Travel nursing has become a viable option for nurses who want to explore different states, gain valuable experience in various settings and facilities, and help patients in need. Because of these reasons, a growing number of nurses are turning to travel nursing. According to Zippia, there are over 1.7 million traveling nurses currently employed in the United States today, which is a substantial part of the 5.7 million nurses with active RN licenses in 2024.
As the demand for travel nursing continues to grow nationwide, interested first-time travel nurses must look for a travel nurse agency that would match their needs, preferences, and goals. In this article, we discuss some of the most important things travel nurses should consider when looking for a competent and reliable travel nurse agency to work with.
Top things to look for when picking a travel nurse staffing agency
1. Have reliable, experienced, and hardworking recruiters
Recruiters can make or break your overall travel nursing experience, which is why it’s important to find a travel nurse agency that have experienced and compassionate recruitment specialists.
Great travel nurse recruiters have in-depth knowledge of the healthcare industry and the different facilities they work with, and they can help you find the best facility that matches your goals and wants. Not only that, but because they know their partner facilities well, they can offer applicants valuable career guidance, helpful inside scoop, and interviewing tips so that applicants can make informed decisions and have proper and realistic expectations.
One of the hallmarks of a great recruiter is the innate ability to build strong relationships with employees. Sarah Whitcombe, our Sr. Director of Recruitment, has always believed in the importance of building genuine connections with our employees. “Focus on building relationships! That’s the foundation. Once you have the relationships, they are much more willing to open up and tell you what’s important to them and will be willing to work with you for the long term,” Sarah shared.
Recruiters are also one of your main contact points with your travel nurse agency, helping you sort out any concern, problem, or issue you may have at work.
2. Have good rates
In general, travel nurses enjoy lucrative compensation packages. This is especially true when the Covid-19 pandemic happened. According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), at its highest in January 2022, travel nursing rates were 148.1% higher than staff nurses across the country.
Although travel nursing rates have gone down since the peak of the pandemic, great travel nursing agencies offer reimbursements and stipends that go beyond a job’s pay rate. For example, at Meda Health, employees tax-free travel and meal reimbursements, housing 401K eligibility, and 50% continuing education reimbursement.
Meda Health’s nurses, allied health professionals, and school staff employees enjoy competitive rates and benefits. “I have recommended my physical therapist friends to consider Meda for their future assignments due to my positive experience with Meda. As a travel PT, I hope to get paid what I am worth and have a smooth process with everything, and I think Meda has been doing a great job on those things,” shared Hanlin Feng, one of Meda Health’s first-time traveling PTs.
3. Have a wide network of facilities and job opportunities
Ideal travel nursing agencies must offer nurses a variety of work opportunities, including short- and long-term jobs as well as permanent placement opportunities. Good travel healthcare agencies also provide job opportunities for healthcare and allied health professionals with specific specializations, such as Cardiovascular Operating Room (CVOR) and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for RNs and Cath Lab and Med Techs for Radiology Technologists.
Reputable travel nurse agencies have partner facilities of all sizes in various states, allowing healthcare professionals to explore work in states near and far. Based on their preference, they can even work as travel nurses in the same state that they live in. One of Meda Health’s nurses, Meglor Galon, works within driving distance from his home, allowing him to enjoy the flexibility of travel nursing and the ability to spend quality time with his family. “My assignment is just a two-hour drive from my home. And the hospital where I’m working is really nice — it suits me perfectly,” Meglor remarked.
