Nursing remains to be one of the most in-demand jobs and choosing the best nursing agency and nursing assignments affects your whole experience as a travel nurse. But there are hundreds of agencies to choose from, do here some tips and tricks on how to identify the best travel nurse assignments for you:
How do I choose a travel nursing assignment?
- Location
We all have that dream destination, a place we want to live in, or maybe everywhere is your dream destination and you want to try living in every state in the United States. If that is the case, then travel nursing is definitely for you. As a travel nurse, you are going to be given the freedom to choose your destination.
It is important to carefully look into the destination you have in mind before committing to a travel nursing assignment. You have to do research and plan everything out before you would eventually find the right place for you.
- Hospital Facilities
Being a travel nurse gives you the opportunity to work in different hospitals or healthcare facilities, which gives you a great chance to hone your skills, develop your potential and advance your careers further. Take into consideration the hospital facility that you are going to be assigned to, do further research about it, and eventually ask questions during your interview.
- Season and Climate
Since you are going to be placed in different areas of the country, you have to take into consideration the type of climate you prefer.
- Leisure and Activities
In order to not feel overwhelmed and to destress, it would be nice if you also consider all the things that you could do when you are not working. Usually, travel nurses have a thirst for adventure, so you are going to have to consider the activities that you could do in that particular city to make the most of your travel assignments.
What should I look for in a travel nursing agency?
- Knowledgeable and Friendly Recruiters
Since they serve as your sounding board, advocate, and partner during this whole journey, having one that is knowledgeable, trustworthy, and friendly is critical when you are selecting a travel nurse agency.
- Volume and Variety of Travel Nursing Jobs
The more contracts and variety of specialties being offered a travel nursing agency has, the more likely you are going to get the best job placements as a travel nurse. Most companies offer contracts that range from 4-26 weeks or more.
- Exclusive Contracts
This is usually found in much bigger travel nursing agencies. They will have exclusive staffing contracts which allow you to get your foot in the door and gain more valuable experience as a nurse.
- Industry expertise and Longevity
It’s a competitive market out there. It is better if the travel nursing agency that you chose if they have been running for a long period of time since a long standing nurse staffing agency has more industry knowledge, connections, and expertise compared to newer ones who are still establishing their reputation and making connections.
- Joint Commission Certification
The best travel nursing companies offer a robust package of travel nurse benefits like medical insurance options, dental benefits, free housing, paid travel expenses, life insurance, retirement benefits, and more. When starting off, you have to check when your coverage starts, verify whether the company will pay for your licensing fees, and all of the other important stuff to avoid misunderstanding.
How much do travel nurses make per assignment?
Before the spread of the CoronaVirus, travel nurses had the potential to earn over $3,000 a week and $20 an hour, but now, travel nurses are offered pay packages of over $10,000 a week or $100,000 for a 13-week assignment.
6 Highest Paying Travel Nursing Agencies
- Triage Staffing
- Aya Healthcare
- Travel Nurse Across America
- Axis Medical Staffing
- FlexCare Staffing
- Advantis Medical
There are a lot of benefits to working for a nurse staffing agency but it takes a lot of research to find the right one that best fits you and your needs. On average, a travel nursing contract lasts about 13 weeks excluding crisis assignments. Make sure to take your time to do your research to see what gives you the most benefits.