteed; ? Checklist
You may also want to ask these questions to your travel nurse agency:
(1) Does the agency guarantee my assignment in writing?