You are out there meeting new people and seeing new places, but are you really getting the most from your travel nursing career? The adventure is excellent, no doubt, but it is essential to understand your perks and benefits too! Here is how you can maximize your housing, travel reimbursement, bonuses, and perks to get your full benefits while you are enjoying traveling.

Housing

Housing is an essential consideration for travel nurses. As most travel nurses receive a stipend to cover their housing costs, you must find ways to get the most out of this benefit. Do your research, and look for housing that costs less than the stipend amount. You can use the extra money to cover other expenses. There are several ways to maximize your housing stipend and get the most out of this benefit, including:

• Furnished housing. Try to find furnished, short-term housing with the utilities included in the rent.
• Rentals/sublets. Airbnb, HomeAway, VRBO, and other short-term accommodations make it easier to find short-term housing.
• Extended hotel stay. Search for hotels offering rates for extended stays.
• RV. A convenient and cheap solution that lets you move on short notice.
• Friends and family. Reach out to family and friends throughout the country.

Travel Reimbursements

You have travel expenses when getting to and from an assignment. You can write off these expenses as tax deductions. Expenses could be airfare, mileage for personal vehicles, car rentals, parking fees, and even tolls. Just ensure that the expense is directly related to the travel nursing job.

As you travel, consider keeping a log of all your expenses. Include the dates of travel for each assignment, mileage logs for your vehicle, odometer readings, the trip purpose, and the total miles driven. Do not forget receipts for airfare, bus, train tickets, fuel, and parking fees.

Bonuses

Sign-on, completion, referral, and retention are the common types of bonuses you are eligible to receive, and you can maximize these bonuses to increase your earnings as a travel nurse. You must review the terms and conditions of the bonus before you commit to a contract. Do you meet the eligibility criteria? Be sure to understand the performance goals, minimum hours you must work for the bonus, or the number of assignments you must complete.

Sign-on and completion bonuses require a specific duration. Finish the contract, or you might lose the bonus or have to pay back what you have already earned.

What are the tax implications? An employer will withhold part of your bonus for taxes, so it is essential to research the impact of taxes on the bonus.

When you choose an agency to work for, understand the type of bonuses they offer. You will be able to generate more income when working with an agency that offers generous bonuses.  

Perks

When you research how you can maximize your benefits as a travel nurse, make sure you consider the perks. These perks might include meal allowances, travel reimbursement, and health insurance coverage. Consider the value of these additional benefits and the impact they have on your total compensation package.

To get the most out of being a travel nurse, you must do your homework. Make sure you understand housing, travel reimbursement, bonuses, and perks and how they impact your compensation package as a travel nurse.

ADN Healthcare is committed to offering competitive compensation packages and support. Let these staffing professionals help you get the most from your travel nursing career!