How to Extend Your Travel Contract

To extend, or not to extend?! You've found your dream assignment and have decided that you want to extend, but don't know where to start. When should you ask for an extension? Should you ask for more money? Is there an opportunity for you to extend? Extending your contract can feel like a daunting process, but it doesn't have to be. Here are five key steps in preparing for an extension on your current or future assignments:

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1. Think about an extension from the beginning of your contract. I have done 13 assignments and have been asked to extend my contract on EVERY SINGLE TIME. You should always go into an assignment with the idea of extending from the minute you start clinical orientation. Within the first few weeks of a contract your interactions with the staff, clinical workflow, and overall city experience often gives you a good idea of whether or not you are going to want to stay past your original 13 weeks. If this is in the back of your mind, you can throw out the idea to your manager and your recruiter within the first few weeks so that you ensure your extension will go smoothly. 
2. Notify your manager. You're a couple of weeks into your assignment and you’ve decided that you love your new co-workers, clinical workflow, MedVenture friends, and new city.  The first step to extending is talking to your manager. The earlier you ask, the better! Sometimes as a traveler (especially on nights), having the opportunity to talk to the manager can be a hard task. I will usually send an email or wait next to the manager's office in the morning. Your chances of extending also dramatically increase if you gain the trust and respect of your assistant manager or charge. Your manager will have better insight than your recruiter on if they have the needs/ budget to extend you once your original assignment is up. 
3. Notify your recruiter. Some travelers skip the manager part and go directly to the recruiter to ask for an extension. I’ve always approached the manager or charge first. Knowing that they want you to extend gives you leverage for step #4 - negotiation. 
4. Negotiating pay for an extension. When negotiating your extension, keep in mind that you are saving the hospital a week's worth of new traveler orientation pay. Because of these savings, you should get some sort of increase in pay. I’ve seen the increase in pay structured in a couple of ways:
   • Extension Bonus - This is a lump sum usually in the ballpark of $500-1000, that you either receive at the start or end of your contract. An extension bonus is heavily taxed and not ideal for getting the most bang for your buck. 
   • Increase in Hourly Pay or Stipend- If your stipend isn’t maxed out according to the IRS Guidelines, this is the preferred way to get an increase in pay for your extension because it is tax free. If your stipend is maxed out, you should ask for an increase in your hourly pay. This pay will be taxed, but will be more pay overall than an extension bonus. 
5.   Other key points. When you do extend, it is important that you also negotiate days off. I usually take 1-2 weeks off before my new extension to recharge in between contracts. Some companies give you travel reimbursement in between contracts to go home, so try and negotiate that as well into your extension.  For tax purposes it is very important that you don't extend at your current hospital longer than 12 months. To comply with IRS Guidelines and tax experts, you can only receive a tax-free stipends in a metropolitan area for up to 12 months at a time in a 24 hour period. Extensions also do not have to be another 13 weeks, I have extended for 2 weeks at a time. It is also important to make sure you sign a new contract reflecting your days off and pay adjustments, because if its not in writing, it wont happen! Good luck with your extensions & cheers to the next MedVenture!