Final answer:
The nurse manager should include a range of $78,000 to $93,600 for the cost of benefits.
Step-by-step explanation:
When preparing a budget, the nurse manager needs to anticipate the cost of benefits, such as health, life insurance, pension, and retirement plans. The usual cost of benefits is typically a percentage of the total salary cost. According to industry standards, the cost of benefits for a full-time employee is usually around 25-30% of their salary.
In this case, the total full-time salary cost is $312,000. To calculate the cost of benefits, we can use the range of 25-30%.
$312,000 * 0.25 = $78,000
$312,000 * 0.30 = $93,600
Therefore, the nurse manager should include a range of $78,000 to $93,600 for the cost of benefits.