travelling
All depends on the specialty, shift, where you're going, how badly they need you, whether they have crappy retention, etc.
If you work in Miss or Alabama, the pay sucks no matter what. Alaska & Hawaii are pretty good but lower pay because the agency has to pay so much money for other things they supply for you... IE, they pay your rent, rental car, utilities. All that has to come from somewhere, so pay rate suffers. Travelling to HI is worth it though, because face it, you're in HI !!! Same with some of the overseas countries like United Emerites. You can make up to 14000/month there, about 1/2 years pay tax free, 2 year contract. But you have to put up with (if you're female) living in the Arab culture with all that entails. I was told by a male nurse who did 3 years in Saudi that it was great, but he said as a female I wouldn't want to do Saudi because off the "base" I was subject to Saudi law -- ie can't speak to men, have to wear the hood, can't drive, the whole 9 yards. Can be stoned or beaten for looking at men funny on the street. So there are pros and cons to everything. I have 12 years experience and when I travelled in MI (ER) made $36/hour (was local, they didn't have to put me up). When I moved to Phoenix travel, I made only $29 because they had to pay myu $1600/month rent, $350 utilities, and $200 license.
Travel agency usually pays license fee, utilities, rent (if they put you up, otherwise they pay stipend), & some moving expenses if you drive like mileage. Down side is if you get a bitch preceptor who lies about you and your contract is cancelled, you are literally out on your ass, homeless in 48 hours. The agency kicks you out, charges you for the rent they paid on the place they put you up in for the time you were there, and tells you to your face they don't care if you're homeless, you don't work for them anymore. Had it happen.
Now I just to local agency if I do agency at all. Prefer staff/pool because you make $40 or so and have priveleges of staff (ie they won't fire you at the first thing they don't like because they can replace you any time -- you're staff, they have time & $$ invested in keeping you)
Angela
ER RN