5 Important Qualities of a Travel Nurse Recruiter

As a travel nurse you have many options when selecting a travel nurse recruiter. Finding a recruiter that has your preferences at the forefront will give you a smooth transition into your next contract. It is essential to interview recruiters in order to find someone that you connect with and trust. You want a recruiter in your corner that will help you find your best assignment and support you in your travel nurse journey.

When you choose a travel nurse recruiter ensure that he or she has these 5 qualities:

1. Solid communication skills. A travel nurse recruiter that provides timely information to you about new job postings that fit your speciality, competency, and pay requirements makes your search process much easier. Your recruiter knows firsthand what changes are occurring in the market and great recruiters do a consistent job of matching their nurses to dream assignments.
   

The more information your recruiter shares about assignment requirements, housing options, pay packages, incentives and bonuses, the better you can choose your next placement. Remember effective communication is a two way street, so clearly express your desires and expectations early in the relationship building phase with your recruiter.

2. Listening expertise. As you create a relationship with a recruiter, be explicit in saying where you’d like to travel and your pay standards. If Maine is a priority location for you and your recruiter is sending you pay packages from California, clarify your preferences. A recruiter who does not portray assignments aligned with your desires,  it might be time to find another recruiter.
   

Effective listening is vital when building trust between you and your recruiter. After a phone call with your recruiter, send them an email summarizing the things spoken about, as well as important action items. This practice is good for record keeping and communication. Developing listening skills is a lifetime practice and is critical to  help your recruiter understand what’s important to you.

3. Travel nurse advocacy. One of the most important responsibilities of your travel nurse recruiters is support. A valuable recruiter will advocate for you at every step in your journey to ensure that you feel comfortable in your new role. The possibility of things going awry are slim, but it can happen.
   

A strong travel nurse advocate will help find solutions to issues as they arise. If an employer is asking you to do something outside your competency and contract, you need a recruiter to advocate for your license and patient safety.

4. Follow through. Have you ever asked a question and never received a reply? It’s not a good feeling, especially if the lack of communication is coming from your travel nurse recruiter. Questions about your assignment, pay, benefits, working conditions, clinical concerns, and more will arise. It’s important to have a recruiter who can help resolve issues and make assignments as seamless as possible.
   

Securing an assignment occurs on a strict timeline and a recruiter that knows how to follow-through will help you navigate the process efficiently. If assignment duties are on your to-do list, be sure to complete them in a timely manner.  

5. Collaboration. There are many departments within a travel nurse agency that share your information when securing your assignment. A great recruiter will be a liaison between you and agency departments. If an issue arises with payroll, you need a helpful recruiter that connects you with someone that can correct the issue quickly.
   

Your recruiter has established business relationships with people inside and outside the organization that benefits you. A compassionate travel nurse recruiter understands their value in the collaboration process and connects you with the right people at the right time.

Finding a recruiter that helps you achieve your travel and career goals is what you need from an elite travel nurse recruiter. Be transparent and honest about your goals, ideal assignment locations, and any other useful information your recruiter needs to place you in an assignment you love. In the event you find yourself questioning the relationship with your travel nurse recruiter, think does he or she have the qualities I need in a recruiter? If not, start that interview process with Health Carousel Travel Nursing for your next prospective recruiter to find qualities that are important to you.

Author Bio

Melissa Mora, BSN, RNC-OB, is a second career nurse with over 7 years of nursing experience specifically in obstetrics, gynecology, neonatal care and informatics. Melissa also has more than 10 years of small business management and leadership experience and currently owns PeakRN.com which provides professional nursing development and content writing services. She and her husband Ryan are originally from San Antonio, TX but now spend most of their time in the Eastern Sierra Nevadas.