Travel Nursing: What Questions Should I Ask?
So you've been thinking about becoming a travel nurse, eh? You've likely encountered travelers at your facility - or have friends who have traveled, and now you're thinking about taking the jump, but don't know where to start. Well, hey! Let me help ya!
Disclaimer: I am a travel nurse/healthcare professional recruiter, so this is solely from my perspective. Keep in mind that you should have an idea of what's important to you personally (what you want to achieve). Hope it helps!
Why should I work with you and your company? If your recruiter can't answer this simple question, move on!
How can I reach you/Are you always available? You are going to be experiencing many new things on a travel assignment. Having someone available to you at a moments notice is crucial.
What is your company's standards? No one has ever asked me this - but I wish someone would! It's important to work for a company who isn't looking to cash in on every nurse. Look for a company who represents quality - this is good for both you and the company!
Benefits (Assuming you need them) - You got 'em? This can get tricky. Some companies advertise "day one" benefits - only to find out that there is a 30 day waiting period. Make sure you're covered from the start and make sure you see a copy of their benefits breakdown!
As my recruiter, what should I expect from you? Another powerful and glorious question! The recruiter with whom you choose to work will 100% impact the quality of your experience. Are they a good fit for you?
Who has my back if something happens? Yikes! The dreaded "what if"! Well, unfortunately we sometimes do encounter those situations. What is the company protocol? Do they have an on-call line? Do they have clinical experts?
Do you have exclusive contracts? Do you staff nationally? Obviously if you intend to take more than one assignment, you'll want to ensure that the company with whom you choose to work has enough jobs to keep you happy! Have a plan of places you'd like to go - see if the company can make it happen!
Lastly, as noted above, before you start talking to agencies, rank your needs (this is what I do when I talk to you!) For example:
1)Big city
2)High Pay
3)Small facility
4)Night shift
5)8 week contract
With the needs above, you should be more flexible on need 5 when compared to need 1. Of course my goal is to hit every need, but that isn't always possible. Good luck future travel nurses!