One of the most important decisions you can make as a travel nurse is choosing the agency that represents you. Nurse agencies, like people, have varying areas in which they excel. The key is to find the one whose strengths are most closely aligned with your concerns.
With that in mind, here are some tips for choosing the best travel nurse agencies.
Do They Have Jobs in Your Specialty?
The types of opportunities nurse agencies have to offer will go a long way toward helping you secure desirable assignments. It is important to determine how many opportunities an agency has within your specialty. The larger the number, the more likely you are to be steadily employed. The good news is that the demand for travel nurses has never been higher, so there are lots of openings out there.
Mind Their Reputation
It is important to examine the agency’s reputation. As the old saying goes, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them.” Travel nurses tend to refer agencies for CNAs by word of mouth. The best nurse agencies get mentioned a lot because they have demonstrated their willingness to keep the best interests of the people represented at the forefront of their decision-making. In other words, they’ve consistently exhibited concern for their clients and are appreciated for that fact.
Pay Isn’t Everything
We all want to be compensated at the highest rate possible, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, focusing on paying to the exclusion of everything else might trap you in a high-paying opportunity with significant flaws.
Consider getting answers to these questions – Do they have good clinical support? What about retirement plans? What’s the bonus situation like? Do they cover you with professional liability insurance? What about licensing assistance and continuing education? How do benefits accrue?
Having answers to these questions will help you select the most suitable nurse agency.
How Are Stipends Paid?
One of the benefits of traveling professionally is tax-free reimbursement of food and housing costs while on assignment. The amounts can vary depending upon the region in which you serve, as well as how far away you work from your permanent home. Some nurse agencies offer the maximum allowable amount, while others do not. You can find out what the maximums are for the location you’re considering at the General Services Administration’s website.
Will You Have a Designated Recruiter?
Some agencies for CNAS will assign your file to a team, while others assign a specific recruiter to represent you. The upside of the former is that you won’t have to pay a recruiter’s bonus, which means you get to keep more of your earnings. On the other hand, you won’t have an individual advocate working on your behalf. You might be better off with the latter arrangement if you are a fledgling or are likely to need a lot of personalized help.
Get Your Dream Job Today!
Nurse agencies are significant in helping you land the best nursing jobs. These six considerations are among the top factors by which to choose an agency to represent you. However, you must focus on yourself, honing your skills for having high-paid assignments.
Here at Wanderly, you’ll find a marketplace that will make it easy for you to find jobs and make the best decision for your circumstances. Talk to a few before you settle on an organization. Things to look for include the patience of the people you encounter, the quality of the advice they offer, how willing they seem to provide assistance, and, of course, your gut reaction to your encounter with the agency.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What should I look for in a travel nurse recruiter?
Consider factors like communication skills, a focus on your needs, attention to detail, industry knowledge, and an ability to build relationships.
- Do travel nurses choose where they want to go?
You have the final say on whether you agree to the hospital, the location, the start date, and the shift with every assignment. However, you need to be sure before signing the contract assignment to ensure a positive professional record.
- How do I choose a travel nursing company?
You can consider various factors before finalizing a nurse agency. These may include their customers’ reviews, locations and assignment availability, recruiter-agency relationship, and range of benefits.