Finding the best travel nursing agency is a big step in your journey as a travel nurse. Read reviews online and ask fellow nurses for their opinion.
Review Sites
Feel free to use review sites for the best travel nursing agencies. You can read reviews from fellow nurses on social media, online, and in blogs. These can give you a good idea of how the agency works with its nurses. If you have any travel nurse friends, ask them about their experiences with different agencies. They will happily tell you what has worked or not worked for them.
Look for a company that puts its nurses first. You want to be assured that you will be supported if any issues arise during your application process and on an assignment. Find out if the agency has a team of people ready to assist, such as a clinical coordinator for any clinical concerns and a housing specialist to help you find a temporary apartment.
A reputable travel nurse staffing agency has a corporate staff of specialists ready to aid your career. Ensure the agency has RNs, real estate experts, and seasoned documentation and technical personnel to help you with your travel nurse assignments. You can also find out by asking if the agency offers healthcare benefits like health, dental, and vision insurance and retirement accounts, such as 401ks.
Experience
Whether you’re a travel nurse newbie or a 5-year veteran, finding the best travel nursing agency is a priority. You deserve an agency that checks off the most important boxes: top pay, rock star recruiters, a housing coordinator on staff, Nurse First culture, and the ability to accommodate pets.
If you want to get a feel for how an agency will support you during your application process and on assignment, try their application and onboarding experience. During this time, you’ll see how well they answer questions, provide timely updates on submittals, and communicate with nurses throughout their contracts.
Another way to determine a travel nurse agency’s level of support is to consider its policies and benefits. Many travel nurses seek out agencies that offer tuition reimbursement, 401(k) match programs, and housing stipends to supplement their pay.
Look at the Benefits
A travel nursing agency is a great way to expand your professional network and experience new places. It is essential to work with an agency that understands your career goals and provides opportunities to meet them. There are several ways to find the right travel nursing agency for you. One way is to look at reviews on social media. Another way is to ask your peers what agency they recommend.
Many agencies maintain their job boards on their websites. While these may not be as up-to-date as a general legacy job board, they can give you an idea of the positions available with the agency. Some travel nurse companies also post jobs on niche job boards that cater to the needs of the travel nursing industry.
Social Media
Travel nurses may find social media to be a useful resource. TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn are social media networks that may be used to discover other tourists and medical facilities.
You can determine whether a travel nursing agency is ideal for you by tracking what other travelers say about their interactions with them. If a company receives favorable feedback, it cares for its nurses and treats them respectfully.
Another check is whether a company provides specialty tasks and whether its job board is often updated. If an organization falls short on these criteria, it can be because it needs to give its nurses the required duties. Check whether an organization offers housing or, at the very least, assists its nurses in finding reasonable living arrangements. This has a lot of potential advantages, especially for rookie travel nurses.
Reputation
Whether on social media, review sites, or just asking around, look for agencies with a reputation for caring for their travel nurses. If an agency has a strong reputation for providing top-notch housing, great contracts, and perks for their nurses, you’ll want to work with them.
If you know any other travel nurses, ask them to vouch for their experiences with certain agencies. Their opinions can be valuable and worth much more than you might think. Plus, you can learn a lot from their advice and personal experience.
Consider the average pay rates, benefits packages, and flexibility an agency offers before signing a contract. You can decide if it will fit your unique lifestyle and needs. For example, if you’re looking for something new and exciting, you might choose an agency offering specialty assignments in unique locations. Another thing to consider is the overall culture of an agency. You’ll want to feel like you’re part of a community and that the recruiter is invested in you and your success. Look for perks such as continuing education reimbursement and career development opportunities. These perks will help you advance in your travel nursing career.
