Travel Nurse Contract

A travel nurse contract is a legal document that spells out exactly what you will get, what is expected from you and what you can expect from the travel nurse agency and the client they are contracting your services for.  Like any contract it will include clauses outlining what rewards are available for contract completion and which penalties exist if the contract is broken by any of the parties.

Some typical clauses that will be discussed in the contract are:

Salary

The salary section should include your hourly rate, overtime rate, shift and week-end differentials (if they are included), on call pay rate.

Hours of Work and Floating

Hours of work should include how many hours per week are guaranteed or expected for you to work. The shift you are working, whether you will be expected to work holidays, and how many hours of call in a pay period or monthly are expected. This section should clearly spell out if you are guaranteed a minimum number of hours of work per week.  Floating should be spelled out. For example, some clients expect the travel nurse to float anytime there is a need for floating. 

This section may also include what to expect if you cannot work the minimum hours in a week. If you call in sick are you docked pay? can you make up the day? Will this affect your contract bonus if there is one?

Professional Conduct and Standards of Conduct

This section of the travel nurse contract should spell out what the client expects in the way of maintaining licensure and special certificates such as ACLS and BLS.  Professional conduct, standards of nursing care, and the penalties for lapses in any of these standards and conduct are spelled out. This clause should also spell out what means to resolve disputes are allowed.

Housing and Other Benefits

What type of housing, medical, vacation, education, and 401K benefits should be included in the contract. If you are expected to share housing, or if you have arranged a private residence this should all be in writing in the travel nurse contract. This section should also spell exactly what utilities are paid for by the agency and which ones are paid for by the travel nurse.

Other Provisions

Other things that should be included in the contract is where and when you will report, what the expectation is if you have to leave before the contract expires?  For example, if you have a family member die what are the expectations of the travel nurse agency? will they penalize you for early termination for family emergency?

If the employer decides to terminate the contract through no fault of your own will you be guaranteed the pay for the rest of the contract?  These are good questions to ask and to be sure the exact terms agreed upon are in writing in the contract.

Because this is a contract and a legally binding document you should read it carefully and be sure you understand all of the different clauses, benefits, and consequences.  If you have any questions the time to ask is before you sign the contract.