Because travel nurses get to decide which city they work in, they can often find better deals in another area than they would locally.  For example, a more rural nurse could make about $45,000 a year.  However, if they got travel nurse job in a more metropolitan area, such as San Francisco, the average salary could go up to and past the $70,000 mark.

As with many nursing positions, the more education you have the better.  For example, an average travel nurse makes a salary of $55,000 a year when all 50 states are figured in according to Simply Hired.  However, the same site lists the average salary for travel registered nurse as $61,000.   Because travel nurses go where they are needed rather than wait for demand in their hometowns to increase, there is more potential for better pay.

And these are just the measurable benefits of salary increase.  There are also tons of other benefits to becoming a travel nurse.  Employers who really need nurses can also pay for living expenses, moving, sign up bonuses, and more which can literally add thousands to base salary.  Other benefits of becoming a travel nurse can include a tax advantage called Per Diem.  This is when the traveling nurse maintains a home but is not able to live there because of work duties.  Because travel nurses can often have expenses outside of what an employer pays, these expenses often come with tax breaks.

The downside to becoming a travel nurse is that there is loads of traveling, which can be hard on families.  There are also limitations when a nursing license is earned in one state but the nurse wants to work in another.  However, each of the 50 states has their own rules for accepting nurses from the other 49 states and there is also the Nurse Licensure Compact which enables multistate licensure for nurses, so be sure and speak to a travel nurse expert before embarking on a new career.

At first, signing up for these various programs seems like a great deal but later down the road, most don’t know how they work or what these loyalty programs are actually offering. In many cases, Travel Nurse loyalty programs are the same way. Each agency has their own version of such programs, some that are fairly simple and easy to follow, while others have many stipulations in place that make it nearly impossible to actually redeem any sort of bonus.

The paradox, says Mark Johnson, president and CEO of loyalty marketing think tank Loyalty 360, is that consumers are more engaged with and more 
demanding of brands than ever. “Loyalty is no longer about points for a purchase,” he explains. “Consumers are looking for ways to engage with brands who listen to them. Loyalty is about timeliness and relevancy. You have to understand each individual and how often they want to be engaged. Your offer must be unique and tailored to each person and delivered through the channel they want it delivered through.”

As a Travel Nurse, it is highly important to find that one agency that fits to your ideals and values, while offering you the best in customer service… However, if you’re just in it for the money, you may not have a chance to experience what it’s like to be a valued “customer.” In it’s most basic form, a loyalty program is designed to thank Travel Nurses for their devotion to the agency, and if you’ve found one that lives up to your expectations and offers a loyalty program, well that’s just icing on the cake!

Before signing any contracts with an agency, it’s very important to inquire about the various benefits offered, from paid time off to Completion and Loyalty bonuses. Read the fine print associated with the bonus programs, make sure that the goals set out are attainable and that your hours or points don’t expire within a certain amount of time. Many programs make it difficult for the traveler to redeem such bonuses let alone keep track of. Below we’ve listed a number of Loyalty Programs being offered to the Travel Nurse community. If you know of any others, please add them to our comment section.

Travel Nurse Across America – Complete 1300 hours of work (approximately 3 assignments) with Travel Nurse across America and enjoy your choice of cash bonuses, paid vacation, housing perks, or other rewards.

CoreMedica Group - CoreMedical Group rewards their travel nurse, travel allied health, and permanent placement staff by offering them the ability to qualify for the company’s all-inclusive, annual trip to the Caribbean.

Fastaff – The 3 level bonus program will apply to all assignments beginning or ending between 7/31/11 and 1/15/12. Bonuses will only be paid upon COMPLETION of an assignment.

Advantage RN – Advantage RN offers its travel nurses Loyalty Bonuses of $250 — $500 on every 13-week extension you accept with us. (Please note: nurses have the choice to continue their FREE single insurance OR receive a Loyalty Bonus with each extension.)

HGI Healthcare – We’re also with you every step of the way with rewards and other perks that demonstrate our commitment to RNs by rewarding you for your dedication to your patients, and your loyalty to us.

Onward Healthcare – Onward Healthcare offers one of the most comprehensive travel nursing bonus plans in the industry, including up to $5,000 completion bonuses for select travel assignments. These bonuses are paid upon the completion of your assignment and are detailed in your travel contract. We also offer renewal bonuses on select assignments of thirteen weeks or longer.

Aureus – Other bonuses, including sign-on and completion bonuses, vary from travel assignment to assignment but are often available.

Procel Nurses – All Travelers earn a Loyalty Bonus throughout the year. The bonus is earned upon each 1000 hours worked in one year. Your recruiter will tell you all about it.

Medical Solutions is also launching a new Loyalty Program for travel nurses at the start of 2012. It’s one of the easiest explained traveling nurse loyalty programs in the industry. Simply work 600 hours and they’ll pay you $600. Work another 600 hours and earn another $600… All throughout the new year.

Salary Differences

Before you weigh in the benefits that you wish to receive, it’s good to know what your starting pay will be. In general, Northern and Western states seem to provide greater pay than Southern states. This can vary, as salary can change based on a healthcare unit’s location, how in need of staff they are, specific staffing needs, and if a nurse were to negotiate.

It would also be wise to consider the location of the hospital or nursing unit, as the cost of living may be tremendous in different cities of a particular state. This can certainly have a large impact on what may sound like a decent salary.

Tax Benefits and Reimbursements

Living away from your home, certain companies may provide Tax Advantage or Per Diem pay. With this tax break, you live in a home near the location of your job site, which is covered through these tax benefits (called a “tax home”), along with other general living expenses. There is a catch. In regards to W-2 employees, when you claim these benefits, you must use itemized deductions rather than a Standard Deduction. Basically your itemized deduction could mean a bigger tax break, but the Standard could be larger. This varies from person to person, and for their each individual taxes. A good idea is to check out a list of itemized tax deductions and to know the basis of your taxes to know for sure.

If a specific company has an accountable plan, than this can be highly beneficial to your taxes. Without this plan, implications could be caused. You must qualify for an accountable plan to gain the proper reimbursements, which are not taxed and should not be added to a W-2 form.

Beware, for certain travel companies will often encourage traveling nurses and the like to take tax benefits which they do not qualify for. This puts the nurse at high risk of an audit by the IRS – with consequence of penalties and possibly more extreme offenses if unapproved taxes are filed.

Additional Help

It is worth it to know everything that you can for your beneficial needs when choosing a Travel Nursing Company to work for. The more resources you have, and the more research done, can only contribute to your search for a decent job provider. Remember that it’s possible to negotiate, and can save you a lot of time searching for just the right company.

For more information on the field of nurse traveling and for additional support, the Professional Association of Nurse Travelers is a great non-profit organization with a mission to cultivate safe, humane, and impartial work environments for, the over 25,000, American, nurse travelers and other travelers in the healthcare industry. They provide protection, education and aspects of business for both new and experienced members.

Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blogger for First in Education where she’s recently written about pharmacy degree programs along with a guide to epidemiologist jobs. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, traveling, and working with origami.

Just need guidance on insurance coverage. Just found out not covered during my time off if I don’t sign with same company before end of assignment. Although I was told differently, how do others deal with this. I have md appts during my time off between assignments perfect time right? Now I learn won’t be covered unless I resign which won’t happen and new assignment doesn’t cover till new start date. I can’t afford cobra for 4 months. Please help with direction on how to do this. Thanks.

Ask a Travel Nurse Answer:

Hey Sean. You’ve discovered the reason that many travelers actually decline their company’s insurance and seek private insurance. For those of us who travel a few times a year or enjoy taking extended breaks between assignments, insurance becomes a big issue.

Insurance coverage with many companies can last through the end of the month when you complete an assignment (although some companies have even stopped doing this). There is no doubt that providing employees health insurance is one of a company’s largest expenses. Therefore, no company is going to continue your coverage if you are not actively working for them.

For me, I try to plan all my doctor visits while on assignment and make sure I use the mail order prescription program with my company so that I can have a three month medication supply sent to me just prior to ending an assignment. I also have a major medical plan with an insurance company that just covers major injuries or hospitalizations during my times not on assignment.

Unfortunately, today’s health options are not kind, or affordable, to independent contractors (which is essentially what we are). I don’t know what to tell you to do regarding your scheduled appointments, but you can certainly see the need for forethought on your next assignment. If you really need to see these docs, you might have to spring for a month of Cobra. Explain the situation to your doctor so that maybe they can give you med samples for anything you might require.

Also, make sure you get ANYTHING you are counting on from your assignment, in writing. When someone now says, “Well I think….”, my mind just cuts them off right then and there because chances are they have NO IDEA how it actually works. We work under contracts which often provide little protection for the travel nurse. However, they do serve the purpose of documenting what we should expect to receive as part of our assignment benefits. I’m sorry that this will have to be a live and learn situation, but seasoned travelers have walked in your same shoes.

If you don’t have many health problems, consider private insurance. Talk with many agents to find a carrier that will be right for you. Will take some time and effort, but you might just find a carrier that is better than any travel company insurance you have had.

Sorry there is no quick fix for this, but I hope I have helped some.

David
Travel Nurses Bible.com
david@travelnursesbible.com

In their quest to attract Registered Nurses with superior track records, every Travel Nursing Agency tries to go one step further than their contemporaries in providing various benefits and perks to health care personnel, especially nurses. Due to the very widely known shortage of qualified nursing personnel, nurses such as RN’s, CNA’s, LVN’s etc. in various specialties are having a field day that they truly deserve.

The salaries offered to a travel nurse, calculated and paid in per hour intervals have literally gone through the roof. Ranging from anywhere between 30 to 50 dollars per hour a traveling nurse now makes at least 10 to 30 percent more than her permanent counterpart. The salary depends upon many factors. The location, like for example an urban location will be more paying due to the fact that it is also more costly to live in. Similarly, a rural or small town location would generally have a lower per hour salary, because it is cheaper to live there, comparatively. The salary also depends upon the seriousness of the shortage in that state / location. Due to certain factors, there are places not many nurses want to go to. So, the per hour salary is higher there, to attract nursing personnel to come and work there. The agreed upon salary is paid weekly or once in two weeks.

Some travel nursing agencies now also offer what is called a signing bonus. This is basically an amount of money that is paid to a nurse to sign the employee contract with the agency. This may either be issued immediately upon the contract signing, or on the day the nurse begins duty. Of course, differing from agency to agency, it may range from between $500 to $1500.

Travel Agencies also offer a relocation assistance and reimbursement amount to a nurse that signs up with them. This consists of but is not limited to the amount of money that a nurse would spend to move his / her belongings to the new place of work that could be on the other side of the country too. It may also include assistance to set up a complete home and life in a new place. Help with various products and services such as schools for children, car purchase, bank account opening, cable tv, internet services, telephone services, nanny services, etc.

Stay tuned for more benefits of travel nursing from Shabbir Kagalwala.

Ask a Travel Nurse Question:

I am going to be taking my first travel position and need some help understanding what they are quoting me. Originally they offered me $33.00 per hour and then when I received the contract it was quoted as $23.00 per hour (taxed) and $410.00 per week that would be untaxed. I am having a difficult time deciphering if this is a good deal or not? (Also included is housing at an extended stay hotel, license reimbursement-$200, and $300 transportation bonus) I would greatly appreciate some help with how the tax free money thing works.

Employers know that asking a nurse to work at a different location every day is asking a lot. For this reason, the pay is generally higher. Travel nurses must be adaptable to new situations and be personable. These premium skills earn better pay.

Contractor or Temporary Employee

Even though many travel nurses work as independent contractors, many others earn excellent benefits, such as 401K match, Health Insurance, continuing education, licensure reimbursement, life and/or disability insurance, loyalty rewards, bonuses, tax shelters, and travel expense reimbursement.

Flexibility

Besides great benefits and pay, traveling nurses enjoy the flexibility of time off whenever they want it. They can take time between jobs, knowing another assignment will be waiting for them when they return. That freedom extends to a nurse’s lifestyle too. Some even choose to live in RVs, reducing the cost of living and maximizing their earnings. These nurses often earn a housing stipend, regardless.

Independent contractors generally pay their own expenses, but they receive a much higher pay rate to cover those costs. Independent contractors enjoy simpler paperwork since they do not need to provide receipts or proof of the expenses. Contractors also enjoy more tax-deductable expenses.

What to Expect

When asked about his career, one traveling nurse said, “I like the freedom, the financial reward, the actual traveling, the challenges, the being able to go places and do things I would never have done or been able to do. Just last December my wife and I went to Brazil to vacation after working in the Virgin Islands, then the Florida Keys and maybe a cruise next or just go home and take a break.”

That kind of freedom is rare in any profession, much less one that pays so well. Traveling nurses can make about $100,000 per year. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average nursing wage is $62,450. The middle 50% made only about $50,000. Therefore, traveling nurses can earn twice as much as those who commit to employment at a single location.

That’s why we make sure our students know about traveling nursing and the excellent opportunities available to them in this profession. While some prefer the predictability of working at one location, many look for the freedom, excitement and opportunity that travel nursing can give.

Make sure to give yourself enough time to find all the deductions possible for a travel nurse.

“Some travel nurses may not be aware that there are numerous tax breaks associated with this career choice,” says Tera Tuten, director of operations for NurseJungle.com.  “It can be extremely time-consuming to read IRS documents and decipher what applies and what doesn’t…”

If thinking about taxes gives you an ill feeling, fear not for there is help. Many websites on the internet and tax preparation companies can help you figure out exactly what you need to do to file your taxes correctly, and more importantly find you those many tax breaks afforded to a traveling nurse. In order for you to be eligible for deductions and breaks you must meet two very important criteria.

1. Tax Home.

A tax home is simply defined as the place where you reside for the majority of the year.  This is your permanent residence—the home you return to between assignments.  This is the residence that produces significant and recurring expenses, such as a mortgage or rent payment.  By determining your tax home, you are setting up the groundwork for travel deductions because you can show that you are often leaving your permanent residence to travel to another location to work for an extended period of time.  To show proof of your tax residence, it’s important to remember to:

• Maintain your driver’s license and car registration in your tax home state;
• Be a registered voter in your tax state;
• Maintain proof of your residence, such as mortgage documents and/or rent receipts;
• Return to your tax home at least once each year and file a tax return in your home state.

What if I don’t have a permanent residence? If you travel so much that you do not have a permanent residence (your housing at each assignment becomes your permanent residence), you are ineligible for travel deductions because, by IRS definition, you are a transient and aren’t truly traveling.

2. What is considered “temporary?’

Temporary, according to the IRS, is anything less than 12 months.  If you worked in one assignment during the entire previous calendar year, you are not eligible for IRS deductions.

Once you’ve determined your tax home and have determined your travel nursing assignments were indeed temporary, it’s time to take advantage of the many deductions available for you.

So if you meet these two all important criterion, then you can expect to receive some hefty breaks when it comes time to file your taxes for 2010… As long as you have proof. Being a travel nurse, it is wise to save every receipt from any transaction that happened while you were on assignment, as long as it pertains to your job. Meals, travel, housing, and other work-related expenses are all eligible for deductions so long as you have the receipt. Other important documents you want to keep are your contracts from the staffing agencies. Whether you worked for one or many different companies, you’ll want to save the contract because it holds vital details that can make the tax process much easier.

If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed, here are some sites to help you get your taxes in order.

Travel Tax – Featured in Healthcare Traveler magazine, Locum Life, PAN Travelers, Delphi Forums and National Public Radio. The company has 17 plus years experience in Travel Nurse Taxes. Started by a traveler for travelers. Starting this week, Travel Tax will be hosting a number of different tax seminars all across the country as well as audio conferences if you’re not able to attend the live sessions. To see the scheduled dates and times, visit Travel Tax tax seminars.

Download a Travel Nurse Tax Guide provided by Kobaly.com.

Take advantage of the Travel Nursing Tax Advantage Plan… Visit TravelNurseToolbox.com to learn more.

If all else fails, remember you can always consult your recruiter and their company for help with your taxes. Good luck!

The tax information contained on TravelNursingBlogs.com and from any communication related to this blog is for information purposes only. Please consult with your personal accountant or tax preparers for any matters concerning your own income taxes.

Salary: Location and Competition

Depending on location, an hourly wage that flutters between $30 and $40 is fundamental.  According to one traveling nurse, California generally pays more, but the cost of living is also higher.  To get the extra pay, travel nurses may need to make sacrifices in comfort.  For example, Arizona bleeds sweat and misery in its brutally hot summers, but the pay can make up for it (it is for the individual travel nurse to judge).  If one enjoys the snow, however, one can also enjoy getting paid more to spend time in it, such as in Wisconsin or other areas of the upper Midwest in winter.

As with many other job opportunities, those located in areas lacking in nurses are usually willing to pay more handsomely than areas brimming with competition.  If one is truly dedicated, overtime hours are also an option.

Non-Salary Perks of Travel Nursing

As the healthcare landscape slowly molds and bends, many individuals are choosing to not only go RN but to opt for travel nurse agency jobs.  The duties are similar but there are undeniable perks, salary not being the only one.

Nurses fascinated with travel, photography, meeting new people, and experiencing new flavors, may enjoy the fundamental aspect of travel nursing: traveling.  A traveling nurse may visit opposite ends of the country every 6 weeks; he or she is also allowed ample time to vacation.

Furthermore, the agency pays for relocations, utilities, housing, and bonuses, and depending on the length of each assignment, the agency may also pay up to $3,000.  Sign-on and renewal bonuses are also to be noted.

When the duties of a travel nurse are basically the same as a non-traveling nurse, these aspects start to look more like reasons than perks.

Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She writes for the Online Universities Site, where recently she’s been researching different pharmacist degrees and blogging about student life. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

Travel Nursing Benefits

If you have been looking into travel nursing you are probably aware of the standard benefits that many companies offer, such as:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• 401K
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Paid Housing
• Free CEUS
• Licensure Reimbursement
• Ceritification Reimbursement
• Direct Deposit

Travel Nursing Bonuses

You are probably also well aware of the typical bonuses offered by many travel nurse companies as well, these usually include:

• Loyalty
• Referral
• Hiring or Sign-On
• Completion

Travel Nursing Perks

But one of the more fun aspects of the travel nursing benefits packages offered by traveling nurse agencies are the little discount programs many offer their travelers. You can find them at companies websites under their benefits section with a heading like Perks Programs, Rewards or Discounts. These are often discounts at nationwide vendors some of the most common include:

• Hotels
• Online Shopping Retailers
• Computers
• Cell Phones
• AAA Memberships
• Rental Cars
• Moving Trucks
• Vehicle Relocation
• Gym Memberships
• Supplemental Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Scrub

Some of the most unique ones out there are:

• Laser Vision Surgery
• Flowers
• Perfume
• Tires
• Wholesaler
• Tuition Reimbursement

So when you are evaluating travel nursing companies and are hitting a snag in deciding which ones to contact, try checking out their rewards programs and see if they have any fun discounts that perk your interest. They may not have a direct impact on your assignment and should not affect your pay, but they may be an indicator of how much the company cares about creating a great experience for their nurses.

Now by “getting the most”, that does not always mean pay rate, but since that seems to be foremost on the minds of travelers, let’s look at that aspect first.

When looking at your hourly rate, you need to figure out what other things your travel company is offering, especially if you are deciding between two travel companies. Like the example we looked at last week, if one company is offering two dollars more an hour, is it really a better deal if their housing stipend is $300/month less?

If you are trying to maximize your hourly rate, and that is your only concern, many companies will allow you to give up benefits like housing, health insurance, or travel reimbursement and make more of an hourly rate. While you should always consider giving up any services you do not need, it never really makes much sense to earn a few dollars more an hour and be without health insurance. However, if you can get a better rate than your travel company on housing or insurance, go for it.

Also, after you have a few assignments with one company, you can start asking for completion bonuses, an upgrade in housing, or perks such as having a TV provided in your apartment. While the economy is still rebounding, these items are not as common as they once were, but once you have shown a company you are willing to stay loyal to them, they should be willing to go that extra step to keep you as a traveler.

If there are special concerns or needs, you should be able to ask your travel company to accommodate you. If you need the extra space of a two bedroom apartment, ask your company to see if one is available and how much extra it would be. Your company might be willing to share that cost or help you get a better deal on that unit. I once specified that I wanted a second floor apartment and all the complex had on the second floor were two bedroom units. My travel company was able to get me a second floor, two-bedroom unit, for the same rate as a one bedroom.

Your company only makes a certain amount off of your services, so they do only have so much with which they can work. However, everything should be negotiable and if you need to make a few dollars more an hour or need a little bit more for travel reimbursement, let your recruiter know. Also, if you are considering switching travel companies, always let your old company know what you are thinking. Often, the company with which you have traveled will try to match or beat any offers from rival companies.

Good communication is often the key to many solutions in life and it is certainly the key to getting everything you can out of a travel contract.

My instant reaction was, “um, ask?”  While that answer is essentially what I conveyed, her question does bring about an interesting point. When did a pay rate start to include more than what you are to be paid on an hourly basis? If that last sentence seems clear as mud, let me try to add some clarity.

Most of the time when you apply for a job, you are told what you will make as an hourly wage. Then, they tell you what things you will receive in addition to your salary such as health insurance, dental plan, number of paid vacation days, etc. However, some travel companies have now developed sort of an a la carte menu when it comes to what things are thrown in when quoting you an hourly wage.

As an example, when I was looking for an assignment last year and trying to determine which company I would use, I had several companies that had contracts at the same hospital. However, the pay rates seemed to be all over the board. It was only with a close examination of each that I was able to compare apples to apples.

One company quoted me an hourly wage at $28 an hour, with day one benefits and a $1200 a month housing stipend (we’ll call them Company A). Another company told me that they could get me into the same hospital at a rate of $35 an hour with day one benefits and a housing stipend of $1000 a month (Company B). A third company told me that their “effective rate” for that hospital was over $40 an hour (Company C). With such drastic differences in an hourly wage, I needed to investigate further to find out which company was truly offering the best contract.

I used Company A as a basis. I wrote down everything they were offering and then went to Company B to find out why their rate was so much higher. It was not until after a few conversations with my recruiter that I learned that when Company B said my rate was to be $35 an hour, they had already factored my $1000 a month housing stipend into the rate. Company A’s quote was an hourly rate of $28 an hour PLUS $1200 a month for housing. If you divide $1200 by 144 (the number of hours I would have worked in one month), then you have $8.33. This is how much extra I would earn an hour if I figured my housing allowance from Company A into their hourly rate ($28 an hour plus the housing at $8.33 an hour, would bring my hourly wage to $36.33). Otherwise, both Company A and Company B had similar benefits and finding no other surprises, that meant that Company A (whose original hourly rate quote was much lower than Company B) would actually pay me about $200 a month more than Company B ($1.33 an hour difference in rate times 144 hours worked in a month = $191.52 a month difference).

Now all I had left to compare was Company C. First, I had to have a conversation with my recruiter to learn what this new “effective rate” meant. It turns out that the company was now starting to break down all of its services and include them in their hourly rate quote. Which means that while Company B factored the housing stipend in to my hourly rate, Company C was factoring in everything AND the kitchen sink (this included the base salary, a housing stipend of $1150, health and dental insurance, travel allowance, and even reimbursement for my state license). When everything factored in was removed except for the base rate, Company C was actually paying the lowest of all three companies.

What you can take from all of this is simply to scrutinize the quotes you receive from recruiters. Ask them “Will I receive $1000 a month for my housing stipend in addition to making $30 an hour OR is the $1000 stipend already figured into that $30 an hour rate?”

When in doubt, ask, and ask again. Once you fully understand what they are offering, ask for it in writing. Everyone should sign a contract before starting work on a travel assignment. If the contract does not say the things you were promised, you need to have your company amend the contract to wording that makes you feel secure or simply tell them it does not reflect what you were promised and you would prefer to work with someone else.

Bottom line, ask tons of questions until you develop a good working relationship with your recruiter. Always get things in writing, and don’t be afraid to walk away from an assignment if things don’t feel on the up and up. Next week we’ll take a look at getting the most out of your contract.

I’m sure most of our readers are well aware of the current state of job availability and it’s effect on the economy. The business of travel nurses is somewhat down but it seems to be making a slight rebound and there are more jobs available every day. To make the most out of being a traveling nurse these days you must be open, very open to any and all jobs that are out there. Sure it may not be the most glorious of locations but you can still reap the benefits, just without a beach that is within reach. It all depends on what you’re willing to sacrifice and during times like these, it’s not wise to be choosy. Now is the time to make the most out of any situation and prepare yourself financially for what may seem like an uncertain future.

Most staffing agencies have similar benefit packages available to their travelers, so whoever you choose, make sure what they offer is at least comparable to the others you’ve been investigating. One of these benefits that you must enroll yourself in is a retirement matching program (401K, investment plans, etc.). It’s basically free money to you and all you need to do is contribute at least enough to utilize all of the matching available. The money is taken out of your checks before taxes and applied towards your retirement and what’s best is you’ll never even know it was missing.

Another financial best practice for traveling nurses is to bank and pay your bills online. Many of the credit card, banks  and utility companies offer some sort of incentive for using the online method of transactions and these can all add up to significant savings. Banking online is a huge time saver, no more digging through piles of statements and whatnot. Instead you can log-in to your account and monitor your account any time of day and see exactly where and how you are spending your money.

As a traveling nurse your next position may not come that easy and there’s a chance that there could be a gap between employment. The best thing you can do to prepare yourself for this situation is a “rainy day fund” or savings account. It’s already hard enough out there, so why not make yourself a little security blanket for just in case?

The mobile lifestyle of a traveling nurse is fast paced and often exciting! There’s so much to see and do that you haven’t done before and it’s easy to want to do it all in the little time you have. Of course the smart thing to do would be to pace yourself. A lot of things you may want to do and try come with a price and it would be wise to not live above your means. Take care of your credit card balances and checking account first. All these activities and events can add up quickly and drain your pocketbook in no time.

These simple practices can go a long way in helping you save and prepare for what is to be bright future for traveling nurses. Employing these techniques into your lifestyle can work wonders for your peace of mind and more importantly your cash flow. You work so hard already and you deserve the opportunities to enjoy the fruits of your labor – but maybe not all the time. Be smart with your funds and soon you’ll learn that living securely is far better than going all out on the weekends and struggling to make it to the next check. Trust me, I’ve done that!

Check out our Travel Nursing Salary Calculator which enables you to compare salaries to that of perm nurses around the country. This tool will help you gauge what you should at least be making when traveling to different cities during your travel nursing career.

The answer to her question depended on many specifics. If looking at it from a strictly monetary point of view, (as in, which would be cheaper?), then we can take a look at the following example:

Let’s say that your mortgage was $900 a month, but to rent an apartment and use that as your “tax home”, it would only cost you $600 a month. Sure, you are paying $300 less monthly, but then what are you buying for that $600? Then again, maybe your mortgage is only $100 in difference between the two and you rationalize that for an extra $100 a month, you would rather have the house as an investment. But, then you must think about what services you will need while you are away. By the time you hire someone to cut the grass and maintain upkeep on the house, maybe you are back at a difference of $300 between keeping the house verses renting.

I personally am a fan of real estate. Even in this market, if you buy something practical, it should be an investment that returns your money and then some. I have a condo in Ohio and did use that as my “tax home” while I traveled. It worked well because I could leave for months at a time and not have to worry about anything outside (the condo association takes care of all that). I did have my father look in on the place from time to time, but he never had to do anything.  
 
I went back last year and turned my condo into a rental because I wanted to take advantage of the home market in Phoenix. This eliminated my condo as a “tax home” because I was no longer duplicating my expenses (which is one criteria for the tax deduction). However, I purchased a home in Phoenix and the next time I take a travel assignment out the Phoenix area, I will use this new home as my “tax home”.  
 
You can probably claim an apartment as a tax home if you are still paying to maintain it while you travel. I have to say “probably” because when it comes to tax deductions, everyone’s specific situation will be different (now is probably a good time to add that old disclaimer: see your tax advisor for more information). 
 
But, I won’t leave all of you hanging without a great resource. Joseph Smith is a tax advisor who also contributed to the chapter on taxes in my book on travel nursing. He was once a traveler himself and works preparing tax returns for other travelers. He is on the web at http://www.traveltax.com. His website also has a lot of good information on taxes for the traveling professional.

Whether you choose to rent or own, having an established “tax home” can help you add extra income to your pocket by taking part in your travel nurse company’s tax advantage program (many companies offer this, but not all). If you are deciding between the two aforementioned options, work the numbers yourself and see which might be best for you. If you need help with the calculations, try contacting Joseph at Travel Tax for some professional assistance.

Two great resources for tax information for the traveler are Kobaly.com and Traveltax.com. The later of these two is the site of Joseph Smith who actually contributed content to my book in the chapter on taxes. Joseph was actually once a traveling professional himself and has quite a bit of information posted on his website.

Since everyone will have different circumstances under which they travel, you should always seek the information that is specific to your situation. If you require more assistance, I always recommend finding a tax professional like the two mentioned above.

Send us your “Ask a Travel Nurse Question”

You can find just about any app that pertains to an interest of yours and if you haven’t taken a chance to find all the great apps available for travelers like yourself you may be missing out on some simple tools that can make your life as a travel nurse a lot easier. That’s why we have compiled this list of websites that have put together some of the best lists of iPhone travel apps on the web. And if you aren’t one of the early adopting travel nurses and find yourself without an iPhone you may not want to visit any of the links below or you may get jealous or even find yourself switching cell phone plans.

Top iPhone Apps for Travelers

Useful iPhone Apps for Travelers

AK Tech Girl: iPhone Apps for Travelers

In Pictures: 12 iPhone Apps For Business Travelers

We have also taken this chance to compile a list of nursing iPhone Apps:

Nursing Central: The all-in-one mobile and web solution for Nursing

A total solution for nurses with everything from info on diseases and procedures to nursing journal updates and a massive medical terms dictionary plus a whole lot more important stuff for nurses.

Epocrates Essentials

A premium drug and disease reference with hundreds of diagnostic and laboratory tests. And free updated medical news!

Epocrates RX

A free drug guide with formulary information and drug interaction checker. Plus free updates and medical news!

Kaplan Math for Nurses

An app to help you with commonly needed math formulas needed in the nurse workplace.

Kaplan Medical Terms

An app to help you learn or remember over 2000 terms commonly used by nurses.

Kaplan NCLEX-RN Medications Flashcards

With this app you get over 300 medication flashcards meant to help you study for the NCLEX.

You can study for the NCLEX with this series of apps from Mosby.

Mosbys NCLEX Review Questions for the NCLEX-RN® Exam: Childbearing & Womens Health

Mosbys NCLEX Review Questions for the NCLEX-RN® Exam: Medical-Surgical

Mosby’s Review Questions for the NCLEX-RN® Exam: Pediatric

PEPID

With this nursing app you are provided with free and platinum apps that assist with clinical decision making with support information and tools for doctors, nurses, emergency medical teams, and students.

BoardReview

This nursing app gives you free and expanded study tools for medical and nursing students.

Medical Spanish

Use this app to communicate with your Spanish speaking patients.

And since social networking is so important for travel nurses who want to stay in touch with their family and friends, don’t forget about the iPhone’s good old fashioned social networking apps. These websites have compiled some of the best and most popular ones out there.

iPhone Apps for Social Networks

10 Social Networking Apps for Your New iPhone 3G

Are there any iPhone users out there on the travel nursing road? If so what are some of your favorite apps? Besides the applications available in the aftermarket the phone itself has a lot of built in features that I can no longer live without. See for yourself at one of 251 Apple stores worldwide or any authorized retailer of Apple products. I’ve had a previous post about the iPhone, but let me reitirate… You can make phone calls, search the internet, watch movies, listen to music and on and on and on. The capabilities are endless it seems and this summer Apple is rumored to be releasing the 3rd generation iPhone. It will probably have a larger storage capacity and new features like sending pics/video, the much needed cut & paste feature and stronger connectivity to the internet, oh my! I know I can’t wait. Though I still use the OG of iPhones, I may look into getting a newer version. I must say though, I am not pleased with the service AT&T provides.

Since moving into my house I quickly realized that this cellular technology is not all that it’s cracked up to be. While at home I get NO SERVICE, unless I plug it in to the dock, which must be connected to the computer. Then and only then can I make a phone call, oh and it has to be on speaker because if I move it. Dropped call. Ugh! Don’t get me wrong… Besides that, the iPhone is fantastic. It’s just the service, which is ridiculous! I live in a major metropolitan area (Omaha, NE) and there should be no trouble getting a signal. Apparently AT&T think differently. Ha, no pun intended, Apple! I’ve called a number of times and all they say is, “we’re sorry, we’ll put in an order to our network folks…” Blah, blah, blah! DO SOMETHING or watch me petition for Verizon! Okay, I’m getting off the mark here. Bottomline. iPhone is great for all it can do when it can do it. LIke I said, go see for yourself and if you do get one, hit me up on Twitter/Twinkle… Screen name, Phunkywonder.

There are many opportunities to save money at tax time. This is one of those times you need to invest to save. Find a reputable tax expert who has experience and credentials to deal with your situation as a traveler.

Far too often we listen to people without knowing the facts.

If you question a deduction and need another opinion phone the help line at the source. Internal Revenue Service and each state have a help line. Most people who run these help desk are very informative. If you phone and are not happy with the service, call again and ask for a supervisor. Always keep names and dates when you call.

It is very important to learn the facts when it comes to taxes. Each person’s situation is different. Avoid evil things happening to you at tax time by dealing with the facts and getting professional advice.

From John and Janet http://www.travel-nurse-coach.com

While there are definite steps you should take when this happens to you, like contacting your company and recruiter right away, this series of The Ultimate List of Travel Nursing Questions should help you learn more about the company you are working with up front. Which will help you avoid a bad travel nursing assignment before it begins. Check it out. What other questions have you found helpful to ask.

Travel Nursing Questions List 1: Housing

• Is housing furnished? (bed, night stand, couches, tables, etc.)
• Are utilities paid? Up to how much do they pay? Which Utilities are not paid for?
• What kind of housing do you offer? Is it private or shared?
• Is it an apartment or house?
• Can I have Pets?
• How close is your housing to the hospital?
• Does the travel nursing assignment allow me to bring my spouse or significant other, children, pets) Are there charges if I do?
• When doing housing through your company can I have a part in choosing our own apartment so we can maybe negotiate with the apartment complex for even better deals?
• Is there a housing package for things such as the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom? (ie: pots/pans, utensils, towels, sheets?)
• Does the housing you offer come with washer and dryers? If so where is it located? (eg: my room or within the complex?) If in the complex, do I have to pay to use it?
• What about phone service, Internet (wireless), cable?  Are they included or do I pay for those?
• How much sooner than my assignment start and end date am I allowed to move in and out?
• Am I able to see where my room would be located in an apartment layout? Such as close to streets, parks and which floors?
• Does the housing I am offered come with A/C and/or heat or would I have to find a way to take care of those needs myself?
• Am I able to know the actual square feet of my apartment before and also see an exact layout of where the rooms are located to make sure the sq. ft. is right for me?
• Do you offer an extended stay option instead?

I’m sure there are questions I am missing. What other questions have you found helpful to ask.

However, there are several advantages to working with a company that are difficult for a nurse to handle on their own. For starters you would have to carry your own own insurance (general, professional, worker’s comp) which is more expensive and sometimes individuals cannot qualify or afford the levels a hospital requires.  You would also have to worry about your own housing, which can be difficult to set up for a three month period, but travel nursing companies have entire departments devoted to setting this up for you. By working with a company you also have access to a 401k program and health and dental insurance. 

So yes you may get more money, but the work on the back end and lack of insurance would be pretty difficult to overcome. If any of you have ever worked this way as a travel nurse though. Let me know, I would to hear how it worked out for you.

• Experience Midwest hospitality!
• Visit the world famous zoo or catch a College World Series game or dine and shop in the historic Old Market!
• Reputable hospital, 24 bed ICU needs help right away!
• Travel nurse needed for night shift, 7p – 7a.
• Completion bonus available.

More Info about this travel nursing job