GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ Lots of questionss.. Whew...
#1 Have 2 or 3 months savings before you go to cover your expenses.
#2 Yes, your housing is "paid" where you are but in order to deduct travel expenses you have to have a tax home.. At least a small apt or a room with rent at the going rate. Say $200-$300 a month so it might not cost you too much to live in another place but it won't absolve you from your responsibilities at home..I still have phone, lights and heat at my condo. Plus a mortgage (sp) and condo fees.
#3 Always always have guaranteed hours in your contract. By that I don't mean for the full 13 weeks but for the week you work..If the census is low and your are available for work and you are "called off" you will still get paid.
# 4 A traveler gets no sick days, no vacation although some companies are trying to give long time employees a week or two.. They want you to stay with them..Saves them money.
#5 I am on my 6th contract. Never a problem with housing..Always remember "Some people would complain if you hung them with a new rope" loll Watch who posts and how many problems they have and how often they have problems Maybe it's them and not the situation...Maybe not.
#6 There are two contracts. You are contracted with your company. The company is contracted with the hospital. If the hospital breaks the contract hopefully your company will find you another.. Most companies won't pay any more than the last week you worked. They want to keep the hospital because they hope to get contracts at another time..Many companies don't realize that it's the nurse who makes money for them not the hospital..Maybe some companies should start getting rid of hospitals who continually renege on contracts..In spite of the fact that you have a contract with a company you are still an at will employee. Yes you could sue them for breach of contract but it might not be worth your bother.
#7 Is it worth it??. I took a 62% increase in pay when I left to travel 2 years ago...HMMMMMMMM
#8 It depends on your speciality, how much you like your company , how aggresive they are in finding work for you ..Many aspects as to whether you stay with them. I wasn't gonna stay with the company I am with but they changed insurance and now have BCBS national plan so as long as they have work for me I will stay with them.
WR,,, three commas for Becca
If you have other questions please post here so we can share with the whole forum.. I don't mind PM but I would like you to ask questions another potential traveler might not think about.
