Best Companies for a New Traveler

NedRN · Nov 4, 2013

Medical Solutions is large and has been getting bad reviews lately from travelers, perhaps from the growing pains of buying On Assignment, another large agency. Flexcare has never been on anyones top list. Ruby Recruiting is a new small unproven agency that will not have a lot of assignments - but you could get lucky.

Some new travelers like to start with the mega agencies like American Mobile or Cross Country because they can be easier. Lots of assignments everywhere and if they do a good job, they are certainly capable of finding an appropriate first assignment for a new traveler. That requires a lot of assignments to pick a good fit. Your goal for your first assignment is really just to get through a first one. Then you too are proven and will have a better choice of agencies and assignments as you continue your career. A bad first assignment is not a good way to start.

Smaller agencies can be more personable and usually pay better. But you may need to sign up with several (always advised anyway) to have adequate choices. Sometimes a small local agency (like Ruby for DC) may be a better choice for area assignments. So for rural hospitals, sometimes they have hospitals that the larger agencies don't do well with.

I would try to focus on the recruiters you talk to with less attention to the agency brand. A good recruiter at a bad agency is far better than the reverse. Find several that you communicate well with, and listen well and see if you can get a sense of whether they are trustworthy.

labordude, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2013

I am a fan of RN Network, having worked with them on about 10 contracts. When I have taken their housing, it was excellent. I have constant access to my recruiter and a clinical manager (who is always an RN). Just remember that for the MOST part, any assignment can be taken with any agency. I have gotten my company new hospital contracts simply because I refuse to go with another agency. As the previous poster said, find a good recruiter. That can make all the difference. Have you ever looked at the Highway Hypodermics site? They have some listings of companies and they give them points in different objective categories.

marymak13 · Dec 17, 2013

I too am in the same boat, as a first time traveler. I have talked to so many recruiters, both good and bad but when I do research I feel like I get more negative than positive reviews on all the companies. Then I feel like I'm back to square one trying to find the best. Have you decided which agency to go with?

NedRN · Dec 17, 2013

All agencies have big fans. And detractors. What works, or doesn't work for them, will not be the same for you. Ask the recruiters questions, don't just listen to their sales pitch. The ones that listen to you and are responsive to your questions would be a good bet for establishing a good business relationship. Forget any recruiter at the first sign of a red flag, like saying they can't tell you more until you sign up. Lots of agencies and recruiters out there, you don't need to play games.

Don't over think your agency/recruiter selection for your first assignment. Just do it! You will learn from your first assignment what your needs are, and you will also have that important first assignment on your resume which will give you a wider choice for subsequent assignments.