With the ShiftKey app, you’re well on your way to working on your terms. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of the app every time you use it.
Getting started
First, you’ll need to complete a few legal requirements, including uploading state-required credentials and completing a background check.
Once verification is completed, your credentials will be housed on the app so facilities can see them whenever they wish, and you’ll be able to bid on shifts (without needing to share your credentials each time you connect with a new facility).
The app will even notify you when your credentials need to be renewed, which makes it easy to keep them up to date!
What you’ll need for credential verification:
- Your license number and the state(s) you’re licensed in.
- Your Tax Identification Number (i.e., SSN or EIN) for IRS Form W-9.
- Choose how you want to receive payments. Select ShiftKey Wallet* to access to your funds as soon as your invoice is approved and enjoy other perks, have payments sent to an existing debit card,** or add your bank information to be paid via direct deposit.
- A government-issued photo ID.
- A current CPR card (course completed within the past 2 years).
- A current TB test (taken within the past 12 months).
- Additional documents for state- and facility-specific requirements. Some states have specific attestations, background checks, etc. The app will prompt you if you’re in one of those states. You can also upload facility-required documents (e.g., vaccinations and specialized training certifications). If you choose not to, you won’t see shifts posted by facilities that require them.
*Timing of payments may vary based on invoice approvals and are subject to a $2.95 fee per payment from ShiftKey. Manual review of an invoice usually takes <24 hours but can take up to a week. Once your invoice is approved, we can start processing your payment.
**Timing of payments directly to an external debit card may vary based on invoice approvals and are subject to a 2% fee of the total payment ($2.99 minimum fee).
How to speed up the credential verification process
Once you submit your documents, our credentialing team will verify them. Here’s a list of tips to help you avoid the most common errors. That’ll help our team verify your credentials as quickly as possible and get you bidding ASAP.
- Make sure that the name you use on the ShiftKey app matches the name on your government-issued photo ID and all other credentials, licenses, tests, etc. (For example, if your married name is on your ID, you should use your married name for your ShiftKey app profile.)
- Upload clear photos that contain the entire requested document — incomplete or blurry images cannot be accepted. Once you have uploaded the image, double-check the uploaded file to be sure that it’s the right one. (You’d be surprised how often the wrong photo gets uploaded by mistake, and it only takes a moment to check!)
- Be sure to fill out IRS Form W-9. This form is required for all independent professionals using the ShiftKey app.
- Submit your background check(s) as soon as possible. The background check conducted by our vendor Checkr takes approximately three to five days, but sometimes they can take longer. State-required background check times vary by state and type.Some states also require drug screens, which usually take between two and three days.
How to bid on a shift
On the ShiftKey platform, you choose your rate. Every shift has a suggested rate, and you can bid on the shift at that rate or a different rate.
Certain shifts can be added to your schedule in seconds. These shifts display an Instant Accept shift badge (⚡), and requests are immediately accepted by facilities.
How to increase your chances of getting a bid accepted
The ShiftKey app is different from other apps because it’s a marketplace that facilities and independent professionals use to find each other.
That means other independent professionals may also bid on the shift you want, but only one bid can be accepted. Bidding on multiple shifts during the same shift time can increase your chances of having a bid accepted.
You can feel good about bidding on as many shifts as you want because you cannot be double-booked through the app! Once a facility accepts your bid, the app will automatically cancel any conflicting bids.
Independent professionals new to the ShiftKey app have found bidding on five or more shifts to be helpful, but that can vary based on location or demand.
The top four tips for unlocking more shifts:
- Make sure you’ve uploaded all facility documents. That’s the only way to see shifts at facilities that require them.
- Increase the distance you’re willing to travel. On the ShiftKey app, you can set the distance you’re willing to travel for each shift. If you’re not having luck in your immediate area, increasing that distance will display additional shifts near you.
- Enable push, SMS and email notifications. Sometimes, having a shift request accepted is a matter of timing. Notifications help ensure you know what you need to know ASAP. ShiftKey notifications will also alert you to new shift opportunities, keep you informed about your credentials and so much more.
- Consider working when there’s high demand. Because facilities post shifts as needed, the weekends and holidays are usually the times of highest demand and give you the greatest opportunity for getting bids accepted.
How to get paid
To receive your payments, you’ll need to submit an invoice for each shift you complete via the app. The process is super simple, but the way you do it can vary by facility.
Location Services
For the ultimate ease, you can use the ShiftKey app to track your billable hours by turning on Location Services. The app will also verify you were onsite during your shift. See the Location Services FAQ for more information.
Digital Signature
Digital Signature is another convenient option for tracking your billable hours. With Digital Signature, all you need to do is have an authorized facility team member sign your device to verify your shift before you leave the facility. Visit the Digital Signature FAQ if you have any questions.
Best practices brought to you by ShiftKey power users
Using the ShiftKey app means that you have the opportunity to forge relationships with schedulers and administrators in many facilities. Here are some best practices from long-time users:
Arrive at the facility early, especially if it’s your first time there. Every facility is different, so give yourself enough time to find parking, orient yourself to the floor, find supplies, meet the nurse on duty and make other preparations.
Make sure your phone is ready to go. Charge your phone and bring it with you to your shifts. If you’re using Location Services, keep your phone on and the ShiftKey app running in the background. (If you force close the app, it will disconnect you from Location Services.)
Connect with the facility’s schedulers. If they’re on duty, make sure you introduce yourself to the scheduler. That will make it easier for them to remember you next time you request a shift at their facility.
Save your favorite facilities. If you liked working at a facility, use the app to make them a favorite so you can easily see their available shifts. All you have to do is tap the 💚 on the shift badge.
If you need to cancel, provide as much notice as possible. Life happens, and sometimes that means you’ll need to cancel at the last minute. But facilities tend to favor professionals who show up for their scheduled shifts, as they consider those professionals to be reliable and dependable. Cancelling last minute can also affect your Reliability Score.
Use the ShiftKey app to create the lifestyle you want. One of the top perks independent professionals enjoy is flexibility. With ShiftKey, you can work wherever you’re licensed, in over 40 states. If you’re looking for more inspiration, see how six independent professionals used ShiftKey to transform their lives.
Remember: When you start something new, it takes time to build momentum
The ShiftKey platform isn’t an agency. It’s a marketplace that allows you to connect directly with facilities in your area so that you can work on your terms. It also empowers you to choose your rate so that you can earn what you deserve.
When you first start, you’re new to the facilities using the platform. That means having a bid accepted can be a bit of a numbers game, as others who may be more established on the platform could be bidding on the same shift.
If you want to increase your odds, bid on multiple shifts at the same time, and follow the best practices during your shifts.
With persistence, follow-through and a willingness to try new facilities, you’ll start to build your network. Facilities need independent professionals they can count on, and you can be one of them.
Get your questions answered
If you have any questions about using the ShiftKey app, send us a message. We’re here to help!
