Frequently Asked Questions

PAY, BENEFITS, INSURANCE, HOUSING, TRAVEL QUESTIONS

Q: What are Agostini Nurse Staffing's Travel Nurse pay rates?

A: The pay rates depend on the hospital you choose, the State in which the hospital is located and your personal housing requirements.  If you work in California, DAILY OVERTIME will be paid per California State law.  The twelve hour shifts range from $665.00 per shift to $364.00 per twelve hour shift.  For example, the pay rate for a $665.00 twelve hour shift is $47.50 per hour for the first eight hours and overtime (x 1.5) for the next four hours of the twelve hour shift or $71.25 per hour.  Any time worked over twelve hours per day is DOUBLE TIME per California State law, which would be $95.00 per hour.  If you choose the hospital that pays $364.00 per twelve hour shift in California, the first eight hours would be paid at $26.00 per hour and overtime (x 1.5) for the next four hours of the twelve hour shift or $39.00 per hour.  Any time worked over twelve would be DOUBLE TIME which would be $52.00 per hour. Most hospitals pay the whole double shift (16 hours) at a lower rate (usually $3.00 to $5.00 less per hour) because of the double time.

The pay rates for Northern California are the highest in the country. Hospitals in Southern California pay about $5.00 less an hour.  Assignments in Arizona and Nevada tend to be about $7.00 less per hour than Northern California and our hospitals in the South pay about $7.00 to $10.00 less an hour than Northern California.  Ask us when you call and we will go over this with you.

Q: How often will I get paid?

A: Our Nurses are paid weekly on Thursday for the previous week. Our pay period is Sunday through Saturday.

Q: Do you direct deposit the weekly check?

A: Yes, these are direct deposited every Thursday.  

Q: What is the Health Insurance and what is my cost?

A: Our Health Insurance is a PPO Blue Shield Plan that is good all over the country.  The plan allows you to use any Doctor that you wish.  It is absolutely excellent coverage and specifically designed for this company. If you want Health Insurance, tell us and we will send the Blue Shield forms to you.  We can start your coverage immediately.  This is group insurance and there is no waiting period and there is no screening for pre-existing conditions.  The coverage is based on age.  Our plan requires that you do pay a portion of your coverage and this is based on your age.  This is a weekly payroll deduction and is:  $31.00 per week if you are 29 years old or younger - $38.00 per week if you are 30 to 39 years old - $53.00 per week if you are 40 to 49 years old - $72.00 per week if you are 50 to 54 years old and $89.00 per week if you are 55 years old or older.

Q: Does Agostini Nurse Staffing offer malpractice insurance, professional liability insurance and worker's compensation insurance?

 A: Agostini provides malpractice insurance, professional liability insurance and worker's compensation insurance for all employees who are on assignment. This is free at no cost to you. Once again, be careful; we hear from some individuals who come to us from other agencies that they are being required to provide their own worker's compensation insurance. Worker's compensation insurance is the responsibility of the employer. 

Q: Can I get vacation pay?

A: Vacation accrues upon the completion of three: thirteen week assignments within the year.  This is worth $1440.oo to you!

Q: Do I have to pay for housing?

A: No, we provide our lovely Oakwood one bedroom fully furnished apartments with all amenities to our Nurses. Click Here to View Apartments  There are no housing deductions.  However, many Nurses choose to do their own housing and choose to either get the higher pay rate or per diem of $525.00 per week.   Please discuss these options with your Recruiter.

Q: What should I bring to my new home?

A: Your toothbrush, your scrubs and your groceries.  We provide everything.  Pots, pans, kitchenware, toasters. Coffee pots, linens, All furniture, TV, phone with answering machine, vacuum and utilities.  We have provided everything that we could think of to make you comfortable.  Our Nurses rave about their apartments!!!

Q: Can I bring my family and/or pet on assignment?

A: Of course. Your Recruiter will discuss your specific housing needs and our Housing Department is skilled in locating the best accommodations for our Travelers who bring their families and pets.

Q: When can I move in?

A: Our Nurses are able to move into their new housing two days prior to starting their assignments.

Q: Do you offer rental cars?

A: We work with Enterprise Rent-A-Car to make cars available to our Travelers.

TYPES OF HOSPITALS  back to top

Q: What types of hospitals do you staff?

A: We staff acute care facilities, clinics, Behavioral centers, and Occupational Nursing positions; any location where a Nurse is needed. Our goal is to have a variety of assignments from which you can choose.

Q: How can I research the hospitals Agostini services?

A: Once you discuss options with one of our Recruiters, you can research further by visiting www.hospitalsoup.com to learn more about the hospital.

SKILL SET & EXPERIENCE QUESTIONS  back to top

Q: How much experience is required to be a Travel Nurse with Agostini Nurse Staffing?

A: Some hospitals will take a Medical Surgical Nurse that has one year (out of the last two years) recent experience but most hospitals require all Nurses to have a minimum of two years recent experience in their specialty.

THE APPLICATION  back to top

Q: How do I complete an application?

A: There are two ways to start the application process: online or over the phone. You can also complete as much of the online application as convenient and the rest by phone.

Q: What if I don't have all the necessary information for the application to be 100% completed?

A: Submit what you have and your Recruiter and our Quality Improvement Department will work with you to finalize your file so that you can be offered to our hospitals as quickly as possible. For most hospitals we can submit your application with just the basic information (license, certifications, resume, skills checklist and references). 

Q: What happens after I send in an application?

A: We have a Quality Improvement Department that reviews each application as it comes in. The QI staff works with the Recruiters to find out the candidate's availability date(s) and any missing data. At that point we will work with you to complete the missing documentation.

ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS  back to top

Q: What do I need to do before I start a new assignment?

A: You must have a Registered Nursing license or have a "walk-through" scheduled to obtain that license. Your Recruiter will give you more information on this and other requirements of this process.

Q: What should I do once I arrive at an assignment?

A:  Contact the office to discuss any issues or just to say hello. We know you will be busy once you start your assignment and we will respect your schedule. Please know we want you to be happy and will check in with you to ensure this.

Q: What is the normal length of a travel assignment?

A: Agostini offers contracts of 4, 8 and 13 week duration. This is dependent on the hospitals' needs and your availability.

Q: How many hours per week will I be working?

A: Most of our travel assignments are 36, 40 or 48 hour weeks. This could be 3x12, 5x8, 4x12 or 4x10 hour shifts. You can also work extra.

Q: Is it possible to travel with a “travel buddy?”

A: We encourage travelers who have friends to travel together. We try to place buddies at the same facility. If you are housed with your travel buddy (or with another Agostini traveler), you may be paid a higher hourly rate because you are sharing housing.

Q: What happens after I finish an assignment?

A: You have many options prior to your contract ending. Please communicate your desires to your Recruiter so that we can request an extension at the same facility, gain a new contract at another facility, or arrange for your travel back home.