What exactly does a travel nurse recruiter do? If you’re considering making the switch from staff to travel nursing, you might find yourself asking this question.
As a travel nurse, you have enough on your plate to worry about. Having a healthcare recruiter will help to alleviate some of the stressors that come along with travel nursing. They play a crucial role in your career and help you out in a variety of different ways. Their main job is bridging the gap between you (the travel nurse) and your desired assignment (the facility), but they do so much more than just that. So, what are some of the things they do that are beneficial to you and your career? So glad you asked, we’d love to tell you!
The Essential Role(s) of a Travel Nurse Recruiter
Guidance and Support
Healthcare recruiters provide personalized guidance and support throughout the entire travel nursing journey. They assist with the application process, answer questions about specific assignments or locations, and offer advice on licensing, credentialing, and compliance requirements.
As a travel nurse, your recruiter is your most valuable resource. It’s vitally important that you have open and honest communication with your healthcare recruiter so they can do what is in your best interest. You will have a close working relationship, so you want to make sure it is a good fit for both of you. To help you out, we’ve put together a list of questions you should ask your recruiter before jumping into a (working) relationship with them.
Your recruiter will guide you through the entire process, from helping you navigate the complexities of the industry, to addressing any concerns or challenges that arise, and anything in between. Your recruiter should be your first point of contact for any questions you may have. Curious about what color scrub you need for your assignment? Have questions about the payroll process and timecard submission? Want to know what kind of benefits our agency offers? Even if you just want to chat with a recruiter about travel nursing in general to see if it might be a good fit for you, they’re available to help. Ask your recruiter, they’ll be able to answer, or find the answer, to your questions.
If you want to meet our recruiters, check out our Meet the Team page!
Pictured above: Our Great Recruiter certified healthcare recruiters
Job Placement and Streamlined Job Search
Possibly the most obvious and helpful thing your recruiter will assist you with is job searching and placement. Healthcare recruiters have access to a wide range of job opportunities and work to match their travel nurses with assignments that align with their location preferences, skills, and career goals. Ideally, your recruiter should get to know you on a (somewhat) personal level so they know exactly what to be on the lookout for and what might work best for you and your needs.
If you are unable to find the right assignment for you, your travel nurse recruiter recruiter will be able to job search for you and keep their eyes peeled for new jobs that meet your wants and needs. They’ll be able to gather all necessary information, documents, and certifications from you to ensure your profile is ready to go when your perfect assignment drops. If your recruiter is armed with enough information, they’ll be able to reach out to you ASAP when new jobs become available, present them to you, and ultimately get you submitted as quickly as possible to increase your chances of landing the assignment.
Our healthcare recruiters work closely with our account management team so they can have a deeper understanding of our available assignments. This ensures they know details about the facility, what their needs are, and what you can expect out of the assignment. That way, when they present the job(s) to you, they can be confident that it will be a good match for both you and the facility. Your recruiter can job search, submit you to multiple positions, and follow up on your behalf, which saves you valuable time. Like we said, you’re busy – let your recruiter do what they can to help you have some time back to yourself.
Contract Negotiation
Travel nurse recruiters have experience in contract negotiation and are skilled in advocating for their nurses. And that’s exactly what they want to do: advocate for YOU. They work hard to secure competitive compensation packages, including hourly rates, housing allowances, travel reimbursements, and other benefits. Recruiters can provide valuable insights and advice during contract negotiations to ensure that travel nurses receive fair and favorable terms. They’ll also be your go-to if you have specific terms you want to be included in your contract like block scheduling or time off requests.
If you find yourself thinking “I have mad negotiation skills, I could just travel without an agency”, we encourage you to check out this blog about the pros and cons of being an independent nurse contractor.
“How does my travel nurse recruiter help me once I’m on assignment?”
Ongoing Support
What a great question, we’re so glad you asked! One of the biggest perks of having a good travel nurse recruiter is that they provide continuous support throughout your assignment(s). They serve as a point of contact for any issues or concerns that arise during placements and act as an advocate for travel nurses, ensuring their needs are met. Recruiters are available to address questions, offer insight, and provide assistance during challenging situations, allowing travel nurses to focus on delivering quality patient care.
At Next Move, all of our healthcare recruiters strive daily to create “raving fans”. One of the most common things our recruiters hear in their reviews from their clinicians is: “They care about me as a person, and I’m never treated like I’m just a number”. They genuinely want you to be happy, healthy, and safe. They will check in on you throughout your assignment to make sure you are all of the above. If at any point you are struggling, whether it be with burnout, loneliness, etc., they will do everything in their power to help you or get you in contact with someone who can. Your recruiter should be your biggest advocate, supporter, and friend throughout your career.
Seamless Transitions
Another thing your travel nurse recruiter will do is assist in ensuring smooth transitions between assignments. Whether you’re looking to extend your contract, find a brand new one, or take some well-deserved time off, they’re there to help you. Recruiters help with the logistics of whichever avenue you take, coordinating necessary paperwork, facilitating communication between healthcare facilities, and extending your benefits. Recruiters strive to minimize any disruptions during transitions, making the process more efficient and less stressful for travel nurses. We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again, you’ve got enough to worry about, let your recruiter do some of the worrying for you.
To Sum Up A Travel Nurse Recruiters Role
Travel nurse recruiters act as advocates and facilitators for travel nurses, offering personalized support, job placement services, industry insight, and logistical assistance. By partnering with a travel nurse recruiter, nurses can benefit from their industry expertise, connections, and dedicated support to navigate the travel nursing landscape with ease. However, the most important thing a recruiter does for their nurses is have their best interest in mind.
At Next Move, our recruitment team is lead by current and former travel nurses. This gives our entire team access to uniquely personal insights, best practices, and a deep understanding of everything that goes into travel nursing from the perspective of both the travel nurse and the recruiter.
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