Travel Nurse Interview Advice from Premier Recruiters

Job interviews are always a source of stress among applicants, and as a travel nurse, you’ll have more than your fair share of them. If you struggle getting through those tough intro calls or meetings with recruiters, don’t worry! We’ve got your back. Here is some of the best travel nurse interview advice straight from our very own Premier recruiters.

Be Well-Prepared

The travel nurse interview advice that popped up most often when we asked the Premier recruiters was be prepared. Recruiter Dominick says: “Have questions prepared ahead of time that you would like the facility or recruiter to answer. Be prepared to take them through a brief description of your work experience and cater it to what the job responsibilities are in the job posting.” Furthermore,  Leigh advises: “Have a list of questions ready to go on a file in your phone so you are always ready. Make sure to take a look at them from time to time to edit them.” It can’t be stressed enough that the more prepared you show up for an interview, the smoother it will go. Always research the staffing agency beforehand so you know all about the company and their core values- it will demonstrate your genuine interest in landing a contract.

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Ask Questions!

One of the most important pieces of travel nurse interview advice we’ve all heard before is to have questions prepared for your interviews. Some great options of questions to ask your recruiter during your interview are:

  • What would my housing situation look like on this travel assignment?
  • How long have you been staffing at this facility?
  • What’s different about working with your agency than other staffing firms?
  • Is there anything I can clarify for you about my qualifications or experience?
  • What are the next steps in the hiring process?
  • What is your favorite thing about working at this staffing agency?

Asking questions during an interview is a great way to start building a rapport with your recruiter. Your queries will often turn an interview into a conversation rather than a bland Q&A session.

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Be Honest and Direct

Being honest is great advice for life in general, but it is especially good travel nurse interview advice. Premier recruiter Lauren K. says: “Be honest and transparent to save everyone’s time.  Let the recruiter know what the top three things you are looking for in an assignment.” Director of Recruitment, Russ, says: “If you want something, ask for it. Looking for a specific shift, setting, location, or pay package? The more direct you can be in your communication; the better chance your recruiter can help you find a great job match.” When hiring, recruiters want to make sure that the candidates they choose are honest and straightforward in their work ethic, and they expect to see that come through in interviews as well. So don’t hold back on what you’re looking for and be upfront about your preferences in order to land a placement that fits exactly what you’re looking for.

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Confidence is Key

Going into an interview with confidence can feel tough at times, especially when you’re nervous. Keep in mind that mustering up confidence, even if you have to fake it, is a piece of travel nurse interview advice that should not be skipped over. Premier recruiter Lauren P. says: “Be yourself. Have confidence!” Letting your true personality show during an interview will help put you at ease and appear more confident. Make sure to talk about your past nursing experiences with the same passion you’ll bring to your future travel nurse contract. This will help you open up and start building a positive relationship with your recruiter. Premier’s Director of Recruitment, Russ, advises: “Having a great relationship with your recruiter is vital. It will play a huge role in your enjoyment of both the job search process and ultimately your travel healthcare assignment.”

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Be Flexible and Open Minded

While it is super important to be direct and upfront about your preferences, Premier recruiter Lauren K. says it is equally important “to be open minded and flexible when considering options for an assignment.” Don’t get discouraged if during your interview, your recruiter mentions that they currently don’t have a job open that fits your exact criteria perfectly. Be curious and inquisitive about the opportunities they do have available because you never know if it could be a great fit for your needs after all. Life as a travel nurse is full of adventure, and you should always be open to opportunities that could enrich your career.

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Looking to work with of our awesome Premier recruiters? Apply here!


The Compliance Process: What to Know

Congratulations, you just accepted your first contract nursing assignment! Now what? The next step in getting you ready for your contract is completing the compliance process. Healthcare staffing agencies and the facility you will work at need to make sure you meet all the basic requirements to start working with patients. What does that involve and why is it important? Our all-star compliance team at Premier is here to answer all your burning questions about compliance and give tips on how to get through this process without a hitch.

Why is the compliance process important for a clinician?

“Compliance ensures that both Premier and our clients receive a clinician who is competent, safe, effective, and up to date on all their requirements in order to do the job,” Premier Compliance Specialist Tim S. says. “Compliance works as the bridge between potential and opportunity. It is a vital piece of the process for all involved.”

How a staffing agency manages its compliance impacts employers

How long does the compliance process take?

“The compliance process takes around 10 days, but it depends on how quickly the clinician gets us everything we need,” Compliance Specialist Rebecca D. notes. Tim adds, “Everyone’s compliance process may be more or less involved. Especially if they have an extensive travel background or limited time to do Occupational Health. I like to say, you never really know a clinician until they hit compliance.”

During the compliance process, the staffing agency will complete a background check, verify all your education and work history, check your certifications and licenses, as well as contact your references. This all can take a while, so staying patient during compliance is necessary. Our compliance specialists work hard to ensure they are sending the best of the best to clients.

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Tips to ensure a smooth compliance process?

“Having a nursing resume that is up to date without unaccounted-for gaps is key,” Tim points out. “Be available for your appointments (drug screen, physical, and other testing) at the earliest opportunity ensures we have the time to obtain the results for compliance.” Rebecca adds, “Have vaccine records on hand!”

Communication is super important during the compliance process. Make sure you are consistently checking your email for updates from compliance. If you have issues completing your compliance to-dos, please reach out to your compliance specialist! They are there to help, but they need you to keep them in the loop.

To learn more about your compliance checklist, check out our blog post here!

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Anything else you’d like prospective employees to know about compliance?

“We are here to work with and for you,” says Tim. “Although sometimes it seems like compliance is always pushing and hassling to get something done, or redone, it is 100% for the benefit of getting a clinician in the right shape to succeed in their role. I want clinicians to know we are their assistants at the ready to help them grow their experience and careers with Premier.”

Ready to start your contract nursing journey with Premier? Apply today!


5 Qualities of a Great Travel Nurse Recruiter

In the world of travel nursing, there are few things more important than a strong recruiter–traveler relationship. Recruiters are the guiding light of any travel journey, whether it’s your first contract or your 50th. But how do you distinguish a top-tier travel nurse recruiter from all the rest? How can you be sure you are working with someone who has your best interests at heart? As it turns out, there are several qualities that set the best recruiters apart. Here are five characteristics to look for in a travel nurse recruiter.

1. Stellar Communication Skills

You travel nurse recruiter will be your first point of contact as you start your contract nursing journey and someone you will stay in close contact with throughout your traveling career. It can be an overwhelming experience deciding what city to move to and choosing your new place of work, which is why your recruiter should always be available to answer any and all of your questions.

Travel nurses will tell you that the importance of a recruiter’s communication skills cannot be stressed enough. Katie F., an RN who traveled with Premier, noted the importance of communication with her recruiter Sarah: “Sarah spent a considerable amount of time on the phone with me answering all of questions/concerns I had prior to taking the leap into travel nursing.” Not only is it essential for your travel nurse recruiter to be in touch and communicative during the submission, interviewing, and onboarding processes, but you should also expect them to stay in touch during your contract. RN Tatonesha remarks of her Premier recruiter Rebecca, “she always follows through and stays in contact with a weekly hello or ‘how is everything going’ which lets me know that she and the company care about their clients.” Continued, long-term communication is key when working with a recruiter, as they can help you work toward your goals as a travel nurse and walk you through changing or extending your contract.

travel nurse recruiter

2. Honesty

A good recruiter tells it like it is. Whether you are trying to decide if a travel nursing position might work for you or dealing with a situation while you are already on assignment, you want to work with someone who will relay the facts and portray all information as accurately as possible.

But that type of honesty should be two-way street. To build a successful working relationship, you as the nurse candidate should be open in communicating your wants and needs.  Recruiters are not mind readers, and it is essential that you are upfront and honest about your expectations from the very beginning.

3. Personal Attention

A travel nurse recruiter should always make you feel like a priority. Individualized attention is key to a great recruiter-nurse relationship and will put you at ease while transitioning into a new contract. Although I’m not new to travel nursing, I consistently feel on edge when trying to decide on my next assignment,” says Premier RN Richelle, “I can always count on my recruiter Nicole to find the right fit for me. Her one-on-one personal attention makes the whole process flawless.”

travel nurse recruiter

4. Well-Researched

One attribute that separates good travel nurse recruiters from great ones is that they will do their homework and research a wide variety of contract opportunities that will fit your needs. “She goes the extra mile by figuring out what my true needs and wants are,” says RN Katie of her Premier recruiter Lauren H. Top-notch travel nurse recruiters will always keep your preferences in mind while also presenting you with multiple options, some you may not have considered before. A travel nurse recruiter who digs deeper to present you with the most contract options is one that definitely wants to see you succeed.

Meet Premier’s team of travel nurse recruiters here!

5. Patience

Patience truly is a virtue, and in the fast-paced world of nursing, it is more important than ever. A patient recruiter takes the time to listen, answer questions and provide reassurance. Your travel nurse recruiter should never make you feel like a burden and should always be available for your needs. A good travel nurse recruiter will never rush you through any process and will meet you where you are.

Want to travel with Premier? Get matched with one of our experienced recruiters:



Agency Nursing: What’s in it for You

A shortage of healthcare workers is forcing healthcare facilities to utilize alternative staffing solutions. As a result, agency nursing has surged in popularity with healthcare employers and clinicians. Come along with us as we explore the top eight benefits you can expect as an agency nurse. Scroll to the bottom of this post to find out how you can make these benefits (and more) yours today.

Benefits of Agency Nursing

Better Pay

Better pay is one of the benefits that you can expect from agency nursing. Medical staffing agencies often work with hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities experiencing a shortage of nurses. As a result, these facilities are generally willing to pay more to reach adequate staffing levels quickly. While compensation varies based on location, assignment and shift, agency nurses can expect to earn a higher hourly rate than their full-time, permanent counterparts. Additionally, nurses that have in-demand clinical skills will find that agency nursing offers generous compensation packages.

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Is Your Healthcare Staffing Agency Nurse Owned?

Why It Should Be and More with Laura Hanoski

Premier Medical Staffing Services, LLC was recently ranked as one of the largest Wisconsin-based, women-owned businesses by the Milwaukee Business Journal. In honor of that tremendous achievement, we’re talking with Laura Hanoski, former nurse and the business’ owner. Find out what sets Premier Medical Staffing Services apart and why your healthcare staffing agency should be nurse owned.

1. Tell us about yourself. What did you do prior to starting Premier Medical Staffing Services?

Laura Hanoski

Prior to starting Premier Medical Staffing Services, I attended Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC). There I earned my associate degree in nursing. While I was earning my degree, I started working as an internal float pool nurse at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. During my five years there, I was privileged to work in a lot of different specialties. I learned a lot about nursing and nurses from this experience.

Following my time at St. Luke’s, I accepted a position with the Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Surgery Center in Greenfield, Wisconsin. There I did everything from dressing changes and suture removals to insurance verifications and scheduling patient appointments. It was definitely a job that kept me on my toes.

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Your Compliance Checklist

Preparing for a Travel Assignment

What Does This Compliance Checklist Mean?

In a recent social media group talk, a first-time Traveling Nurse posted their frustration and confusion on the list of needs or compliance checklist a recruiter gave them for their first travel assignment. A recruiter asked for the following items from the traveler:

  1. ACLS… What?!
  2. TB – Don’t they last a year?
  3. Years of online modules
  4. Physical
  5. Flu shot
  6. Fit test

Blog-Post-Travel-Nurse-Prep-Compliance-Checklist-Liz-Premier-ImageThe checklist from the recruiter felt overwhelming and unnecessary to the traveler. It just didn’t make sense. Also, this information was provided too close to the assignment start date and seemed sudden to the Travel Nurse. To start a relationship between a traveler and recruiter on a frustrating note is unfortunate. As a recruiter, you want the Travel Nurse to feel appreciated and informed. Meanwhile, the Travel Nurse wants respect, transparency, and efficiency from their recruiter especially if this is their first contract assignment.

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What Sets a Healthcare Staffing Agency Apart

Sets-Staffing-Agency-Apart-Premier-Medical-Blog-Post-ImageI want to start out by asking one simple question: What makes you say yes?

You’re a nurse and you’re probably receiving an overwhelming amount of phone calls, emails, text messages, and inbox messages on social media sites from healthcare staffing agencies in every state. Whether you’re a travel nurse or working locally, I’m sure this is very common if you’re in the healthcare field. If choosing to work with a healthcare staffing agency, what makes you say yes?

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Healthcare Agencies: Immunizations Needed

Immunizations-Credentialing-Blog-Post-Premier-Medical-ImageThe list of immunizations needed from a healthcare staffing agency can be daunting, and may include things that you may or may not have already. At Premier Medical Staffing Services, we pride ourselves in assisting you to obtain the documents that you have access to, as well as, provide resources. These are the best questions to ask yourself when needing to provide medical records for a pre-employment background check.

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Intro to Credentialing

What is Credentialing in Healthcare Staffing?

Many people view credentialing as an extension of HR. For healthcare facilities, and in this case healthcare staffing agencies, credentialing is a crucial step. Healthcare professionals are required to have accurate and up-to-date credentials to prove not only their skills/ competency at their job, but also to comply with Federal regulations.

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The Submission Process

 

The Five Steps for Healthcare Recruiter Positions

Staffing in the healthcare world is a revolving door of opportunities. Medical positions can be full-time, part-time, per-diem, permanent, ongoing, contract, etc. Landing a job as a healthcare professional may seem simple and finite, and for the most part, it is. However, there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes that most people don’t realize. That’s where Talent Acquisition Managers come in handy. We make your job of finding and securing a position as easy as possible. Let’s look at the step-by-step process from start to finish of how we do this.
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