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Hospitals that offer sign on bonuses include a commitment contract fior at least a year, sometimes more for you to get their bonus and then they split it up over succesful completion of parts of that contract. I.e., a 5000 dollar bonus, you get 1000 up front, 2000 after 1 year, and another 2000 after 2 years. NOT worth it. Traveling pays MUCH higher than staff nursing, but you have to go away from home. Myself, I am married and have a child, sso I get a blocked scheldule, work my 3 12s, stay in a hotel then come home for 4 days. Most travelers are single and just go whereever they get a contract or want to, I am limited to stay near home. But, I make in 1 week what I was making in 2 as a staff nurse. Most agencies offer first time travelr sign on bonuses, alot of contracts will include completion bonuses. And your pay is more based on your spciality. ICU nurses make alot more than med/surg nurses do. But hospiatls only want travelers that have recent experience, such as...say you did 5 years of ICU then did 3 years of peds and the peds was your recent 3 years of experience, you could not be marketed as an ICU nurse but you could be as a peds nurse.
Hope that helps some, I would say think about traveling if you can, its harder but much more rewarding. Oh yeah, and no staff meetings either.
