You spent years at school, have just graduated, and now you are a nurse. Congratulations! You are ready to get to work, and you can’t wait to live your life’s passion of being a caretaker. You are eager for the best opportunities, and you want to be a Travel Nurse, but where do you start?! There are so many states, contracts, and specialties – it’s confusing and overwhelming.
You are searching job boards, but you’re stuck because you can’t seem to find anything that you like. The jobs are all in very different environments and specialties. The hotel charges and rates don’t seem to make sense. You didn’t expect this and to be honest, even as a seasoned pro in the game, you may have issues finding the best contract. Then, you talk to other nurses and are surprised at how different your offers are. Finding a good job is a daunting task! What do the other travel nurses have that you don’t? Their secret is a great Travel Nurse Agency!
One of the greatest benefits of being a travel nurse is that there are so many options to choose from. Not just with specialties or facilities but also with the types of employment you want or how many shifts you want to work. You can work full time, on a contract basis, or as needed (PRN) in a variety of healthcare facilities nationwide. Additionally, you can work with an agency that allows you to choose your shifts or do short-term contracts that best suit your schedule and job needs. Even if you are working full-time, you can pick up shifts through an agency on the side to broaden your skills or make more money!
There are many benefits to working with a Travel Nurse agency:
1. Better pay
As a nurse with an agency, you are given a much better pay rate. Your hourly increases as much as 50% and could be double if you are prepared to take shifts like weekends and nights or work overtime.
2. Better Control of Your Schedule
Need a day off? No problem. You have control over the shifts you want to work. Working PRN allows you to choose the best days and shifts that suit your lifestyle. Per diem nursing makes it possible and easy to balance work and home life effectively. You pick your schedule and control your family time.
Need a change of scenery? Not just a new facility, but maybe a new state? Most nursing agencies work with a variety of facilities throughout the US. You can also stay in-state but travel to different facilities and expand your skillset.
3. Less Stress
Take workplace politics off your radar. You show up, save the day, do your work, and clock out.
Interpersonal relationships that develop at work with coworkers, patients, or families can become catalysts of stress for many nurses. By working as a per diem nurse, you’ll be able to remain in neutral territory, and if there’s a particular facility that you don’t quite vibe with, then you don’t have to go back.
Working as a full-time nurse can leave you feeling stretched thin and lead to burnout. As a travel nurse, you get to do actual nursing. Isn’t that what you got into the profession for? Not handling complaints, emailing the director, or doing stocktaking.
4. Variety and Adaptability
Most agencies are already contracted with multiple facilities, so you get diversity and always have a guaranteed contract. If you are working in Colorado and decide you want to go to Idaho in the next two weeks, it’s 100% possible because agencies always have openings and always bargain the best packages and rates for their providers. So, if you just got off a 13-week assignment and are ready to jump on a 9-week, don’t worry! An agency makes it possible in a flash.
Burnout is a real threat for nurses. Per diem shifts allow nurses to minimize the risk of emotional and physical exhaustion while also developing new skills and offering their minds a change of pace. You learn to adjust to new locations and demographics quickly. You learn to connect, communicate, and care for individuals quickly and without difficulty. Another perk to working with an agency is the inside scoop you get on each facility. Not just from their clients but from other travelers who are able to help you be prepared for the culture and workload!
5. More Support and Better Relationships
We often see platforms advertising about reimagining healthcare. Their plans often focus on the patients and equipment but rarely on our #1 asset – our nurses! To reimagine healthcare, we must reimagine a healthcare provider’s experience! Nurses are the beating hearts of the medical system and need 100% support.
Through an agency, you get to work with a recruiter who doesn’t just find you jobs but also provides 24/7 support. They become your friend and defender. They battle on your behalf to make sure you are always comfortable, always employed, and generally much happier. They take the stress of dealing with the backend stuff, so you don’t have to!
An agency is the first step to having the support you need and the peace of mind you deserve after dealing with difficult patients. Recruiters learn your history, your strengths, your interests, and other important information about you that can help find the absolute best job fit. This creates a space where you can ask questions, voice concerns, and gain advice when needed. Working with a travel nurse staffing agency gives you a support system you can contact day or night. You get help with housing options and always stay in the loop to have the best assignments! As Lexi Saige said, “A nurse is compassion in scrubs,” and a nurse deserves that same compassion in return!
Medical Edge Recruitment is the premier travel nursing recruitment agency specializing in providing top talent to clients in the healthcare industry. We connect clinical and allied providers to their ideal opportunities, focusing on building long-lasting relationships through honesty and transparency. In travel nursing, bigger does not always mean better. While we have an extensive network of job opportunities, our experienced team is dedicated to making a personalized provider experience a priority. There are a lot of moving parts in getting set up for a new assignment, but we take care of all the details along the way. Adventure awaits; let Medical Edge Recruitment show you where to go next!