The Healthcare Staffing Glossary

1099 contractor

A worker paid as an independent contractor rather than an employee. The contractor handles their own taxes. Hearthstone & Co. clinicians are W-2 employees instead.

Acuity

How sick or care-intensive patients or residents are. Higher acuity usually means more nursing time per person.

Agency bill rate

The hourly amount a facility pays a staffing agency. It is different from the clinician’s pay rate and typically covers payroll costs, screening, insurance and agency overhead.

CAGE code

A Commercial and Government Entity code, assigned to organizations that do business with the federal government.

Census

The number of patients or residents in a facility at a given time. Staffing needs often follow census.

Contract (travel) assignment

A fixed-term placement, often several weeks to months, for coverage that outlasts a single shift.

Credentialing

Verifying that a clinician is who they say they are and qualified for the role: license, screening, work history, and more.

Float pool

Clinicians who move between units or sites to cover gaps, based on need.

HUB (Historically Underutilized Business)

A Texas state certification program run by the Texas Comptroller for qualifying small businesses, used in state purchasing.

Nurse Aide Registry

The Texas HHSC registry that lists certified nurse aides. Covered employers check it before hiring a nurse aide.

Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)

An agreement that lets a nurse with a multistate license from their home state practice in other compact states, including Texas.

OIG exclusion list (LEIE)

The federal list of individuals and entities excluded from participating in federal health care programs. Facilities and agencies screen against it. See our screening guide.

Per diem (PRN)

Work by the shift, with no ongoing commitment on either side. PRN is Latin for “as needed.” See per diem staffing.

Primary-source verification

Confirming a credential directly with the organization that issued it, such as a board of nursing, instead of relying on a copy.

SAM.gov

The federal System for Award Management, where organizations register to do business with the government. It also lists federal exclusions.

Temp-to-perm

A temporary placement with the option to convert the clinician to a permanent employee. See temp-to-perm staffing.

Time to fill

How long it takes from confirming a request to having a clinician placed. Our placement target is 36–72 hours after the request is confirmed.

UEI

Unique Entity ID, the identifier assigned in SAM.gov to organizations registered to do business with the federal government.

VOSB / WOSB

Veteran-Owned Small Business and Woman-Owned Small Business, SBA programs for certified firms. See our certifications.

W-2 employee

A worker employed by the agency, with taxes withheld and payroll handled by the employer.

Definitions are general explanations, not legal advice. Requirements change, so confirm current rules with the issuing agency.