Float Pool Nurse Career Guide and Counseling

Question: What travel nurse agencies pay top dollar and have the best benefits? I'm an RN with 16 years of experience. I work in a large hospital in the float pool and make good money. They are currently re-vamping the pay rates and some of the pool nurses will lose money and some will make more money. I make the top dollar and have a feeling I am going to be one of the ones losing money. Travel nursing is sounding better and better. Which agencies pay top dollar and have the best benefits? Which agencies deal better with the employees and do more "hand-holding" for new travel nurses? Which areas of the country pay better? Is it best to start as a travel nurse in a small or large hospital?

Answer: Keep your current position as prn for between travel assignments. This is for tax purposes and to save yourself the trouble. See Traveltax.com for more info. Use Fastaff if you're in it for the money only. On my travel assignment adventures, I've heard enough about Fastaff nurses making well over $100k/yr. OnAssignment is another good one. You could sign up for 2 agencies to expand your options of travel assignment places. Best places that pay better are usually the big cities in CA, NV, TX, NY. States that start with the letter "M" tax more of your pay (TravelTax.com). Large and small hospitals have different systems of reaching doctors, nurse patient ratio, receiving admissions, floating.. I noticed it is a lot safer to work in a large teaching hospital because of newer equipment, staff/ assistants/ management/ schedules /assignments are usually well organized, fairer, and less sketchy. It is very safe to start a first assignment in a large teaching hospital in my opinion. Some small facilities in different states may offer a higher hourly pay then large facilities due to high needs. The Fastaff recruiter may send you weekly emails alerting you of this. Hourly pay is more important than bonuses because bonuses get taxed into nothingness. I'm not too sure about the "hand-holding" part. It truly depends on your recruiter. She or he would walk you through the travel nursing paper work process. You're on your own professional practice once you start working. Once you begin your assignment at the hospital, there is a one or two day preceptor walk-through orientation. Ask away. Where is the supply room? Where could I refer to the protocol for this or that? (Bring a note pad for thoughts, door codes, computer passwords, etc.) After orientation, you are on your own. This is the time to get to know the staff, or other travel nurses and you'll get help and know who to ask questions to until you are comfortable. Assignments are usually contracted for 8 or 13 weeks.

Question: Could anyone tell me the best paying hospitals in the metro Detroit area for float pool nurses? Could you possibly give me a pay rate and any incentives they receive as well? Thanks.

Answer: I know you will get better pay and benefits OUTSIDE of working in a hospital...but as far as I know, U of M is best for long term, they provide the best benefits package. I am a dialysis nurse (outpatient hemo) and starting here, you'd make about $25-27 an hour based on experience.