How to choose your next travel nursing assignment
What to weigh beyond the weekly rate when comparing contracts.
Wise Medical Staffing Team4 min read
Look past the headline rate
Two contracts advertising the same weekly total can pay out very differently once you account for how much is taxed, whether housing is provided or stipended, and what travel reimbursement is included.
Ask your recruiter to break a package into base rate, stipends, and reimbursements before you compare it with anything else.
Ask about the unit, not just the hospital
Patient ratios, float expectations, and charge responsibilities vary between units in the same building. A well-run floor at a smaller facility often beats a stretched unit at a bigger name.
Find out how many travellers the unit already has. A team used to working with contract staff tends to onboard you faster.
Weigh the practical details
Shift pattern, commute, parking, and how scheduling requests are handled will shape your thirteen weeks more than most people expect when they sign.
If you are staying near home, factor in what that means for your stipend eligibility before assuming the take-home figure.
