7 tips to choose the right travel nursing agency

Pay packages for traveling nurses are quite intricate. They include a lot of variables that are not typically included in standard compensation packages. A general overview of how agencies view their pay packages including all agency-related costs will be provided in this article. We hope that this information will assist travel nurses in negotiating better pay packages.

The Travel Nursing Contract Bill Rate

The bill rate serves as the foundation for all travel nursing pay packages. The travel nurse's weekly pay is the bill rate that an agency can charge the hospital for their services. Rates for bills vary from contract to contract and from hospital to hospital. In addition, it is essential to keep in mind that bill rates fluctuate according to market conditions. When the market is hot and there is a lot of demand for travelers, for instance, bill rates are much higher.

Time Variables in the Travel Nursing Contract

In addition to the bill rate, we must also take into account the "time variables" in the Travel Nursing Contract. In particular, we want to take a gander at the number of contracted hours, weekly pay, and the number of weeks in the agreement. Because different contracts have different time variables, this is important. For instance, some contracts call for 40 hours per week while others call for 36 hours per week before making weekly pay. Besides, a few agreements, similar to those in California, compensate double time following 8 hours worked in a day.

Burdens in Travel Nurses Pay Packages

Presently we should investigate a portion of the expenses related to movement nursing gets that occur in the background. The term "burdens" is commonly used to describe these costs. The agency has incurred these expenses because of the contract and pay package.

Costs are classified and accounted for in various ways by various agencies. Therefore, not all agencies may employ the burdens in our example. We will, however, keep track of all costs, so our calculations will end up in the same place. Examples of burdens include the items listed below.

1. Non-billable direction hours:

Non-billable orientation hours are included in many hospital and agency contracts. In essence, the organization promises not to bill the hospital for a predetermined number of hours during the travel nurse's orientation. The usual time is between four and twelve hours, but it can be longer.

1. Fees for managing vendors:

Vendor Management Services are utilized by numerous hospitals. The hospital and the agencies are connected through these services. They also charge a fee that ranges from 2%-6% of the bill rate.

1. Fees for Billing:

Occasionally, hospitals charge billing fees to agencies. This is a fee that the hospital will pay to cover the cost of settling the agency and hospital bills. The fee is typically between 2% and 3% of the bill rate unless otherwise specified in the contract.

1. Insurance Coverage:

A clause in nearly every hospital/agency contract mandates liability insurance for the agency. The agreements commonly require both Expert and General risk protection.

1. Costs of licensing, credentials, and medical records:

To cover the costs associated with licensing, credentialing, conducting a background check, and obtaining a medical record for bringing their files into conformity with the standards set by a hospital, many organizations establish a predetermined sum that is deducted from each contract. This price varies according to the circumstances. It typically ranges from $150 to $500 per contract.

Payroll Costs and Taxable Base Rates

The "taxable base rate" serves as our foundation. The agency offers this taxable hourly rate as nurse’s wages.

Higher stipends and a lower taxable base rate are going to be offered by some organizations. Stipends will be lower and base rates will be higher at other agencies. It is essential to comprehend that the agency incurs higher payroll costs as a result of paying higher taxable base rates.

Basically, FICA taxes are paid by both employers and employees. The FICA charge for businesses is right now 7.65% of gross pay. Therefore, an organization incurs hourly FICA costs of 76.5 cents at a taxable base rate of $10. Conversely, on the off chance that an organization pays an available base pace of $20 each hour, they cause $1.53 in FICA costs each hour.

Additionally, based on the taxable base rate, agencies are required to pay certain taxes to the state. Costs associated with unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, and disability insurance are examples of these taxes. These costs are different in each state.

Tax-Free Nurses’ Pay Benefits and Reimbursements

Now we have the agency's potential tax-free benefits and reimbursements. The most well-known tax-exempt repayments and advantages are travel payments, M&IE allowances, dwelling payments or organization gave lodging and health advantages. However, in addition to rental cars, 401(k)s, Giants tickets, and other offerings, agencies may also provide

Gross Profit Margin

This number is calculated in a variety of ways by various travel nursing businesses. Their approach to "Revenue" is the primary distinction. Some businesses consider their revenue to be the total bill rate.

When the Vendor Management fee is deducted, other businesses only consider themselves to have revenue.

The average gross profit margin for travel nursing agencies is between 20 and 25%. Keep in mind that agencies still have to pay their employees and use the gross profit to cover all business expenses.

Final Thoughts

You will benefit greatly from understanding nurses' pay package in this light. This information can assist travel nurses in their negotiations. As a result, they will be better able to distinguish between good and bad deals and will ultimately earn more money out of travel nurse weekly pay, hourly pay, or monthly pay!!

The COVID-19 pandemic is having long-term effects on the healthcare industry worldwide. More specifically, there is a growing shortage of nurses. Several factors, including nurse burnout, an aging workforce, and regional growth in various parts of the country, were responsible for this shortage. All the while, America's populace is maturing and the interest in quality medical services is developing.

Alternative healthcare staffing options are in high demand as the healthcare industry evolves. Traveling to a new part of the country as a travel nurse is a great way to challenge yourself professionally while also helping to fill a healthcare system's needs by delivering quality care to the needy.

HOW TO FIND TRAVEL NURSING JOBS?

The essential information is that licensed professionals who work as travel nurses are contracted in a variety of healthcare facilities. The nurse, the nursing agency, and the healthcare facility all sign a contract in writing. Acute care hospitals with direct clinical patient care typically have contracts that last 13 weeks but can be extended. Community health centers, surgery centers, clinics, and specialty healthcare facilities all have travel nurse positions.

Working with a travel nurse staffing agency like Voysta often leads to opportunities for nurses. Check out our openings for travel nurses. A staffing agency is an employer that advertises highly sought-after positions for healthcare professionals in healthcare facilities. The movement nurture is noting the need to briefly fill positions for staffing deficiencies yet additionally serving their journey for movement, experience, and new encounters. Contracts frame undeniably more than time-based compensation. Housing, travel, and expenses for per diem will all be covered by the contract. Travel nurses have the option of either finding temporary housing or using one provided by a staffing agency. The actual travel is a part of the adventure, and you can see the entire United States coast to coast.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

As licensed healthcare professionals, travel nurses are accountable for adhering to all healthcare industry regulations, policies, and procedures, as well as professional and ethical standards. A nursing degree from an accredited program is required for travel nurses, as is passing the national council licensure examination (NCLEX). Through the state licensing board, travel nurses must be aware of their license's scope. The nurse must be familiar with the nurse practice act of the state in which they work because state regulations can vary. Connect with Voysta to find out which states you can work in with your current license. As healthcare professionals, nurses should have at least one year of experience to gain confidence and competence in their fundamental nursing skills. A staffing agency like Voysta helps nurses match acute care hospital requirements with their clinical skill set and experience. For direct patient care, all nurses must keep their basic credentials, like CPR certification and current state-mandated continuing education units (CEUs).

JOB DESCRIPTION OF A TRAVEL NURSE

The profession of a travel nurse is both fulfilling and exciting. Voysta, our powerful web app, can help you take charge of your career right away. Most of the travel nurses have a bachelor's or associate's degree in nursing and are registered nurses (RNs). They are contracted for 13 weeks to work a specific shift in direct clinical patient care at a specific facility and unit. The full range of patient care is one of the travel nurse's responsibilities. Assessments of the patient's physical and psychosocial health, administration of medication, and patient-specific procedures in specialty clinical practice are all part of the duties. With the medical team, ancillary departments, and pharmacy, all nurses work together. Using SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendations), nurses also coordinate the daily care plan for their patients.

Critical thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving are essential components of clinical judgment for all nurses. As they travel between facilities and states, travel nurses must be able to adjust to changing clinical and geographical conditions.

BENEFITS OF BEING A TRAVEL NURSE

The advantages to find travel nursing jobs are numerous. The freedom to choose when, where, and how long you work is one of the most appealing aspects of supporting work-life balance. The movement nurture likewise has the chance to be adaptable and take their profession all through the US and even globally. The salary of a travel nurse is typically higher than that of a facility-employed staff nurse. Nevertheless, it is essential to keep in mind that the work's temporary nature, lack of benefits, and paid time off are to blame. After you have completed the initial application, background check, and human resource requirements, however, you will have the option to select your health, dental, 401(k), and additional insurance.

While all nurses should review IRS guidelines when traveling for work, there are some tax advantages to traveling as a nurse. Maintaining a "tax home" or permanent residence can lessen the burden of higher taxed income. Include this on your travel nurse preparation checklist because tax requirements vary by state. You might even want to think about nursing abroad.

You can test out new states, facilities, and nursing specialties while working as a travel nurse. The actual travel between contracts permits attendants to investigate and see new spots. Housing for travel nurses can be found in corporate apartments or online travel housing markets in the U.S. Nursing while traveling across the U.S. offers even more excitement. There are 50 states to explore, numerous options for establishing a solid clinical career, a high income, and the flexibility to choose when and where to work. Go through travel nursing positions now with Voysta, the travel nurse staffing platform!

Temporary housing can be a problem for a traveling nurse on assignment, especially when you have to pick up and go from place to place. In most cases, you have two choices: either live in the housing provided by the organization or use a tax-free allowance to find your own fully furnished apartment.

Getting the travel nurse housing allowance grants you the freedom to select your own location, although it may appear simpler to simply accept the provided living arrangement. You can also keep the extra money if the rent is lower than the allowance!

Sizes of allowances vary depending on where you'll be living and the organization providing them. Therefore, in order to determine whether the travel nurse housing allowance would be beneficial to you, you must treat each nursing assignment individually.

What a travel nurse housing allowance could cover is discussed below. In addition, we will offer additional relocation advice to facilitate your move!

What is a travel nurse housing allowance?

A set amount of money called a housing allowance is meant to help nurses pay for temporary housing while they travel for work. These figures, as previously stated, fluctuate based on location. They are frequently weighted according to the average cost of living in a given area at a particular time of year.

Who is in charge of the travel nurse housing allowance?

The General Services Administration (GSA), which is in charge of managing and supervising government operations, is in charge of this. Even though this branch has a lot to do, one of its jobs is to figure out and set per diem rates for federal employees. The Latin term "per day" is "per diem." "The allowance for lodging (excluding taxes), meals, and incidental expenses within the lower 48 continental United States" is what it means in this instance.

However, what if I am not a federal worker?

The IRS applies the GSA's per diem rate to private-sector workers as well, although it was developed for federal employees. They eventually became connected to the travel healthcare industry as a result of this.

It's easy to get confused about what a travel nurse housing allowance is because these terms can sometimes be used interchangeably. A per diem is not an allowance.

Even though their rates are similar, a per diem rate is the daily amount paid for things like food, lodging, and other costs. For instance, the GSA will present daily figures for lodging rates, which will fluctuate from month to month.

For each travel assignment, the vast majority of agencies provide a travel nurse housing allowance. This is a one-time payment that is typically made biweekly or weekly. This amount will typically be lower than the GSA's monthly per diem total. For instance, the monthly lodging per diem in New York City would be $8,940, which is significantly more than what an average apartment with one bedroom costs.

Again, this amount is heavily influenced by the travel nurse agency you work with, so don't anticipate receiving the GSA's maximum. However, the majority will provide an allowance that is less than a month's worth of per diem. This is because GSA rates are tied to short-term stays, which typically require lodging in a hotel or motel. Hotels will cost significantly more per month than a typical month's rent.

A travel nursing assignment typically lasts between 8 and 13 weeks, whereas the majority of employees who receive per diem will stay at a location for less than thirty days.

What are the travel nurse housing facilities you should opt for in addition to housing?

Do you intend to take advantage of the housing subsidy and find your own home? The following are a few things to keep in mind and ask when looking for a place:

1. Are you planning to bring a vehicle? Do you intend to bring your automobile along? The length of your commute can make a big difference, depending on the city you live in. For instance, because public transportation isn't as well-established in Los Angeles, you have to drive, whereas many East Coast cities have reliable transit systems that make it easy to get anywhere in the city.
2. Location near work: A 10-mile drive from Santa Monica to Downtown Los Angeles could take more than an hour, even if you have your own vehicle. You could live a lot further away from a city along the Acela corridor and still take the trains and subways to get to work.
3. Ability to walk: Even if you bring a car, it's best to be near your workplace, grocery store, restaurants, gym, and other important places on foot. It's much easier to get to know your new city if you can walk around it.
4. Furniture and appliances: Do you plan to cook? Do you plan to bring a TV? Unless you intend to bring it with you, you may still need to pay to rent appliances and furniture if you want your new location to feel like home.
5. Leases with short terms: It should go without saying that signing a lease for a half-year or a year is not a good idea. Naturally, since the majority of housing relies on contracts with longer terms, this can make it more difficult to locate a location that meets your travel nurse housing facilities, requirements, and your budget.

Final Thoughts

Traditionally, many nurses chose the simpler option of agency-placed housing because it was easier to find the ideal location, especially one that offered short-term stays. However, Voysta has made it simpler than ever to receive travel nurse housing facilities and quickly relocate.

Just come with a suitcase. That’s it. Rest is handled by us. The travel nurse housing allowance is a no-brainer when working with Voysta!