There are benefits that can be provided, there are perks, incentives, and of course the hourly pay or salary.
Nurses that are looking to become a traveling nurse are often told how much money can be made.
There is a pay incentive, but that is not all that attracts people to the travel nursing profession.
Pay should be thought of, not just as the dollars on your paycheck, but you should add in other benefits that are provided.
These benefits would otherwise come out of your pocket.
Traveling nurses are very highly paid.
It is often quoted that they receive ten to fifteen percent more than their non-traveling counterparts do.
Thirty to forty dollars an hour is considered a normal range of pay for a traveling nurse.
While this may seem very appealing, it does come at a cost.
Remember traveling nurses are contract nurses.
If there is no contract, there is no pay.
Some agencies may try to hold onto some nurses, by providing them a minimal paycheck between contracts; it is not very common and should not be counted upon.
If you are a traveling nurse, you should always maintain a budget that will allow you to save for times when you may not have a contract immediately available.
It is not often that you are without work, but you will always want to be ready.
There are other forms of payment.
They are just as good as cash because you do not have to pay for them out of your own pocket.
The most obvious form is in health benefits.
While different agencies will offer different benefits, it is not uncommon that they will provide you with the same type of insurance that the hospitals do.
Agencies will vary, but some will cover all health insurance premiums.
This is a great benefit since this sort of insurance normally costs people on average of one hundred fifty dollars or more a month.
It would be even more if you tried to purchase the same coverage, without employer assistance.
Some providers even provide you with profession insurance.
Protecting you from lawsuit, should something tragic happen, while you are on the job.
This should never be overlooked, as the costs of profession insurance are a rising concern in the health field.
Educational assistance is another way that agencies pay their staff.
Normally, an employer will reimburse the employee for classes or certifications.
Many agencies provide free certifications and continuing education.
They know that only by having the best trained staff will they get contracts with the best hospitals.
They encourage their employees to continue their educations and to get higher certifications.
It not only benefits your professional life, but the agencies ability to get you hired out.
Lastly, there is the added benefit of housing.
Either provided or given an allowance, travel nursing agencies take care of their nurses.
Some agencies provide luxury private housing.
Even if you have a family, agencies may take that into account and work with you.
They want to make sure that you are well taken care of and enjoy the contracts that they can provide.
Imagine the cost savings of being able to stay rent free, in some of the highest rent cities.
Travel nursing provides more than just a great paycheck.
They provide incentives that keep most people coming back for more contracts.