Travel Nurse Agencies & How I Chose Mine!

Welcome back! If you haven’t read parts 1 and 2 of my “How I got my first travel nurse assignment…and maybe my last?” series, check them out here!

In my last blog post, I talked about how I quit my job, applied for my state licenses, and acquired my first contract. The whole process wasn’t completely straightforward. Before I settled on a contract with Aya, I had done my research and contacted recruiters from various travel nurse agencies!

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Here are a few brief descriptions of each agency I looked into:

Aya Healthcare

Aya Healthcare is one of the most well-known travel nurse agencies in the US. They offer a wide array of assignments across various specialties and locations, with reasonable pay packages and benefits. Their user-friendly app and personalized support from dedicated recruiters make the process of finding and securing assignments seamless for travel nurses. They also offer continuing education opportunities to enhance nurses' skills and advance their careers.

Vero

Vero is a travel nurse agency that gained popularity among travel nurses, especially here in Guam. They offer assignments in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. Vero provides support for their travel nurses with 24/7 access to a dedicated recruiter and personalized guidance throughout the assignment.

NuWest

NuWest is a boutique travel nurse agency that offers assignments across the US. They have a strong focus on building relationships with their nurses and prioritizing their needs and preferences when matching them with assignments. NuWest offers decent pay packages and a supportive team of recruiters and clinical liaisons.

Fusion

Fusion is a travel nurse agency that offers assignments across the US, including in rural and remote areas. They have a reputation for providing high-quality assignments with top-notch compensation packages. Fusion also offers a variety of benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) matching, and continuing education opportunities.

Prolink

Prolink is a travel nurse agency that prides itself on offering personalized support to its nurses. They have a team of experienced recruiters who work closely with each nurse to understand their preferences and find the best assignments for them. Prolink offers assignments in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities, and provides competitive pay packages and benefits.

Trusted

Trusted is a travel nurse agency that offers assignments across the US, including in some of the most desirable locations. They offer a wide range of benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as travel reimbursement and continuing education opportunities. Trusted also provides their nurses with a dedicated recruiter who offers personalized support and guidance throughout their assignments.

Nomad

Nomad is a travel nurse agency that is known for its user-friendly platform and seamless assignment process. They offer assignments across the US and provide competitive pay packages and benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) matching, and continuing education opportunities. Nomad also has a strong focus on building relationships with their nurses and providing them with a supportive team of recruiters and clinical liaisons.

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You might have noticed that they all sound ridiculously similar! How the hell did I decide then? Well, for the most part, I asked for referrals and opinions from travel nurses and friends that I previously worked with. You can only get so much out of these agencies’ websites, but you can definitely get an in-depth insight into how they really function from the nurses that work for them.

In part 2 of this blog series, I mentioned that I was stuck between choosing contracts with Fusion and Aya. Prior to leaving my old job, I had worked with a travel nurse from Washington who recommended her recruiter from Fusion. There were numerous back-and-forth text messages and emails between myself and the Fusion recruiter. The rates were pretty good at roughly $3200 to $3800 per week. However, the locations were in more rural areas of Oregon and Washington that I wasn’t comfortable traveling to for my first assignment. The assignments were also in units that I wasn’t particularly well versed in, such as a Burn ICU and Trauma ICU.

On the other hand, another travel nurse that I worked with recommended her recruiter from Aya. I was given several options for hospitals in the Portland and Seattle areas. The majority of the rates were about the same as the rates offered by Fusion as well. As you know, I settled on a contract with Aya in Portland largely because the weekly rate was pretty good for a 36-hour-per-week contract!

Once I accepted the contract, my recruiter with Aya initiated the onboarding process and connected me with a compliance specialist, a travel experience specialist, and a payroll specialist. Having all these people handling my contract helped make me feel supported because I knew so many people were working to make sure my assignment went smoothly.

If you want to hear more about the process of getting to Portland, keep an eye out for my next blog post!

Until next time! Salamat and si yu’us ma’ase!