Who sets the pay rate?

[Baby Catcher, CNM]

I recently spoke to a recruiter and she told me the pay rate is set by the hospitals. Is this true? Does the travel agency have any flexibility in pay scale? I'm thinking they do. Also she said hospitals rarely give completion bonuses any more. Again, I thought the bonus came from the company. What about shift/weekend differentials. Does anyone get those? Thanks in advance for any info you can supply.

[bagladyrn, RN]

Some hospitals do set a payrate. Others set the "bill rate" they pay the company and with those you may get some negotiating room with the rate. I still see completion bonuses in about 1/3 of the contracts I'm offered. Most of these are, as you were told, a "pass through" from the hospital. I don't pay much attention to them in terms of considering an offer since bonuses are taxed at a much higher rate than wages, so it's never as much as it sound like. A really large completion bonus will raise a red flag for me as it makes me wonder why they have problems keeping people or whether they are one of those hospitals who trumps up an excuse to get rid of the traveler 2-4 weeks before the end of the contract in order to not pay these large bonuses.

There are no weekend differentials, and only occasionally a shift differential. There may or may not be a differential for holiday pay, but each contract can vary as to which holidays are covered, for which hours, etc. Check with your company and make sure this is specified in your contract if your time will fall over a paid holiday.

[ERRNTraveler, RN]

Any pay you get comes from money paid to the travel company by the hospital. The hospital pays a set amount for your services, and from this, the travel company deducts money for housing, utilities, insurance, etc. They also keep a portion for themselves for their profit- whatever is left becomes your hourly wage. Any bonuses offered are almost always done so by the hospital- that's why only certain assignments offer bonuses.