[USER]

Looking for some advice-
hoping to get some good advice from you all. I am currently pregnant with a due date in mid-December.

I am a travel nurse and wanted some opinions on next job.

Option 1: permanent position- weekends only, $38/hr, full benefits.

Option 2: travel contract- $80/hr, just medical benefits, 12 weeks.

If I do the travel contract, I would have medical insurance until the end of December but would have to figure it out after.

I would also be able to save double the amount of money if I take the travel position.

I would make ~$25,000 in 12 weeks versus ~$15,500 If I take the permanent position.

With the permanent position, I would be on FMLA during maternity leave and still have medical insurance.

Husband does not have benefits with his job so we are both on mine.

Thanks in advance!!

[Seve]

Congrats on the baby! That’s pretty tough. Will the travel position benefits cover your OB visits?

You could always negotiate a cash payment for child birth.

My main concern would be the coverage you have after the baby is born.

So many vaccines and appointments in the first year.

[Libby]

You can apply for insurance through the health exchange in your state of residence and it will kick in as soon as your work coverage ends, so you don’t have to risk a lapse in coverage.

I’d personally take the travel position and save, then secure a permanent after baby is born.

[Kristen]

I would take the weekends only position if you can afford it because it won’t interfere with your OB appointments and depending on your pregnancy you may not want to work 3-12’s.

Weekends only might also be perfect after the baby if your husband can watch the baby on weekends.

[Leona]

Considering all the postnatal and pediatric appointments (one week well, two week, one month etc) I would want to be covered!

Those bills could add up to be the difference in these jobs.

That’s also assuming everyone is healthy.

The extra 10K could go very quickly without coverage…my deliveries went smoothly and cost about 14 thousand each, emergency C-section could be over 100K.

Then if there is any chance your baby will have a nicu stay or health complications it adds so much.

[Leslie]

I think I would take the permanent position. Changing jobs always has some level of risk and I wouldn’t want to take that risk with a newborn.

You also want to have good insurance active when the baby is born as you never know what kind of medical hiccups you will face.

I had a healthy pregnancy and my baby still ended up in the NICU unexpectedly

[Sara]

You must be employed for 12 months before being legally eligible for FMLA.

Are you already employed at the hospital with the permanent position?

If not your maternity leave will likely be unpaid and your position would not be federally covered.

Whether the hospital/unit decides to hold your position is then up to them (and whether or not you would be eligible for medical coverage).

[Katelynn]

I’ve worked now for 10 years as a lab tech. Trained countless techs (a summer vacation destination).

I have two kids too (4 and 6).

I would have a hard time being away from my husband during this very special time.

You are generally walking into the unknown as a traveler.

Have you traveled before?

I’ve heard some crazy situations (for techs) and ask how many other travelers are in the department you will be working.

I’m not sure I would want an assignment during pregnancy.

Are you planning to travel after your maternity leave?

I’d pick the permanent job and save all your sick and vacation time. Stack that onto your maternity leave.

Return part time after the 12 weeks.

That was the best thing I did after my kids.

The travel money is appealing but there’s many unknowns.

Is this your first child?

[Lucy]

Permanent position for now because it’s less stress for you (which equals less stress for your baby), and travel later to save more money.

Less stress is what you want so you can enjoy that time with your new family.

You’ll always be able to work and make more.

Can’t always get that time back later.

[Michelle]

Did the permanent job tell you how much time they would give you off? You wouldn’t be covered under FMLA so your job would not be secure.

I had a baby without FMLA coverage and they only allowed me to take 5 weeks off and I was a nurse at a literal OBGYN office.

Now I’m a travel nurse too!

[Dena]

How much does your husband make? Is the travel position a 1099? If so, after write-offs your income would be significantly lower and the minute your contract is over and you aren’t working, you may qualify for maternity Medicaid for you and your baby depending on how much your husband makes.

[Megan]

Legally you only qualify for FMLA after a year of employment so verify that.

[Laura]

Will the travel position allow you time off over the 12 weeks for all your appointments?

If you had to be put on bedrest or could not lift how would that affect your contract and benefits?

[Amanda]

I would do the weekends only. Then you can always go back to travel work if you want to later.

My youngest is just now turning a year old and I have traveled a couple times for work but the first year or two it’s hard to leave them for extended time.

[Jess]

I’d take the permanent position. God forbid there are any complications with your birth you do not want to have to figure out changing insurance in the midst of it (speaking from personal experience).

It sounds like the permanent position is also less hours, which you will likely want when you go back to work.

I was amazed how rapidly my priorities changed when I had my daughter and the DNP I had worked so hard for suddenly meant nothing to me and I just wanted to be home with my baby.

Which is how I got on the FIRE path!

[Terri]

There are a lot of things to consider after the arrival of your baby and healthcare expenses drain people in so many ways especially financially.

I will take the weekend fully benefited position and have certainty especially with having a newborn.

It also will allow you to not have to need childcare when you’re ready to go back to work.

When the transition is smooth then it’s easier to look at options.

Nurses usually have more options to consider than most professions that I’ve seen.

Enjoy motherhood!

[Author]

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