Your journey to finding a great nursing job will almost always lead you to a nurse recruiter’s door. Nurse recruiters are healthcare professionals responsible for finding, screening, and placing qualified nurses in facilities. According to a Monthly Labor Review report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the healthcare and social assistance sector will have the most new jobs, accounting for 2.1 million out of the 4.7 million total new jobs between 2022 and 2032. To help you find the best job and build a solid healthcare career, it’s important to connect with and build a great relationship with talented nurse recruiters. This is especially true if you’re a travel nurse who likes exploring different states and working at various facilities.
Unfortunately, not all nurse recruiters are built the same, so you should know what to expect from a stellar one. We’ve created a helpful guide to help you spot high-quality healthcare recruiters, whether you’re a newbie nurse or an experienced nurse who wants to expand your connections.
What makes a good healthcare recruiter?
We’ve rounded up the best qualities of great healthcare recruiters that you should be on the lookout for:
1. They’re great communicators
Good healthcare recruiters talk clearly, transparently, and comprehensively, ensuring you understand exactly what you should do at every stage of the hiring process.
Good nurse recruiters know the importance of setting proper expectations so that you understand must-know information such as your duties and responsibilities, when and how you’ll get paid, important dates you need to remember, and documents you should fill out and submit. They also keep you updated on any changes in the hiring process, sharing updates quickly and accurately.
After talking with a good nurse recruiter: You should have a good idea of what the role is about, what the pay rate is, what’s expected of you, and what the action items are on your end. Your questions or clarifications should also be addressed.
2. They listen to you
Good nurse recruiters understand that the best way to find and keep top talent is by understanding what motivates them — do they want to explore new places, earn more, explore new healthcare settings, or gain new experiences? All these can be answered by listening well to nurses and discovering what matters most to them.
After talking with a good nurse recruiter: You should have been able to discuss what your preferences and career goals are.
3. They’re responsive
Good healthcare recruiters are responsive. They make sure to answer your questions promptly, clearly, and respectfully. Don’t forget that in the job hunting process, you’re also assessing if a certain role is a perfect fit for you and your needs, and to determine that, you’d need to ask questions and assuage your concerns.
After sending your questions or concerns to a good nurse recruiter: You should be able to get clear and prompt responses via email, text, or call. Your recruiter also communicates with you respectfully and positively.
4. They give you sensible options
Based on your preferences and needs, a good healthcare recruiter will give you great job options to choose from, ones that best match your skills and experience. By providing sensible options, good nurse recruiters don’t just display their connections and knowledge of your preferences, they also empower you to choose which role stands out to you the most. They also give you job recommendations or options based on their extensive understanding of the ins and outs of the facilities they’ll be recommending. They’ll be able to give you an idea of the facility’s culture and help you navigate your new work environment better.
After talking with a good nurse recruiter: You should feel that your needs and preferences have been heavily considered in the options you were given.
5. They follow through and provide support
A great nurse recruiter won’t stop talking to you after placing you. They’ll follow up and check in on you not just on your first few days at work but throughout your assignment. This will allow them to garner feedback and finetune their job recommendations, ensuring a mutually beneficial relationship for you, the recruiter, and the facility. They should also be able to connect you with other helpful professionals who will help you get a smooth working experience, such as the payroll team and scheduling support team.
When things aren’t as ideal as you’d like, or when challenges and problems arise, a good healthcare recruiter should step in and help resolve challenges. At Meda Health, we also have a dedicated Director of Nursing, who works directly with nurse recruiters and ensures that all healthcare employees are guided and supported throughout their assignments.
Before and during your new work assignment, when you work with a good nurse recruiter: You still communicate with them and get to give feedback on your experience at work. You should be able to let your recruiter know if you’re settling in well or if you’re running into some challenges that you’d need help with.
Looking for top-notch, high-quality healthcare recruiters with access to great job opportunities? Find them at Meda Health. Learn more about the Meda Health difference here and explore our open jobs here.
