When you decide to embark on a travel nursing career, you’ll want to work with an agency and recruiter who put your best interests before theirs. Asking pointed questions about the things that will impact you the most will ensure you know what you are getting into and give you a chance to sidestep, before you make any bad decisions. These key questions will give you a good start.
- In what states and cities does the agency have the biggest presence?
You’ve probably already decided where you’d like to travel for assignments, so you definitely want to be sure the agency will have jobs in your desired locales. You can dig a little deeper here by asking more specifically about the types of facilities they work with in particular cities, plans for expansion into new areas, and which facilities or locations get the most positive feedback from placed nurses.
- How is the compensation package structured?
Your rate of pay is only part of the compensation formula so make sure you understand whether you’ll be reimbursed for your housing and meals or if a stipend will be provided, and if there are additional bonuses available for hard-to-fill positions or certain specialties. Evaluate the taxable vs. non-taxed components when figuring your total compensation figure.
- What does the benefits package include?
Medical and dental insurance are the first things we think of when considering benefits, but don’t forget about malpractice coverage, credentialing support, and reimbursement for CEUs or uniforms. Don’t forget to ask whether your benefits are effective between assignments and for how long.
- How long have you been working as a travel nurse recruiter?
This question will give you an idea of your recruiter’s experience. While newer recruiters can be quite effective with the right agency, a seasoned recruiter will have the facility intel and relationships needed to make the best matches.
- Will you be my contact throughout and between my assignments?
If you run into any problems while on assignment, you need to know who at the agency to contact and the hours of availability. If you need to extend time between assignments, you’ll need to know how to make those arrangements and with whom.
- What do I need to know about this assignment?
This is a series of multiple questions relevant to your specific assignments. Your recruiter is the one who can give you the lay of the land before you arrive at a new facility to ease the new-kid-on-the-block anxiety that can pop up. Find out how many other travel nurses are at the facility, what the commute and parking are like, what the canceled and extra shift policies are, and what your on-site contact is like.
You have many options when it comes to choosing a travel nursing recruiting firm. Starting with these questions will give you the right information to ensure your next assignment is perfect for you.