By The Gypsy Nurse

March 24, 2019

18435 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

Ask A Travel Nurse: Pay for Certification Renewals

travel nurse pay for certification renewal

Does the agency or the travel nurse pay for certification renewal? The Gypsy Nurse strives to be your #1 source for Travel Nursing Answers. For new and experienced travelers alike. CHECK HERE to see if your travel nurse question has already been answered.

Does the agency or the travel nurse pay for certification renewal?

Travel Nurse certification renewals are generally the responsibility of the travel nurse. Unfortunately, as a travel nurse; you will generally be responsible for maintaining all of your certifications.  Occasionally, you will find a staffing agency that will assist with these costs but it isn’t the norm in the industry. ADDITIONAL TRAVEL NURSE PAY RESOURCES

Does the Agency or travel Nurse Pay for Certification Renewal?

Renewing certifications while on contract can be challenging.  If you don’t negotiate this expense into your contract, you will need to make arrangements. Additionally, it’s important to keep track of all of your renewals, nursing licenses and certifications.

  • Find/locate the classes needed.
  • Registration
  • Plan for the financial costs (many of these certifications can be costly)
  • Arrange appropriate time off work to attend the classes.

Negotiate travel nurse pay for certification renewals

It’s important to remember that everything the company provides comes directly from the bill rate. If you take money in one place it comes out of another. Some travel nurse contracts will provide a re-imbursement or offer to cover these costs. Make sure to address this as well as any other pay questions or issues in your travel nurse contract negotiations.


Are you Looking for a Great Travel Nurse Contract?

Check these HOT JOBS!


By The Gypsy Nurse

March 10, 2019

38643 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

Diagnosing Your Travel Nurse Pay Package- Part 1

Tips to determine your best Travel Nurse Pay Package options

Many components make up a travel nurse’s pay package. When comparing pay packages, don’t just look at the numbers. Travel nurses should dig deeper to see what other benefits are provided. Those additional benefits and bonuses can result in thousands of realized dollars on each contract.

Whether you’re ready to take on your first contract in travel nursing—or perhaps you’ve been at it for a while—determining the best compensation package can be daunting. With so many variables and agencies making promising claims, it’s important to understand what will work best for you and your financial well-being. As part of our ongoing “Truth in Travel Nursing” series, The Gypsy Nurse team has compiled the following first key steps in what to look for in your travel nurse pay package.

Hourly Equivalent

Several factors impact the hourly rate offered for travel nursing assignments. These include:

  • location: or the region and cost of living where the assignment is located
  • nursing specialties
  • timing: how quickly you can start the assignment
  • even some general supply and demand factors

A travel nurse’s pay will generally consist of two main components:

  • The regular, taxable hourly rate
  • The non-taxable reimbursements for housing and meals/incidentals. These are also called stipends, subsidies, allowances, or per diems. These reimbursement payments are meant to cover meals and lodging costs resulting from the duplicate costs of living away from home for the job. Note that you will not receive a housing subsidy if you take company housing.

While sometimes the taxable hourly rate can seem low, agencies structure pay packages to be tax-efficient for the nurse. The less money that goes to a taxable hourly rate and the more that goes to the non-taxable subsidies, the better the net pay for the nurse. This cannot be very clear. Let’s look at some variables and what they may mean for your situation.

Take a Closer Look at Your Taxable Rate

The taxable hourly rate calculates several benefits should you need to use them. Unemployment, workers’ compensation, and disability payments are based on taxable income. Taxable earnings are also where social security contributions originate. Therefore, if you are nearing retirement, lower taxable earnings could significantly impact your future social security payments. In addition, if you need to borrow money for a home or auto loan, the lender will determine your loan amount qualifications from your taxable income.

Take a Closer Look at Non-Taxable Amounts:

Higher non-taxed reimbursements will make your net paycheck increase. At face value, this is appealing. However, it may not be quite that simple. The tax code allows tax-free stipends only while working away from one’s tax home. In many pay-package discussions, the aspect of “per diems” comes up. Here is some further information to help clarify:

You must be eligible for the tax-free per diems. Do you qualify?

There is a widespread myth that if you live (tax home) more than 50 miles away from your assignment, you are entitled to, eligible for, or guaranteed the per diems completely free of taxes. IRS Publication 463 states that you can accept tax-free stipends if “you need to sleep or rest to meet the demands of your work while away from home.”  There are no guidelines, no specific distance given that would constitute your need to sleep or rest. Therefore, if a traveler prefers to drive 70 miles each way to work and back each shift, they do not qualify for tax-free lodging allowances. Why? Because they are commuting. Further, if you commute or are within a “commutable distance,” you don’t qualify. There are no duplicate lodging expenses to reimburse.

The Per Diem amounts

The General Services Administration (a federal government agency) sets GSA Per Diem Rates. These are “the maximum allowances federal employees are reimbursed for expenses incurred while on official travel.” Although designed for government employees, these rates are also applied by the IRS to private sector employees. The travel nurse industry uses these in determining per diem rates. Therefore, these reimbursements are paid free of taxes. Above all, you mustn’t assume you will be paid the exact current GSA table rates. Here are three GSA realities:

  1. GSA rates are the maximum amounts that can be reimbursed without the requirement to turn in receipts. There is NOT a requirement that these maximum amounts be paid out.
  2. GSA rates are based more on short-term hotel housing, which tends to be pricier than the longer-term housing used for a typical travel nurse assignment.
  3. Bill rates are what determine what travel pay and per diems will be. Very rarely is an agency bill rate high enough to pay out the GSA table maximum amount and retain a profit.

Stick with The Gypsy Nurse as we continue to evaluate additional factors that ultimately make up your compensation and your paycheck. We’ll continue to explore more benefits, total package value, guaranteed pay, low census protection, and more in our next article.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By The Gypsy Nurse

February 24, 2019

18578 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

Travel Nurse Contracts: What’s in the Fine Print?

Travel Nurse contract fine print can include many important factors. Make sure to go over the fine print in detail.

If you are about to embark on the exciting path of life as a travel nurse, then it is important that you understand everything you can about your employment. It can be very confusing to navigate the different packages, travel nurse contracts, and offers from various sources. Just as you would take on a “buyer beware” mentality when shopping for a significant item, you need to be wary of the contract you agree to for employment.

Travel Nurse Contract Fine Print

What’s in the Fine Print?

Getting caught up in anticipation of a new assignment in a place you have always wanted to visit is easy. You must stay grounded and evaluate the contract so that all expectations are agreeable and satisfied. Try not to be over-anxious. Look through your contract carefully. Ask for clarification when you are unsure.

Contract Details to Double-Check

Here are several areas that may be included in a travel nurse contract. It’s important to compare this list to your contract.  Have a conversation to ensure your contract meets your needs and that you can deliver appropriately.

  • Guaranteed hours
  • Specific hourly rate
  • Specific overtime rate
  • Clear definition of how overtime is defined
  • Missed hours penalties and charge-backs
  • Non-compete clauses and exclusivity clauses
  • Contract cancellation penalties
  • When and where you will be working
  • Reasonable start date
  • Bonuses, license reimbursement, and travel pay explanations
  • Benefits, including medical benefits, housing, utilities for that housing, travel expenses
  • Allowances for meals and incidentals
  • When will insurance/medical benefits go into effect? (if offered)
  • Will housing be private or shared?
  • What housing amenities are provided?
  • Floating expectations—how often and what units?

Additionally, when comparing different offers, you must look at them in totality—the big picture. It may not make sense to compare the hourly rate. A lower hourly rate may be the better offer if the value of other benefits makes up for the difference. For example, $40 an hour with no health benefits is likely a less attractive deal than $36 an hour with full medical coverage. The $4 an-hour difference is not enough to get full medical coverage on your own.

Be your best advocate. Ask questions and negotiate for a situation that works for you. In conclusion, if you feel you are being mistreated or need professional guidance with legal contract matters, you could contact the National Association of Travel Healthcare Organizations (NATHO).


Find Your Next Travel Nurse Contract


By The Gypsy Nurse

January 12, 2019

12125 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

Ask A Travel Nurse: Do I need to have Savings?

Gypsy,

I’m looking at getting into travel nursing in August but I have very little savings and I am mostly concerned about not having a steady paycheck! Do I need to have a savings before I start? Do you find it difficult to keep your assignments back to back? Have you had a contract cancelled last minute and been stuck “jobless”?

Thank you,
Michelle

Thank you for reading The Gypsy Nurse. You have taken the first step on your journey to become A Gypsy Nurse.

Let’s first address the savings. I always recommend that you have enough in savings to at the very minimum get you back home!! Contracts DO get cancelled (I’ve had it happen) and there can also be issues with ‘pay’. (Know your companies reputation well!). Many of us have traveled without a significant financial buffer but it’s not something that I recommend.

As for a steady paycheck….travel positions are abundant right now, especially if you are flexible on the location. You shouldn’t have any trouble staying employed. (It’s just those unexpected cancellations that you should be prepared for). I’ve personally been traveling for nearly 9 years and by being flexible on location, I’ve never been without a position when I wanted one.

You may want to read through these articles on Contracts.

I love hearing the opinions of my readers.  Your opinion could be the perfect solution for someone.  Please share your thoughts below in the comments.

By The Gypsy Nurse

December 9, 2018

14432 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

Ask A Travel Nurse: Travel Nurse Contract Extension

Gypsy,

If I like my travel nursing contract can I ask for an extension?

Thank you,
Marty RN

Thank you for reading The Gypsy Nurse. You have taken the first step on your journey to become A Gypsy Nurse.

Marty,

The ability to extend a travel nurse assignment is variable.  It really depends on the assignment. I’ve worked as a travel nurse for nearly 9 years, and most of my contracts have offered an extension.  There are times when the hospital will not need an extension because they have hired travelers for a specific reason; EMR conversions are a good example of this.

If you like the hospital and location and would like to extend, simply ask your recruiter about extending.  The recruiter should be able to easily arrange a travel nurse contract extension for you.  This is a huge benefit for a staffing company as their out-of-pocket expenses are lowered by an extension vs a new traveler.

Don’t forget to leverage your negotiating abilities for an extension.  The staffing agency will be saving some monies that would go to bringing in a new traveler so use those savings to your benefit by asking for a little something extra.  This could be a ‘completion bonus’, a small hourly increase or a multitude of other options.

Finished the travel nursing guide and are ready to look for an assignment?

Check out our travel nurse jobs!

By The Gypsy Nurse

August 8, 2018

28398 Views

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Step #9: Working With Your Recruiter (s)

The Travel Nurse Recruiter

Building and maintaining a solid relationship with your travel nursing recruiter is an important aspect of your professional career. Whether searching for a job or happily employed, maintaining a good relationship with your travel nurse recruiter keeps your options open. One important fact to remember is that your relationship with your recruiter is a professional one. It is okay to have a fun and friendly relationship, but make sure that your decisions aren’t made out of concern for offending your recruiter.

Communication

Communication is key to building a good relationship with your travel nursing recruiter. Keep your lines of communication open, and be especially responsive when you are actively looking for jobs. Make sure they know the easiest way to get in touch with you.  Travel nursing is a competitive market, and when a job becomes available, it is beneficial to you and your recruiter to act quickly, and knowing the quickest and easiest way to contact you eliminates any potential communication barriers.

If you’re actively looking for a position, check in every few days to update your status and see if they have anything new.  Recruiters generally work with dozens of travel nurses, and if they don’t get back right away, they aren’t ignoring you. They just have a busy schedule.  Take initiative and contact your recruiter instead of waiting around for them to call you. Make it a point to keep up with your recruiter at least once a week, whether you stay in contact via e-mail or telephone.

Honesty

Being honest with your recruiter is crucial. First, be upfront with your recruiter before they start looking for a position for you.  Refer back to your deal-breakers and make certain that your recruiter knows and understands what they are.

During your contract, if there are issues (no matter how small), make certain to touch base with your travel nursing recruiter and inform them.  Let them know that you are/are not able to handle the situation at the present but want them to be aware.

Your recruiter’s job is to help you find a position that suits you. They cannot ease worries of which they are unaware, and they cannot fix something that they don’t know is broken. Open and honest communication with your recruiter will help you find the right job more efficiently.

Keep your travel nursing recruiter up-to-date.

Your recruiter is your ally in helping you find a suitable job.  Notify them of any changes or updates made to your resume as soon as you make them. Have your skills and experiences changed? Keep your recruiter informed and ensure you stay on top of their list of desirable candidates.

When you become unavailable for a job, inform the recruiter.  Don’t hide your unavailability in fear of hurting your recruiter’s feelings.  Remember, this is a business relationship.  Be pleasant and inform them that you look forward to connecting with them when the current contract is finished.

Maintain the Relationship

Once you land a new job, keep your best travel nursing recruiters in the loop. Check in with them once in a while. A good recruiter should touch base with you a few weeks before the end of your assignment, even if you took an assignment with a different company. It’s important to maintain a good relationship once established.  You never know when you or a close friend will need their assistance. Keeping that bond will make the recruiter want to spend the time and effort to help you down the road. For some additional tips on travel nurse recruiter relationships, check out this article.

Referrals, not gifts

It is a kind thought to want to get a thank you gift for your recruiter. Referrals are the best way to thank your travel nurse recruiter for helping you get where you want to go. Don’t worry about gift baskets or thank you cards. Good referrals equal better business for your recruiter, and many companies offer referral bonuses for referring a qualified candidate.

You can return to the the introduction or move forward or back using the article links below.

Need help finding a reliable travel nursing recruiter? Our Facebook group can help with that!


Find a GREAT Travel Nurse Agency


By The Gypsy Nurse

August 8, 2018

45548 Views

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Step #11 Preliminary Contract Negotiations

There are multiple variables to consider when you’re looking at travel nurse contract negotiations between yourself and your travel nurse recruiter/company.  The ultimate outcome should be a win-win situation for both parties.  The recruiter wants to make a good commission, the travel company has parameters required for profit and you want the most that you can get.  So where do you start?

In order to negotiate a travel nurse contract, it’s important to understand what your negotiating parameters are.  First, you need to understand that all of your compensation, benefits and reimbursements will come from one source.  This source is the Bill Rate.  You may have never heard the term before and it’s important before you begin contract negotiations that you Understand the Bill Rate.  In this post, I compared the bill rate to a pie.  The following are all pieces of the pie that you will consider as you begin contract negotiations.

Basic Elements of Travel Nurse Contract Negotiations

There are 7 Basic elements to travel nurse contracts:

  • Travel Reimbursements
  • Licensing Reimbursements
  • Benefits
  • Housing
  • Salary
  • Tax-Free
  • Overtime

Travel Reimbursements

This is covered in a separate posting titled Making sense of Travel Reimbursements.  I would suggest if you haven’t read it already, that you read it now and make sure you understand the different types of travel reimbursement available.

Licensing Reimbursements

It is not a given that a travel nurse agency will offer this as part of your package/contract.  Licensing can become a significant financial consideration for travel nurses.  There are licenses that are very cheap and others that can be quite costly.  If you require license reimbursement, it is important to consider that this cost will come out of your part of the pie.  It’s also important to remember that this cost can be utilized as a deduction on your end of year taxes if you choose not to have the travel company provide a reimbursement. Check the individual State Boards for specific licensing information.

Benefits

Benefits are a complicated matter.  I’m not going to go into this much.  You can ask your recruiter about benefits offered and if there is any effect on your payment package if benefits are selected.  Some companies will offer a monthly tax-free allotment for personal health insurance if they do not offer health insurance or if you choose to maintain your health insurance privately.

Housing

Travel Nurse Housing is a big portion of your slice of the pie; second only to your salary/hourly rate.  This is where your wants/needs can play a factor in your negotiations.  If you require to be downtown Manhattan (for example), your housing costs are going to be significant higher; resulting in a lower amount of the ‘pie’ left for salary, transportation, etc.  Other factors, beyond location that may affect housing costs can include:  area of the country, availability of furnished housing, pet-friendly housing, personal requirements (garage, washer/dryer, etc).

There are two considerations when looking at housing.  You can take the company provided housing or you can receive a housing stipend and arrange housing on your own.  There are advantages and disadvantages to both.  It is important to note that although you may be able to pocket some extra money by taking the housing stipend, there are significant tax issues that you must comply with in order to be eligible to receive the housing benefits tax-free. Read more about your housing options in the 3 part “Where will I live” series of posts.

EXPERT TIP: BEFORE YOU’RE EVEN SUBMITTED FOR A SPECIFIC POSITION, YOU SHOULD HAVE TRAVEL NURSE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS INITIATED.

Salary

Now that you know what else is coming out of your part of the pie, you can look at your hourly rate. You probably have a minimum amount that you have pre-determined that you need to make hourly. If not, you should figure out what that is. We discussed this in Needs/Wants.

It’s obvious that you want to get the best salary possible. It’s time for you to look at the other parameters above and figure out which ones you are willing to bend a little on. Do you really need the licensing reimbursement? How will it affect your take home pay if you don’t take it? Is it worth an extra $0.50/hr to take care of these costs yourself and take it as a deduction on your year-end taxes? I have found that for my-self, I prefer to take a less amount of ‘benefits’ and a higher hourly rate. I can generally make up for any loss of benefits either through weekly salary or the year-end tax benefit.

Tax Advantage / Tax-Free Payments

Tax advantage is an industry term that is complicated to understand due to each individual companies interpretation of the plan. To put it in a nutshell; it’s an amount of your hourly wage that is tax-free. Why should you get tax-free monies? You can read more about tax-free here but basically, it’s the same as a corporate employee working a short time in another area ie for convention, meetings, etc. The employee (due to being away from home on temporary assignment) is allowed tax-free benefits.

EXPERT TIP: TAX EVASION AND MISREPRESENTATION ARE RAMPANT IN THE INDUSTRY. KNOW WHAT YOU CAN AND CANNOT CLAIM LEGALLY TO AVOID ANY AUDIT ISSUES.

The government has developed an amount for each area of the country that is maximumly allowable for meals, lodging and expenses. This is generally referred to as the GSA.  If you take the company provided housing you are not eligible for the lodging portion of this. Most companies will break down the meals/expenses portion of this into an hourly amount. I will warn you that there are many variables to consider when accepting this tax-free amount and many companies will utilize a wage re-structuring which is by all intents and purposes illegal and could get you into serious issues with the IRS.

If you need more information, please consult a tax expert.

Overtime

If you have no intentions of working any overtime, ever; you can skip this part. However, if your like me and want as much overtime as possible; this is an important negotiating point.

Some companies will negotiate overtime rate separate from the contracted hourly rate. The following information is important and armed with it will help you negotiate for a higher overtime rate. Why? This is because all of your expenses/benefits are covered on the travel nurse agencies part in the contracted amount of hours. Any hours that you work over the contracted amount are simply a benefit (and increased revenue) for the travel nurse agency. Most companies will offer you time and half of your base rate (minus any tax-free amounts) for overtime. I always negotiate for a higher overtime rate and if the travel agency will not budge on this; I remind them that me working overtime is not only beneficial for me…but for them as well.

So now that your armed with some basics of pay-structure, you’re ready to start your travel nurse contract negotiations. Before your even submitted for a specific position, you should have most of these items negotiated. You should know what your pay is going to be, what type of housing you will be living in (or how much the company is offering for housing stipend), what benefits are available, etc.

Travel Nurse Salary: A Comprehensive Guide

Navigating the world of nursing can be both rewarding and complex, with one of the most dynamic career paths being that of a travel nurse. This profession not only offers the opportunity to explore new places but also brings with it a unique salary structure. Let’s delve into the specifics of travel nurse salary and understand how it compares to traditional nursing roles.

Factors Affecting Travel Nurse Salary

The traveling nurse salary can vary based on several factors:

a. Specialty and Experience

Just like in traditional nursing roles, the more specialized your skills and the more experience you have, the higher the pay. Nurses in high-demand specialties like ICU, ER, or Labor & Delivery often command higher salaries.

b. Location

The location of the assignment can significantly affect the travel nursing salary. Positions in cities with a higher cost of living or those facing an acute nursing shortage may offer better compensation.

c. Assignment Duration

Though most assignments are around 13 weeks, some can be shorter or longer. The duration can influence the pay rate.

Average Travel Nurse Salary

The average travel nurse salary can be somewhat challenging to pin down because of the many influencing factors. However, as of recent data, travel nurses can expect to earn anywhere from $1,100 to over $3,000 per week, depending on the variables mentioned above. This means that annually, a travel nurse can earn between $50,000 to over $100,000. When comparing this range to the average salary of traditional staff nurses, it’s evident that travel nurses often have the potential to earn significantly more.

Additional Perks and Benefits

It’s worth noting that the travel nursing salary is just one component of the total compensation package. Travel nurses often receive:

a. Housing Stipends or Provided Housing

This is a major perk as it reduces the financial burden of living in a new city.

b. Travel Reimbursements

Many agencies will cover the cost of moving from one assignment to the next.

c. Bonuses

Some assignments come with sign-on or completion bonuses, adding to the overall earnings.

d. Benefits

Like health insurance, retirement plans, and professional development opportunities.

Travel Nurse Practitioner Salary

For those considering advancing their career, becoming a nurse practitioner (NP) can be an attractive option. The travel nurse practitioner’s salary is typically higher than that of a regular travel nurse. Depending on the specialty and region, travel NPs can earn between $2,500 to $4,500 per week.


Have you joined our Travel Nurse Community?


By The Gypsy Nurse

August 8, 2018

17781 Views

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Step #12: Determine If The Job Is A Good Fit

Now that you’ve had the interview, the next step is determining if the position is a good fit for you.  Choosing a travel nurse job that is a good fit is important, even if you are only there for a short time.

One of the most stressful situations that can come up in travel nursing is having to leave a contract early. If you don’t take the time to figure out if a job is a good fit, you might end up in a situation where you are unsafe or overly stressed. On the other hand, if an assignment is a great fit, you could walk away with a new place to call home!

You should review (again) your deal-breakers.  Is the position going to meet them?  Now take a look at your wants and needs.  How does the position stack up?  Are they offering you above and beyond what you expected?  Are they falling short somewhere?

As we looked at Researching Travel Nurse Companies, we discussed checking into their reviews and asking questions.  I would encourage the same when choosing a travel nurse job.  Check out the forums, ask other travelers, and perform an internet search.

Questions to Consider When Choosing a Travel Nurse Job:

  • How does this position compare to others on your list?
  • Was the manager pleasant? Did they answer your questions or hurry you during the interview?
  • Was the interview well-organized?  Disorganization here may indicate disorganization on the job.
  •  Do the job responsibilities match your skills, experience, and interests?
  • Are you satisfied with the overall compensation package?
  • Will the position challenge you in a safe, productive way?
  • Does the position meet all of your Deal-Breakers?
What are some items that you look for in choosing a travel nurse job? Please post in the comments. When you are ready to seek out the next position, don’t forget to check out our new Job Listings.

Have you joined our Travel Nurse Community?

Follow the link and join today for even more support and resources.


You can return to the introduction or move forward or back using the article links below.

By The Gypsy Nurse

August 8, 2018

26427 Views

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Step #13: Sealing the Deal

You have come a long way.  You’ve completed steps 1-12 and are ready to move on to the next step; Sealing The Deal.  At this point, you need to know what to look for in a travel nurse contract, so you can move on to the exciting part: traveling to a new location!

Review the Travel Nurse Contract

First, make certain that your contract is acceptable.  Generally, if something is presented differently in your contract from what it was prior to submitting for the job, it is a simple clerical error the agency will need to fix. When you verbally accept an offer, it is contingent on the written contract being acceptable. If the written contract is unacceptable, simply tell your recruiter that you will accept it only if XYZ is changed. If they don’t change those things and provide you with a NEW contract, don’t accept and move on to another company.

Expert Tip:

Understand all aspects of the contract. Once signing the travel nurse contract, you are held to all of the terms of the contract.

In Step #11, we went through preliminary contract negotiations.  This was all done verbally; hopefully, you took some notes along the way.  Once you tell a recruiter that you want to accept the position, they will draw up a written contract for you.  It’s important that you READ your contract thoroughly.  Make certain that all the ‘promises’ that you discussed with the recruiter are included before signing the travel nurse contract.  No matter how small the issue, if it’s important to you, make certain that it’s written into the contract.  Go through your notes and check off each item that was agreed upon with the recruiter once you verify that it is addressed in the contract.

It’s also important that you understand everything that is in your contract. If there are items that you find confusing or don’t understand, ask your recruiter to explain. Once you sign the contract, you are held to all of the terms of the contract.

What to Look For in a Travel Nurse Contract:

  • Guaranteed Hours
  • Start and end date
  • Cancellation policy and maximums
  • Agreed time off
  • Missed hour penalties (sickness)
  • Housing location or stipend amount
    • This should include any housing promises, i.e., washer/dryer, TV, etc.
  • Hourly, holiday and overtime rates
  • Shift and unit
  • On Call requirements
  • Travel reimbursements and date of distribution
  • Floating agreements
  • Any benefits offered
  • Any penalties for early termination need to be detailed and understandable.

Before signing the travel nurse contract, take time to read it thoroughly. If you have someone you trust, you could have them read through the contract as a double check.

If there are issues with the contract, inform your recruiter immediately and DO NOT sign.  Once the contract has been corrected to your liking, there is usually a way to sign and submit it digitally.  Always opt to email yourself a copy of the signed contract, just in case you need it.

Communication on All Submissions

You have probably submitted for more than one position with most likely more than one company.  It’s important to remember that you should make certain to notify all parties once you have accepted a contract.  Give your respectful declinations to any companies that you are not going to be working with and let them know that their hard work was appreciated and you will check with them when your contract is coming to a close. If there are submissions pending, ask them to withdraw them.

Don’t burn bridges here. Simply communicate professionally. This is a business, and if you’ve been upfront about working with multiple companies, it’s expected that you may rotate through a few different companies depending on job availability and your needs.

Have you joined our Travel Nurse Community?

Follow the link and join today for even more support and resources.