Travel Nurses Reach Proposed $4.4 Million Settlement in Wage Dispute

Travel nurses across the U.S. just secured a proposed $4.4 million settlement from NuWest, a healthcare staffing agency accused of improperly compensating its nurses. This legal victory comes after allegations that NuWest's pay practices shortchanged thousands of nurses filling critical staffing gaps in hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide.

The class action lawsuit claimed that NuWest violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and various state labor laws. Specifically, the nurses alleged that their paychecks didn’t reflect the hours they actually worked. The issues included automatic deductions for breaks that were never taken, overtime miscalculations, and other wage-related mistakes.

The Details: Missed Breaks, Overtime Errors, and State-Specific Headaches

The case, Hamilton et al. v. NuWest Group Holdings LLC, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington and represents more than 2,300 travel nurses nationwide. 

The lead plaintiffs, Angela Hamilton and Matthew Hogan, alleged that NuWest’s compensation system amounted to “a bait-and-switch scheme” that promised high pay packages but then “unlawfully reduced the hourly rates and excluded stipends from overtime calculations” once nurses began their assignments.

The settlement revolves around a few major complaints. Between roughly 2020–2024, travel nurses claimed that NuWest: 

• “Routinely auto-deducted 30 minutes per shift for meal breaks that were not taken.”
• Miscalculated overtime.
• Did not follow state-specific labor laws. For example, some states have stricter rules around rest periods, minimum wage, and overtime calculations. Travel nurses, who might work in multiple states in a single year, were left vulnerable to inconsistencies in how their pay was handled.
• Misclassified housing and meal stipends as reimbursements rather than wages. According to the complaint, these stipends were “based on hours worked,” and by excluding them from the “regular rate,” NuWest “significantly underpaid travel nurses for overtime hours.”

NuWest did not admit to any wrongdoing as part of the $4.4 million settlement which still needs court approval before the funds can be distributed.

Why This Matters: Protecting Your Paycheck as a Travel Nurse

Let’s be real: travel nursing offers some pretty sweet perks, like flexibility, adventure, and often higher pay than permanent positions. But as this case shows, the compensation structure can be tricky to navigate. Between different state laws, varied agency policies, and the sheer chaos of nursing life, it’s all too easy for wage issues to slip through the cracks.

Here are a few tips to help avoid pay pitfalls:

• Document everything. Keep a personal log of your hours worked, especially if you're frequently staying late or skipping breaks.
• Double-check your pay stubs. Look for errors in hours worked, overtime rates, and deductions. If something doesn’t add up, ask questions.
• Know your state’s labor laws. This is especially important for travel nurses who work in multiple states. Websites like your state labor department or the Department of Labor (DOL) can be useful resources.
• Speak up. If there’s a discrepancy, notify your agency in writing and keep a copy for your records.

What This Means for Travel Nursing

This settlement is more than just a paycheck boost for the nurses involved. It’s a reminder to staffing agencies that nurses are paying attention, and that wage violations won’t be swept under the rug. Other recent lawsuits in the healthcare staffing world suggest this is becoming a pattern, with agencies facing increased scrutiny over their pay practices.

For travel nurses, this may be a turning point. As the healthcare system continues to rely on them to fill staffing gaps, proper compensation should never be a question. After all, travel nursing isn’t just a “job” but a lifestyle, and a demanding one at that. Whether you’re on a 13-week contract or jumping from state to state, you deserve to be paid accurately for every hour you work.

As the court finalizes the settlement, we’ll see how much each affected nurse receives. But one thing’s for sure: this case sends a clear message to the industry: nurses are watching, and they won’t stay silent when their paychecks don’t reflect their hard work.

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