Benefits of Working with a Travel Nursing Agency vs. Finding Own Assignment

Whether a new nurse or an old pro, working with a travel nursing agency is an excellent first step to finding your ideal career, your recruiter will search tirelessly for jobs pushing you further in your career.

Agencies like Triage Staffing know how important it is to keep travel nurses’ best interests in mind, so they offer a range of services to ensure that you have an enjoyable and successful experience.

Access to a Wide Range of Opportunities

Working with a travel nursing agency is the way to go if you are looking for an assignment to give you the experience you want and need. You’ll be able to find contracts that fit your criteria in locations across the country and even internationally.

As a travel nurse, you’ll be exposed to various challenges that will strengthen your skills and help you become a better caregiver. You’ll also be able to work alongside various amazing people from different backgrounds, cultures, and communities.

This is a great opportunity to get your foot in the door and build your resume. And with your recruiter’s help, you can ensure the placement is good for you.

Another benefit of working with a travel nursing agency is that they can connect you quickly with job opportunities. This is because they’re tapped into which locations need more support, so they can easily set up your next assignment before you finish the current one.

The recruiters at travel nursing agencies are trained to make the recruiting process as efficient as possible. This means they will do everything possible to find you a great job that meets your needs and fits your schedule.

Convenience

A travel nursing agency will handle all the planning and logistics for your assignments, allowing you to focus on your job. This allows you to be more productive, which decreases the potential for burnout and compassion fatigue in your career.

Agencies also usually have exclusive contracts with hospitals and medical centers, enabling them to offer first-choice placements for their travel nurses. This is especially true of larger agencies that manage service agreements with healthcare systems.

Another advantage of working with a travel nursing agency is convenience. This means you can be situated and ready to start your assignment immediately.

This is especially important for those who want to avoid a long, drawn-out search for housing in a new area. If you choose to work with an agency, they can help you find a place to live within your budget and close to your work location.

Some agencies may also offer a housing stipend that can cover some of your rent while you’re on assignment, so it’s worth looking into if you’re interested in this option. It can be a great way to save money, but it’s still essential to understand how this benefit works before signing a contract.

Flexibility

Working with a travel nursing agency allows nurses to choose assignments that fit their schedules and needs. They can also take breaks when needed and go on vacations without worrying about losing their job.

Nurses can find assignments through agencies that place registered nurses in hospitals worldwide. These organizations recruit, vet, and place qualified candidates for eight to 36 weeks of short-term assignments.

Some agencies offer flexible compensation packages to allow travel nurses to negotiate their pay rates and stipends. This flexibility allows nurses to get the highest stipend possible, increasing their total income and making it easier to afford things like housing or a nicer car.

Finding a travel nursing assignment that fits your needs can make it difficult. You may need to compromise your search if you have specific requirements, such as night shifts.

Many national travel nursing agencies offer more assignments than regional firms, which can be helpful for travelers looking to work in various locations. 

Security

A travel nursing agency recruits and places RNs and other health care professionals in temporary assignments nationwide and internationally. These agencies bring RNs into the workforce, often with pay that is higher than average and various perks. These perks include free or reduced-cost continuing education courses, travel expenses, gym memberships, completion bonuses, and more.

Agencies also assist with credentialing and compliance services, ensuring that all travel nurses meet the medical standards of the healthcare facility they will be working in. They make sure that credentials are valid and up to date and that all required medical tests and screenings (physical exams, drug screens, and immunization records) have been completed.

Some staffing agencies have a local office in the city where your assigned assignment is. This makes it easier for you to submit paperwork or do fit testing, which can help you obtain a placement at the hospital.

Support

Travel nursing agencies provide some support services for their nurses, ranging from housing and sick pay to obtaining licenses in the states they work in. They also have a 24/7 clinical team, a housing support team, and recruiters dedicated to helping nurses make their journeys go smoothly.

Most travel nursing agencies also offer various compensation packages, from base rates to per diem, overtime pay, and referral bonuses. Choosing an agency that offers these perks is important, as they can help you make the most of your career.

Some travel nurse agencies offer contract flexibility that allows their nurses to decide what terms are most important to them. This is a great option for those who know what they want in a contract and want to negotiate their pay package.

Other travel nursing agencies focus on providing standard contracts that have been tried and tested by many nurses before them. This is a good option for those new to travel nursing and doesn’t have much experience in the field.