To guarantee your pay package mirrors your expectations, make certain you fully grasp the language of your written agreement before signing on the dotted line. 

<div>
  Travel nursing contracts can vary by agency and assignment, and the terms and
  conditions of reimbursement and compensation are not always spelled out
  clearly. To guarantee your pay package mirrors your expectations, make certain
  you fully grasp the language of your written agreement before signing on the
  dotted line.
</div>



<div>Here are some important aspects to consider.</div>



<div>
  <strong
    >Your contract should state every compensation variable you are expecting,
    such as your taxable base and overtime pay rate, details of your medical
    coverage and retirement plan, agency-provided housing and utilities (or
    lodging stipends), license and certification, travel expense allowance, and
    your meals and incidentals stipend.&nbsp;</strong
  >
</div>



<div>
  When choosing between travel nursing opportunities, attaching a dollar amount
  to each of these variables helps you evaluate the total value of your pay
  package. Keep in mind that different agencies quote pay rates in different
  ways. Some quote it hourly, weekly, monthly or even for the duration of the
  contract; you&rsquo;ll need to break everything down to a common denominator.
</div>



<div>
  <strong
    >Travel reimbursements to and from your contracted assignment are
    non-taxable and can vary by agency. Flat-rate and per mile reimbursements
    are the most common types.
  </strong>
</div>



<div>
  Flat-rate reimbursements typically range between $250 and $500, and the
  reimbursable amount is usually divided between your first and last paycheck.
  However, some agencies will provide one lump sum up front. Per mile
  reimbursements pay you a specified mileage rate when using your own vehicleor
  a rental. This rate is generally lower than the GSA mileage rate and is
  usually capped by the agency. Unfortunately, flat rate and per mile
  reimbursements will not cover all of your travel expenses, such as meals and
  hotel stays if you are driving the distance to relocate from your home base to
  your travel locale. Be prepared to foot the bill for these extras, save your
  receipts and take these added expenses as a year-end tax deduction.
</div>



<div><strong>Pay attention to special clauses and penalties.</strong></div>

<ul>
  <li>
    Missed Hours Penalties or Charge-Backs stipulate that you will be penalized
    a certaindollar amount for every hour not worked in a given pay period. For
    example, your paycheck may be deducted $20 for every missed contract hour in
    a two-week period. Essentially, if you don&rsquo;t work, you don&rsquo;t get
    paid. However, there is a Guaranteed Hours Clause that ensures you are not
    penalized for missed hours under certain circumstances. For example, if your
    shift is cancelled and there is no opportunity to make it up in the future
    or be floated to another area of the hospital, then you won&rsquo;t be
    charged back for the missed shift. Unfortunately, these policies are not
    always cut and dry and can vary from hospital to hospital. Make sure your
    contract includes a guaranteed hours clause that is clearly stated.<br />
    &nbsp;
  </li>
  <li>
    Non-Compete and Exclusivity are sometimes thought to be the same thing, but
    there is a subtle difference between them. Both clauses are put in place to
    protect the traveling agency from financial loss. Anon-competeclause
    stipulates you cannot work for the contracted hospital in any capacity for a
    specified period of time after your contract is completed, typically one
    year. However, there may be a buyout clause in the contract that allows the
    hospital to pay the agency a fee if the hospital wishes to hire you directly
    once you complete your assignment. An exclusivityclause states that if you
    wish to work for the contracted hospital after you have completed your
    contracted assignment, you may not do so through a different agency.
    However, you are free to be directly hired by the hospital without penalty.
    In this case, a buyout clause might also be in effect.<br />
    &nbsp;
  </li>
  <li>
    Cancellation penalties are included in most contracts. The value of the
    penalty is typically designed to minimize the losses the agency will incur
    if the travel nurse cancels the contract early. Penalty amounts are
    determined by compensation variables including, but not limited to,
    company-provided housing or travel expenses as well as the cancellation fee
    the hospital charges the agency&mdash;which can be valued at one to two
    weeks&rsquo; worth of billing.
  </li>
</ul>

<div>
  <strong
    >Make sure that every special agreement you&rsquo;ve made with the hospital
    regarding your working conditions, requested time off and scheduling is
    included in the contract.
  </strong>
</div>



<div>
  The contract is an agreement between you and your agency&mdash;not between you
  and the hospital. This is an important distinction. The agency has a confirmed
  master contract with the hospital which is based on their established business
  relationship and includes expectations for the agency&rsquo;s contracted
  workers as well as any restrictions and special considerations. If the items
  you&rsquo;ve specified in your contract are not included in this master
  contract, they may not be honored by the hospital. What&rsquo;s more, once the
  agency has sent the confirmation to the hospital, it can be difficult to add
  items afterwards.
</div>



<div>
  <strong
    >Address any questions or concerns with your recruiter before you take pen
    in hand.
  </strong>
</div>



<h2>
  Looking for additional tips and resources to help your travel nursing career?
</h2>

<div>
  <a href="/sites/ccn/blog">Browse our related traveler tips</a>&nbsp;or contact
  our skilled team of recruiters today for additional support!
</div>


Cross Country Nurses

Travel Reimbursement 101: What You Need to Know Before Signing a Contract

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