Healthcare Traveler - June 2008 - (Page 60)

Starter’s Kit T H E B A S I C S O F T R AV E L I N G Bonuses, discounts, and freebies employee who refers an operating room nurse, physical or respiratory therapist, ultrasound technician, or practitioner with NICU-PICU experience. To receive this standard bonus, your referral must apply and begin a travel assignment with your staffing company. Loyalty bonuses present another method to supplement your income, and they can increase incrementally over time. After consecutively completing four, 13-week assignments, for example, you may receive a cash bonus, free continuing education (CE) offerings, or upgraded housing amenities. Once you have honored four more 13-week contracts, you could earn even more attractive rewards. Similar to a loyalty bonus is a completion bonus. Numerous staffing agencies offer this monetary reward as standard; however, each individual bonus is normally defined in the terms of a contract with a facility. You meet the criteria by simply fulfilling an assignment within the agreed upon timeframe. By and large, the dollar amount ranges from $500 to $2,500. But in situations where a particular specialty or subspecialty is in demand, it could be as much as $9,000. Other types of bonuses presented by companies include extension/renewal bonuses, attendance bonuses, and vacation bonuses. These rewards are not as common as those previously mentioned; if a firm provides such extras, it usually promotes these incentives upfront. Irrespective of the bonuses you receive, you should ask your recruiter if you are responsible for the taxes on any or all of these rewards. Often, bonuses are taxed and then added directly to a traveler’s paycheck. The incentives that staffing agencies present to their mobile nurses, therapists, and technologists are just some of the benefits to a career in healthcare travel. Jennifer Samuels inquire about is a sign-on bonus. Not all companies offer this perk, but many do. Usually, first-time applicants who accept a contract and complete a given amount of their initial assignment—for example, the first 2 weeks—are eligible. The typical dollar range is $500 to $1,000. Generally, the most common type of bonus is a referral bonus. Word of mouth is a powerful resource because many nurses and allied health professionals learn about staffing companies from other clinicians. Therefore, a number of agencies offer referral bonuses as the norm. They are typically $500, but vary based on a facility’s need. For instance, some agencies may offer $1,000 to an A Illustration: Getty Images/G. Brian Karas s a traveler, you enjoy a good salary, along with the freedom to explore the country, meet new people, learn new skills, and avoid hospital politics. But did you know that many staffing agencies also offer bonuses, discounts, and free merchandise? These incentives can range anywhere from 5% off a gym membership to thousands of dollars. Popular perks When applying to work with a specific staffing agency, the first extra you should 60 Healthcare Traveler June 2008 Discounts and freebies Numerous staffing firms give a plethora www.healthcaretraveler.com http://www.healthcaretraveler.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Healthcare Traveler - June 2008

Healthcare Traveler - June 2008 Editor's Desk Contents In a Flash Paws for Thought Field Notes You Said It Cover Story: Day Trippin' A Matter of Choice Clinical Highlights Drug Update When In... On Assignment Name It Advertisers' Index Travel Tips Tax Facts Big Deals Contest Rules Going the Distance Starter's Kit Allied Corner Classifieds Tales from the Road

Healthcare Traveler - June 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.