Can we trust the agency?

hell no you can not trust them!

I thought so. Seemed strange. wonder what is going on. Especially since the nurses say they are getting $30. It may have been $2-3 > $30, I don't remember exacltly but I do recall it was at least $30.
We pay our perdeim $30 -33 depending on if it is a weekend.
Yet they cry like it is a fortune to pay agency.

It's been awhile since I worked for an agency. But when I did, I always had to keep track of my own hours and the rate of pay for that assignment. Occassionally when they are desperate for you to pick up a particular shift, they would offer extra money per hour in order for me to accept. Then when pay day came, it would be the regular hourly rate. Too much trouble, so I don't do agency anymore.

Don't trust them!

I wouldn't believe the hospital that says their paying only $40/hr for agency RNs! If the RN is making $30/hr...they are paying more like $50-60/hr for that RN.

I will continue to travel with the agency I work for, as long as I can. I have an easy contract, that pays me very well, and an agency that has backed me at every turn! I have also been offered to continue this contract for a long time to come!

All my bills are paid, and some are even paid up several months in advance! And I'm going on vacation starting tomorrow, and will have the benefit of not having to worry about how I'm going to pay for it! When I didn't work for an agency, I have had to save up to take time off...as I couldn't afford to miss the shift differential. Because I wasn't getting paid half of what I am now.
I now can pay every bill I have, out of a one week check!

Sorry to hear about the bad experiences. But there are good agencies out there. There are also some great contracts out here.

Yea, I am doubting what my employer said all right. I'm just wondering why he is saying this to me.

But I can guess and I am guessing that any of you would tell me the reason is exactly what I am thinking it is.
I am asking you to confirm my susupicions. I feel if I state what they are that any response I get would be influenced.

I just need to know if you and I are thinking the same thing about this.

Get whatever you decide upon in writing.

The norm for Denver is $ 48 per hour to the Agency for Perdiem Agency RN - no specialty. The Pay rates vary from $ 32 to $ 38 per hour. Subcontracting through an Agency where you are the Vendor (you pay fica etc approx 8 % extra in tax) will probably pull $ 40 per hour.

thanks Nightengale. Sounds like you are saying that the $40 to agency for a $30 nurse might be legit.

Sorry I am affraid I have gone in a different direction with this thread thanks for your tollerance.

No problem that I can see Agnus....

Make your decison based on your own need. Sometimes I work for less cause I like the assignment and it does not tie me to anything long term (or timing... maybe not much going on elsewhere).

All of my agencies know I have several. They know when times are hot they MUST pay me top dollar or someone else will.

Good luck to you. Let us know how we can help you.

I ask the bill rate on all of the contracts I do. I then negotiate my rate, depending on the assignment. Many experienced travelers do this.

Currently the pay rate in this area for travelers is from $46-52/hr to the agency for an LPN. I can't say what the rate is for an RN...but I highly doubt it's less than what they're paying out for an LPN. Every area of the country is different, and every agency has their own method of dividing up the rates.

No hospital wants staff to know exactly how much their payiing for agency nurses. Causes too many problems, as it makes them discontent with staying on, and not being given a decent wage for the work they do. That's MO anywho..

Coming from several different cities and states I can say that rates vary in a HUGE way. It is tough to compare. Travel rates are so different from place to place that those are near impossible to compare. Also what you guys and gals were talking about regarding the diff between pay and bill is called margin. From what I have been told the margin is usually around 30-40%. So, according to my calculations pay and bill rates would look something like this (based on a 33% margin):

BILL PAY
$50 $33.33
$45 $30.00
$40 $26.66
$35 $23.33
$30 $20.00


You can estimate your agency's bill rate fairly closely by taking your pay rate and multiplying by 1.5.

I hope this helps.