Direct hire, staffing agency or travel: what is the difference?
Paloma Talent · Updated October 6, 2026In direct hire, the healthcare employer hires and pays the person as its own employee; a recruiter only finds and introduces them. In agency staffing and travel, the agency is the employer of record and bills the facility for the worker’s hours.
Direct hire
- The facility, practice or agency is your employer from day one
- Your pay, benefits and schedule come from that employer
- Full-time, part-time and PRN roles all exist
- The employer pays the recruiter a placement fee; the candidate pays nothing
Agency staffing and per diem
- The staffing agency employs you and pays you
- The agency bills the facility for each hour you work
- Often used for short-term or shift coverage
Travel contracts
- Usually 8 to 13 week assignments away from home
- The travel agency employs you and pays you, often with housing stipends
- Extensions and new assignments are arranged by the agency
Which is Paloma Talent?
Paloma Talent recruits for direct hire. The employer hires you directly; Paloma Talent is never your employer and never charges you.
Questions
Can a direct-hire job be PRN?
Yes. Direct hire describes who employs you, not your schedule. Many direct-hire roles are PRN or part-time.