11 Tough Questions to Ask Before You Sign with a Nurse Staffing Company
Do I keep my same recruiter?
Will I get to work with the same person or will I be bounced around from recruiter
to recruiter? The best situation for a traveling nurse today is to develop a close
relationship with their recruiter. The more a recruiter knows about you, your personal
tastes and goals, the better job he or she will do in finding work that fits you.
Travel nursing should always be about you, and you deserve a recruiter who knows
you as a person.
Can I switch recruiting professionals if I don't like the one I'm working with?
We can't expect everyone to get along with everyone else all the time. The same
is true in travel nursing. So, what happens if you get stuck with a recruiter that
doesn't understand you? What if you just don't like someone? It's important for
you to ask to work with someone who better fits your personality. Placement professionals
should respect you enough to let you work with someone you want to work with. If
not, find another company.
How soon do my benefits start?
Do you want to wait a full 30 or even 45 days to get your first paycheck? Do you
want to go without health insurance for even a minute? Of course not! If your
benefits aren't starting immediately, then you're not being treated fairly. A traveling
nurse should be paid properly and in a timely manner, and not have to worry about when benefits
start. Benefits that don't start immediately for you should be raising a major red flag.
Is my recruiter honest or will they try to back me into a corner so I'm forced to
work where they want me to?
Can you say for sure that your recruiter is honest with you? Sometimes a recruiter
must keep a certain number of nurses at a specific facility. And, often, they cannot
keep the right number of people. That's when the recruiter gets desperate and won't
be upfront with you. It's important to work with someone you have confidence in,
who will be honest with you, even if it's not the best news.
Will I get compensated for finding my own housing?
Some companies won't work with you on housing. That's not right. Many traveling
nurses like to take care of their own housing arrangements when they travel. That's
why it's important to work with a company that allows you the flexibly to coordinate
your housing. And, when you make your own housing arrangements, you should be reimbursed
for the expense. If you aren't compensated for making your own housing arrangements,
you're not getting everything you're entitled to. Of course if you don't want to
take care of your housing, your placement team should be happy to make you comfortable
during your travel period in a safe, furnished abode. This should always be handled
quickly, efficiently and with no problems.
Is my recruiter qualified to help me create my Three-Year Career Plan?
Many recruiters can place you, but are you working with someone who can help you
identify your personal goals, your career goals and your financial goals? A traveling
nurse usually doesn't travel forever. That's why it's important to have a plan to
help guide you to where you want to go and when! Be sure to choose a recruiting
professional whose personal experience and integrity will help you avoid making
mistakes. Make sure your recruiter will spend the time with you to create your Three-Year
Career Plan, and then follow it with you.
Does my recruiter endorse or try to get me to take strike work?
Although some nurses like strike work, many nurses report that it's best to work
with a company that doesn't endorse strike work. If you don't want to do strike
work, it's important to work with a recruiter who won't try to get you to take strike
work. If the recruiter doesn't take strike work to begin with, you'll never face
the pressure of having to decline that work.
Will my recruiter help me move to an area of the country that I want or will they
try to keep me in an area to help themselves?
Your recruiter should allow you to move wherever you want. Most recruiters have
weekly, monthly and quarterly goals they must meet to satisfy their employer. Sometimes,
nurses are steered into staying in one area, or worse, moving to an undesirable
area. That's not fair to you. If your recruiter cannot find you a placement in
an area you want to be, then you may be working with the wrong company. Remember,
your work is about you and those people you take care of, not helping a recruiter
make their sales goals.
When do I get my first paycheck?
Are you going to wait 30 days for your first paycheck? If so, who's going to pay
the bills in the meantime? Your company should pay you out of the gate, not weeks
later. If you're not getting paid right away, you may want to find a company that
pays sooner rather than later.
Will I get harassing phone calls trying to get me to take a new job?
Do you like your day interrupted by annoying phone calls from boiler room operations?
No. Phone calls to you should be business only, not offers of greener pastures.
You deserve the respect of any other professional, which means you should be left
alone when you're working to focus on your patients. Taking a new assignment is
your choice. Don't let a recruiter bully you or harass you into a different job.
Tell your recruiter if this happens.
Will I get a W2 or a 1099 at the end of the year?
How about a big tax bill surprise in a year or two? Not a good situation. If you're
getting a 1099, that means you're a private contractor. Private contractors are responsible
for their own payroll taxes, social security taxes and all the other taxes that
go along with being self-employed. As a W2 employee, your taxes are held out, and
you don't have to worry about paying Uncle Sam at tax time. Be wary of companies
that want you to work as a 1099 contractor.