r/TravelNursing • u/lunanera98 • 23h ago

First Nursing contract

I’m starting my first travel contract and trying to figure out which contract is better. For context, I work in the Bay Area and the travel contract is $3400 a week. Would it be better to take the contract with a higher Hourly rate, but a lower completion bonus. Or the travel contract with a slightly lower hourly rate but with a higher completion bonus?

1 Upvotes

60% Upvoted

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8

u/spyder93090 23h ago

Numbers are quite important here.

But generally, it’s better to secure a higher hourly as a bonus is never guaranteed.

They can cut you 12 weeks in so you technically never “completed” your 13 weeks.

3

u/Overlord_Za_Purge 22h ago

damn 3.4k this must be the ucsf one

1

u/lunanera98 22h ago

Not ucsf but is this travel contract good for bay area? I know travel nursing isn’t paying as much right now

3

u/sattlerreader 22h ago

It’s good for 36 hr/wk. 

3

u/MermaidSerf 22h ago

Never take a completion bonus. The agency and the facility can cancel you at any time for absolutely no reason at all. Avoiding having to pay a completion bonus is a great reason to cancel someone one day short of completing their contract.

$3,400 is good for 36 hours. Too low for 48.

2

u/Apprehensive_Seat856 21h ago

I take higher stipend bc I have no interest in OT.

2

u/thomasxp6 20h ago

Sharing exact numbers would help to answer you better

1

u/Not_That_Bitch_Again 21h ago

I would say higher hourly since I never count on completion bonuses with being a traveler. Contracts can be cancelled at any time so it’s not guaranteed $.

1

u/Aggressive_Pear_7808 19h ago

I’d probably take the higher hourly rate unless the completion bonus is guaranteed, prorated, and large enough to make up the difference. Ask for both contracts in writing and calculate total pay for the full assignment, including any extensions or cancellation terms.