As I am nearing the end of my time off, I am starting to discuss possible next contracts with my recruiter from Agency P.
Because of Covid-19 and most states still not allowing elective procedures, my options for a contracts right now are very limited. With what little is available, Washington had multiple openings in many different cities around the state. I was initially excited about this prospect until I started to investigate the process to get a temporary license in a state that is out of the Compact License network. The process is lengthy and can take weeks to receive your license, not to mention hundreds of dollars!
The costs I incur while living on location vs. the projected income I will be making has been something I have been thinking about a lot lately. I have been travel nursing for almost a year now and I have had 3 very different contracts! Each with their good and their bad when it comes to cost vs income ratio.
My very first contract in Sugar Land, Texas was what I would consider a “low” paying contract. I did not have guaranteed hours for this contract and lost money due to low census and being called off. The saving grace for this contract was that it was only 3 hours from my home base (low travel expenses) and the cost of living in the area was very low! Because of these two factors, that contract was actually worth the pay!
Contract #2 had nothing to do with money and everything to do with location! Although the pay was good, the cost of living was astronomical! However, the adventures it offered was worth more than any paycheck could ever give me and it was worth every penny!
And lastly, contract #3 in Asheville, NC. This contract was my lowest paying contract of the year! Even worse, the cost of living was twice as much the others and the travel expenses for the 2000+ mile roundtrip to and from Asheville added up quick! Asheville wasn’t a bad location, but the cost vs. income was way off and Covid-19 stole the adventure! Luckily, I did have guaranteed pay for this contract and was paid my base weekly income despite being called off.
As much as I would like to go for the job in Washington, I have to consider all that I have learned this past year! My research shows the cost of living in Washington to be similar to Asheville, the expenses accrued for travel to and from the contract location would be outrages, and the pay would be mediocre. With all of this to consider financially, and the fact that the city is an epicenter for the pandemic and still on complete lock-down, I don’t think now is the best time to pursue this contract. I would not be able to see the city or enjoy my time there in its current state of this pandemic and the whole reason to go is for the adventure!
So, this is where I am at right now in my quest for Contract #4. With the contracts that are available, what do I value more- Location or cost vs income ratio? Is the pandemic going to last all summer? If I choose a Location over income, will I even be able to get out and enjoy it? Is now a better time to pursue money over location because of the pandemic? Can I even find a contract where the cost vs. income is in my favor?
Keep following along as the hunt for Contract #4 begins and I figure out where my next Travel Nurse adventure takes me!
